Hurdles
The past week was filled with ups and downs. Started the community marathon training on Tue, first taste of real exercise since my last run back in Jan/Feb, exhausted but felt good. (Up)
Met and caught up with a couple of friends on Mon and Thu separately. I’ve been proactively meeting up friends in the last few weeks, trying to catch up with my social deficit before going back into hiding when the pandemic numbers worsens again. (Up). Also tried to arrange a date with the girl-I-like today, but was cancelled last minute. (Down)
Had a spiritual downfall in the new place for the first time on Thu. (Down). Felt really bad afterwards (actually a good sign that the Holy Spirit is still working within me). Confessed my sin and praying not to fall back into the vicious cycle of sin-regret-confess and back to sin again. Really don’t wanna waste time on this again, life is too short.
Oh Lord, pls forgive me for letting You down again. Pls don’t give up on me and continue to mold me and use me for Your good works here on Earth for as long as You would graciously allow. 🙏🏻
New Routines
It’s been a week since I moved out and started living independently again. The transitioning to new routines like meals, laundry, transport, library visits, etc. was considerably smooth.
Productivity at work seems to be improving along with the new routines. Managed to keep up with the daily Inktober cartoons, my drawing and inking skills seem to have improved along with increasing knowledge of birds. This annual art routine has provided some much needed distractions to the craziness happening in our city, in our world.
Signed up for a community marathon training group in my new found neighborhood, will start running again twice a week this week after my last running practice way back in Jan/Feb. This new routine should provide some much needed dopamine to cope with our marathon pandemic.
Still keeping up with my daily morning devotions, slowly catching up to the year-through-the-bible schedule (about 1 week behind). With many plans and projects deterred due to COVID-19, I think I’m better off not making any ambitious long-term goals but rather just trusting God and living my life one day at a time.
Oh Lord, please continue to bless my new routines and my new life, help me to see You more clearly and follow You more closely. 🙏🏻
Typhoon 8
Woke up to a Typhoon 8. According to the local observatory, this T8 was caused by a typhoon that’s furthest away on record. It didn’t hit the city hard, but the wind seemed particularly strong in my new place.
My sister next door invited me to go out for dim sum in the morning, but I didn’t feel like going out. Called to move my dinner with parents to tomorrow. Stayed home all day and ate instant noodle and some leftover junk food. “Worked” in bed and caught up with my Inktober cartoons. Also studied and practiced Chinese calligraphy for a little bit. It felt like reliving my undergraduate days. Nostalgia.
Independence… Restarted
During a time when the mere hint of independence seemed taboo in our city, I moved back to my minimalist independent unit after the 3-months long third wave pandemic that claimed the lives of about a hundred individuals (mostly elderly).
Originally planned to move next week instead, but an argument with my mom hastened the move, both of us can use a timeout. My through-the-year bible devotion plan also reached the end of the Old Testament last week, I figured this could be a sign that God is telling me to start life anew and to complete the New Testament in a new place for the remaining 3 months of 2020.
One of my biggest worries about moving out is leaving my elderly parents behind, but then I know my brother is living right underneath them and can be of assistance in case of emergency. Moreover, I have been thinking a lot about a backup plan to move back to Canada since the National Security Law was imposed in our city on July 1st, moving out on my own is probably a good intermediate step to ease my parents’ over-attachment to me.
Oh Lord, may You let me start life anew in this new place You led me back to. More importantly, please continue to protect and bless my family while I’m away trying my best to follow Your guidance. 🙏🏻
