#025: What is society without art?
Laughing at myself, life in Australia updates, a reflection about who consumes art, and more tiny yet precious life moments
Hey, there! Thanks for reading OK to BE. This is a Sunday newsletter, which means it will arrive in your inbox anytime on a Sunday. Here, I share about my creative processes in reading, writing, creating, editing, and collaborating, plus a bit about my everyday adventures. If anything resonates, write back or leave a comment, and I shall reply! Also, this is a public dispatch, so feel free to share with friends. Enjoy! :)
Art from the pages of Asian Girls are Going Places by Michelle Law
One of the million things about me is that, as you probably already know, I can be a bit corny (and I obvs don’t mind *knowing giggle*). This is why you’re receiving Newsletter #25 today, December 25!
That said, Merry Christmas! If you celebrate. (Hugs to you if it isn’t so merry.)
I meant to write more here (and basically, create more) but that was a joke I didn’t mean to crack. On my Patreon, I said that I laughed at my idealist October 5 self, the one who had little idea how her life would be so caught up in…just a LOT of things. I’m still laughing at myself a bit right now, although from the comfort of my Christmas blanket and leftovers, and also, I feel less guilty about it. Because that’s just how life goes, and going along with it is how I usually deal. (So what is even all this explanation for??) To be fair, I’ve got a few things going on, albeit tiny steps. I mean, we’d rather have something than nothing, wouldn’t we? I don’t mean crumbs, okay. I mean slices, eheh. My patrons, as usual, know what’s up, but you will be the next one to get the update, for sure.
I rarely share photos of me in this newsletter, but it’s Christmas, and I’m next to a Bluey standee (!)
In other news, my OZ experience has been colorful, to say the least. I enjoy it here where I am as it reminds me of my home because of the accessibility of the city, the ocean, and the mountains. I love that nobody really gives a shit about other people’s businesses, at the same time, if they knew you were in some kind of trouble (any kind), they’d be there for you, but with less (to zero) judgment and more solutions. Such a laid-back vibe, too, but practically everything is also so quick, convenient, and logical.
But I do miss home, and our culture and the way we do some things, not only because it’s what I’m used to but also makes more sense for a person living in this world. I’m talking community, traditions, and, yep, a bit of the circu—chaotic fun, haha. Before this, I’ve only ever travelled abroad so living in a foreign land for a longer period of time, even temporarily, is something that remains to be foreign to me. For example, nothing quite like having bidets in toilets, eating Purefoods Corned Beef and turon, and getting lost in the Paskong Pinoy celebrations, among others, you know?
Here are a few clips of my OZ stay, icymi.
I’ve got SO MUCH MORE to share. When I can finally sort through everything, I’ll start breaking them down, especially the arts and lit stuff. I’ve gone to a few museums, bookstores, and art shops that I think you’d be equally interested in, and I look forward to talking about those experiences because those have been such a solace for me as a creative. Art thrives here (and superbly so), and creators are supported, not just by their respective communities, but by the general public. So refreshing and inspiring, and I hope we get to have that in full force back in the Philippines. Of course we’ve already started, have already set up systems, but we all need to understand and participate better in the reality of art as a crucial part of society.
In any case, I did drop a KBookJo vlog on my Patreon, which I will link to below. My patrons help fund my creative work, so essentially, this book haul that I got? They bought it for me! Thank you, patrons 💗
I shared the book list on the OK to BE Discord, which you can take a peek at by joining here.
Before I get my zzzs, I just wanted to tap on the grad school thing that I’ve mentioned and asked for help with in the past newsletters. I’m still considering it, and I’ve still got time to raise funds and see what’s going on with the scholarships. So THANK YOU to those who continue to hire me for beta reading and editing gigs, to those who support all my projects (even if I am on some kind of hiatus). I will always remember what you’ve done and do for me. For those who haven’t checked out my work in a while, this is my page, and this is my Patreon.
From a Frankie issue that I borrowed from the library but I forgot which :/
That’s all for now! I hope you picked up something fun or useful. See you in the next one ☀️
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Glad to hear from you again. Can't wait for your updates on the art scene there 😁.. Happy holidays and stay safe always.