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Habit #2: smile

I know. I know. It's lame, and I don't mean it in the misogynistic way. It's also easy and free and only requires a little practice. I'm not being facetious. You will need to practice.

There's a good chance you probably don't smile much, or smiling doesn't happen often. This makes them feel weird and uncomfortable on your face. So you will need to practice in front of a mirror.

Maybe it's a "fake it 'til you make it" thing, but it's also seeing the joy it can bring to someone else. For just a moment, you can bring a little happiness to someone's day. There's something to that.

And, yes, a smile from a stranger can make someone's day. Wouldn't it make you feel good? But there's something to that positive connection.

Don't get discouraged if people don't smile back. It happens. But keep putting that positivity out there. Take some time away from the negative lense.

Habit #2: smile

I know. I know. It's lame, and I don't mean it in the misogynistic way. It's also easy and free and only requires a little practice. I'm not being facetious. You will need to practice.

There's a good chance you probably don't smile much, or smiling doesn't happen often. This makes them feel weird and uncomfortable on your face. So you will need to practice in front of a mirror.

Maybe it's a "fake it 'til you make it" thing, but it's also seeing the joy it can bring to someone else. For just a moment, you can bring a little happiness to someone's day. There's something to that.

And, yes, a smile from a stranger can make someone's day. Wouldn't it make you feel good? But there's something to that positive connection.

Don't get discouraged if people don't smile back. It happens. But keep putting that positivity out there. Take some time away from the negative lense.

From EP 05: “Liner Men & Love Languages” we cover everything from soju, dating scenarios, love languages, and if younger men have always been into older women.

The OnlyKADs Pod - streaming NOW on your favorite platform.

Dropping the first Wednesday of each month

Questions? Comments? Write in to OnlyKADsPod@gmail.com or DM any of us. You might hear your message on our next episode.

From all over the east coast and Asia:
April (@deepsouthkorean)
Jenna (@mayor.jenna.explores)
Claire (@claire_magenheimer) &
Nate (@natepebbs / @color_shift_tra)
We spill unfiltered truths and unhinged laughs with late-night, group-chat energy. We just can’t help ourselves.

Heads-up: Mature language and topics! Keep little DoKAD ears away

Got a topic or a question? Email us onlykadspod@gmail.com

From EP 05: “Liner Men & Love Languages” we cover everything from soju, dating scenarios, love languages, and if younger men have always been into older women.

The OnlyKADs Pod - streaming NOW on your favorite platform.

Dropping the first Wednesday of each month

Questions? Comments? Write in to OnlyKADsPod@gmail.com or DM any of us. You might hear your message on our next episode.

From all over the east coast and Asia:
April (@deepsouthkorean)
Jenna (@mayor.jenna.explores)
Claire (@claire_magenheimer) &
Nate (@natepebbs / @color_shift_tra)
We spill unfiltered truths and unhinged laughs with late-night, group-chat energy. We just can’t help ourselves.

Heads-up: Mature language and topics! Keep little DoKAD ears away

Got a topic or a question? Email us onlykadspod@gmail.com

I know the title is a little corny, but I like alliteration, okay? 🤷🏻‍♀️

The tips I'm sharing this month are some habits I use to propel me forward and pull myself out of emotional holes. There is no guarantee that it will work for you, and you should definitely discuss with your therapist first because I am not one. I only hope to set a good example and show that there are ways to get to the other side.

Take care of yourself.
Drink water. Get plenty of sleep. Know that nothing, in life, will last forever.

I know the title is a little corny, but I like alliteration, okay? 🤷🏻‍♀️

The tips I'm sharing this month are some habits I use to propel me forward and pull myself out of emotional holes. There is no guarantee that it will work for you, and you should definitely discuss with your therapist first because I am not one. I only hope to set a good example and show that there are ways to get to the other side.

Take care of yourself.
Drink water. Get plenty of sleep. Know that nothing, in life, will last forever.

As we begin Black History Month, I can't help but think of the irony because we haven't upheld black history enough. For all of the people complaining about it, know that if we observed Black History all year 'round, we probably wouldn't be in our current situation.

Find the full writing at https://www.deepsouthkorean.com/seoulsearching

#blog

As we begin Black History Month, I can't help but think of the irony because we haven't upheld black history enough. For all of the people complaining about it, know that if we observed Black History all year 'round, we probably wouldn't be in our current situation.

Find the full writing at https://www.deepsouthkorean.com/seoulsearching

#blog

Mark your calendars! A new episode drops this Wednesday 🎙️ This month we talk a little bit about dating and communication. Are we all just missing the point, then each other? What do you think?

#podcast #onlykadspod #onlykads #dating

Mark your calendars! A new episode drops this Wednesday 🎙️ This month we talk a little bit about dating and communication. Are we all just missing the point, then each other? What do you think?

#podcast #onlykadspod #onlykads #dating

Start earning your points today🍿at @bbtheatres by signing up for your #backstagepass

#bbtheatre #enjoythemagicofthemovies #bbbrandambassador

Start earning your points today🍿at @bbtheatres by signing up for your #backstagepass

#bbtheatre #enjoythemagicofthemovies #bbbrandambassador

Yep. Still Day 1 of shoveling snow... and I still had 2/3 left 🤣😂

Note to self: get a spare battery for next winter.

#snowedin

Yep. Still Day 1 of shoveling snow... and I still had 2/3 left 🤣😂

Note to self: get a spare battery for next winter.

#snowedin

Still Day 1 of shoveling snow.... Thanks for watching this random mini series ❄️

Still Day 1 of shoveling snow.... Thanks for watching this random mini series ❄️

I do appreciate a good man who will shovel out my car💁🏻‍♀️ But I want a partner who can't be replaced by a power tool. Just like I want to be more than a housemaid.

Ladies, it's called an electric shovel. You're welcome💁🏻‍♀️

I do appreciate a good man who will shovel out my car💁🏻‍♀️ But I want a partner who can't be replaced by a power tool. Just like I want to be more than a housemaid.

Ladies, it's called an electric shovel. You're welcome💁🏻‍♀️

Day 1 of shoveling the snow in my driveway 🫠🙃

Schadenfreude (German): happiness at the expense of others

There's no doubt we have a lot of this going on rn, but here's a little harmless schadenfreude for your entertainment.

I am a strong, independent woman.... But f*** this snow. And f*** ICE. Both of 'em

Day 1 of shoveling the snow in my driveway 🫠🙃

Schadenfreude (German): happiness at the expense of others

There's no doubt we have a lot of this going on rn, but here's a little harmless schadenfreude for your entertainment.

I am a strong, independent woman.... But f*** this snow. And f*** ICE. Both of 'em

@thekoreanvegan Thank you for being such an inspiration. I stand with you. My following isn’t nearly as big, but I will use my reach to do the same.

If you haven’t yet, it’s not too late. If you’re a nervous caller, there are other options. It took me less than 5 minutes to make the calls today. You don’t have to sit in silence. This is NOT a “hunker down and pray for daylight” situation. This is not a drill.

Use your voice while you still can.

#defundICE #OHIceOut #cle
@senjonhusted @berniemorenoforohio

@thekoreanvegan Thank you for being such an inspiration. I stand with you. My following isn’t nearly as big, but I will use my reach to do the same.

If you haven’t yet, it’s not too late. If you’re a nervous caller, there are other options. It took me less than 5 minutes to make the calls today. You don’t have to sit in silence. This is NOT a “hunker down and pray for daylight” situation. This is not a drill.

Use your voice while you still can.

#defundICE #OHIceOut #cle
@senjonhusted @berniemorenoforohio

New episode out now! Seoul Searching with Deep South Korean on YouTube and Spotify.

When dealing with adoption and the details of discovering one’s identity, it’s no surprise that an adoptee can end up feeling removed from who they once thought they were. To call it an identity crisis is an understatement. Add in spouses and children to the mix, and it can get messy.

How do you process such a transformation and still live the life you had before it started? Where are the stress points in your life, and how can you navigate them without blowing it all up?

In this two part interview, Jenna and I discuss the pitfalls of adoption discovery and how it changed who we were as women and partners. We aren’t saying that ours is the only interpretation, but we are saying that it is a likely version we’ve noted in our lives and the lives of our peers.

We come to you as your favorite unnies to ask the question:

Exactly how much does your adoption influence how you are in relationships?

#podcast #divorce #adoption

New episode out now! Seoul Searching with Deep South Korean on YouTube and Spotify.

When dealing with adoption and the details of discovering one’s identity, it’s no surprise that an adoptee can end up feeling removed from who they once thought they were. To call it an identity crisis is an understatement. Add in spouses and children to the mix, and it can get messy.

How do you process such a transformation and still live the life you had before it started? Where are the stress points in your life, and how can you navigate them without blowing it all up?

In this two part interview, Jenna and I discuss the pitfalls of adoption discovery and how it changed who we were as women and partners. We aren’t saying that ours is the only interpretation, but we are saying that it is a likely version we’ve noted in our lives and the lives of our peers.

We come to you as your favorite unnies to ask the question:

Exactly how much does your adoption influence how you are in relationships?

#podcast #divorce #adoption

“It has to be so bad that this never happens again.”

About a year ago, I was talking with a friend about the inevitable fate of the US, and he said this to me. I didn’t want him to be right, but something about what he said took the wind right out of my sails… because he was right. The necessary evil is that “the south will rise again” must be wiped from the American mentality. Which means it may need to be so bad that we never let it happen again.

We haven’t truly faced who we are. This country wasn’t built on the hopes and dreams of men with vision. It was built on the backs of the indigenous and enslaved who were extorted and killed for the benefit of their oppressors.

There is a secret fear of retaliation from the guilt of not facing the truth about what has taken place on this land. And now we are seeing the desperate attempt to keep that secret hidden. Even without pattern recognition, knowing world history is enough to see where this is going. But this time the world is watching in real time.

One day there will be a list, just like there was after the H0l0caust, to show who took part in such evil. That list didn’t extend to the compliant civilians who supported and upheld the N4*1 regime, but maybe the next one will. Will your name be on it?

Decades from now, will your great-great-grandchildren change their last name to distance themselves from their family history? Will they willingly decide to not procreate to end the family line?

To my state representative, I ask: will you prove that “republicans are better than democrats” (as you stated in a NewsMax interview you shared 2 days ago) by voting against DHS funding? Especially, since you're so concerned about us being over taxed. As ICE prepares to knock on our doors, how do you plan to keep your constituents safe?
@senjonhusted

#ohio #cle

“It has to be so bad that this never happens again.”

About a year ago, I was talking with a friend about the inevitable fate of the US, and he said this to me. I didn’t want him to be right, but something about what he said took the wind right out of my sails… because he was right. The necessary evil is that “the south will rise again” must be wiped from the American mentality. Which means it may need to be so bad that we never let it happen again.

We haven’t truly faced who we are. This country wasn’t built on the hopes and dreams of men with vision. It was built on the backs of the indigenous and enslaved who were extorted and killed for the benefit of their oppressors.

There is a secret fear of retaliation from the guilt of not facing the truth about what has taken place on this land. And now we are seeing the desperate attempt to keep that secret hidden. Even without pattern recognition, knowing world history is enough to see where this is going. But this time the world is watching in real time.

One day there will be a list, just like there was after the H0l0caust, to show who took part in such evil. That list didn’t extend to the compliant civilians who supported and upheld the N4*1 regime, but maybe the next one will. Will your name be on it?

Decades from now, will your great-great-grandchildren change their last name to distance themselves from their family history? Will they willingly decide to not procreate to end the family line?

To my state representative, I ask: will you prove that “republicans are better than democrats” (as you stated in a NewsMax interview you shared 2 days ago) by voting against DHS funding? Especially, since you're so concerned about us being over taxed. As ICE prepares to knock on our doors, how do you plan to keep your constituents safe?
@senjonhusted

#ohio #cle

I must admit that I am surprised at the difference I’ve seen in such a short time. My skin has been pretty dry this winter. My usual products just haven’t been cutting it. After just a few days, I could tell that my skin was more moisturized. I’m interested to see how my skin looks after a month or two.

This product is made for more mature skin, so it has the components that I need to keep my elasticity and stay wrinkle-free. Just because I turn 40 this year, it doesn’t mean I have to look like it lol

If you’d like to try it for yourself, check out @myne__beauty for your own.

I must admit that I am surprised at the difference I’ve seen in such a short time. My skin has been pretty dry this winter. My usual products just haven’t been cutting it. After just a few days, I could tell that my skin was more moisturized. I’m interested to see how my skin looks after a month or two.

This product is made for more mature skin, so it has the components that I need to keep my elasticity and stay wrinkle-free. Just because I turn 40 this year, it doesn’t mean I have to look like it lol

If you’d like to try it for yourself, check out @myne__beauty for your own.

I don’t know how many times I have attempted to make a post about this, but I just couldn’t seem to get it right.

You see, I want it to be succinct, and I want it to be productive. The problem is that I’m not certain of the message, and the things that do come to mind are definitely not productive. Not in a long-lasting sort of way.

I’m also tired and jaded. I know I’m not the only one.

On January 7th, we hit a major milestone in this storyline. ICE killed Renee Good.

A protester.
A US citizen.
A white woman.

And it unleashed a new wave of outrage across the nation.

I held my breath. I waited to see what would happen because I knew that our next move was going to be defining. Would this be today’s ‘shot heard ‘round the world’?

How would Minnesota respond? How would the country respond?

I feel like I’m still waiting, honestly.

How will this end? When will this end?

A quote that has always stuck with me since childhood is from T.S. Elliot.

“This is the way the world ends. Not with a bang but a whimper.”

I used to think I understood, but now I know. I see it. I am living it. The world ends in a whimper, not because of the chaos happening but because of the silence and complacency of the people who are just “waiting it out.”

So I guess the only thing I have to really say or ask is this:

Will we go quietly into that good night, or will we fight like hell?

Please remember that there have been many to die because of ICE before this happened.

Silverio Villegas González
Keith Porter, Jr.
Lorenzo Antonio Batrez Vargas
Chaofeng Ge
Tien Xuan Phan
Isidro Perez
Johnny Noviello
Jesus Molina-Veya
Abelardo Avelleneda-Delgado
Marie Ange Blaise
Nhon Ngoc Nguyen
Brayan Rayo-Garzon
Maksym Chernyak
Serawit Gezahegn Dejene
Genry Ruiz Guillen
Geraldo Lunas Campos
Luis Gustavo Nunez Caceres
Luis Beltran Yanez–Cruz
Parady La

#whimper #theend #saytheirnames #history

I don’t know how many times I have attempted to make a post about this, but I just couldn’t seem to get it right.

You see, I want it to be succinct, and I want it to be productive. The problem is that I’m not certain of the message, and the things that do come to mind are definitely not productive. Not in a long-lasting sort of way.

I’m also tired and jaded. I know I’m not the only one.

On January 7th, we hit a major milestone in this storyline. ICE killed Renee Good.

A protester.
A US citizen.
A white woman.

And it unleashed a new wave of outrage across the nation.

I held my breath. I waited to see what would happen because I knew that our next move was going to be defining. Would this be today’s ‘shot heard ‘round the world’?

How would Minnesota respond? How would the country respond?

I feel like I’m still waiting, honestly.

How will this end? When will this end?

A quote that has always stuck with me since childhood is from T.S. Elliot.

“This is the way the world ends. Not with a bang but a whimper.”

I used to think I understood, but now I know. I see it. I am living it. The world ends in a whimper, not because of the chaos happening but because of the silence and complacency of the people who are just “waiting it out.”

So I guess the only thing I have to really say or ask is this:

Will we go quietly into that good night, or will we fight like hell?

Please remember that there have been many to die because of ICE before this happened.

Silverio Villegas González
Keith Porter, Jr.
Lorenzo Antonio Batrez Vargas
Chaofeng Ge
Tien Xuan Phan
Isidro Perez
Johnny Noviello
Jesus Molina-Veya
Abelardo Avelleneda-Delgado
Marie Ange Blaise
Nhon Ngoc Nguyen
Brayan Rayo-Garzon
Maksym Chernyak
Serawit Gezahegn Dejene
Genry Ruiz Guillen
Geraldo Lunas Campos
Luis Gustavo Nunez Caceres
Luis Beltran Yanez–Cruz
Parady La

#whimper #theend #saytheirnames #history

This year, I want to put myself in the rooms where it happens.

I saw a post once that talked about surrounding yourself with the right people. Successful people cheer one another on and confident people compliment. Something like that.

The OP talked about how she found other people who were goal oriented and focused like her, and she found that they spent less time judging her, questioning her, or trying to tear her down. Instead, they were encouraging, interested, and they even offered useful help with her endeavors.

I can’t find it now, but it has stuck with me.

My goal for the year is to get myself in a room like that. It is invigorating to find a friend who is also just as passionate about their own project. It’s encouraging to look to others who are further along and know that it can be done. Last night, I attended the @founders_and_friends event at @gordongreenevents . I found it through a @clevelandvibes post, and I am so glad that I did. It was a great way to meet some new people, and hear stories and advice of other entrepreneurs and creators in Cleveland.

#cle #theland #creator #network

This year, I want to put myself in the rooms where it happens.

I saw a post once that talked about surrounding yourself with the right people. Successful people cheer one another on and confident people compliment. Something like that.

The OP talked about how she found other people who were goal oriented and focused like her, and she found that they spent less time judging her, questioning her, or trying to tear her down. Instead, they were encouraging, interested, and they even offered useful help with her endeavors.

I can’t find it now, but it has stuck with me.

My goal for the year is to get myself in a room like that. It is invigorating to find a friend who is also just as passionate about their own project. It’s encouraging to look to others who are further along and know that it can be done. Last night, I attended the @founders_and_friends event at @gordongreenevents . I found it through a @clevelandvibes post, and I am so glad that I did. It was a great way to meet some new people, and hear stories and advice of other entrepreneurs and creators in Cleveland.

#cle #theland #creator #network

I originally recorded this on Jan 1. I don't know why I didn't immediately post it. I guess I was still waiting to own it 🤷🏻‍♀️

But I need to stop holding back. All in on me 😜

I originally recorded this on Jan 1. I don't know why I didn't immediately post it. I guess I was still waiting to own it 🤷🏻‍♀️

But I need to stop holding back. All in on me 😜

I remember when I first heard someone use pop psychology to say that I was the reason why my life didn’t look the way I wanted it to. I was offended and a little angry because there was no way that I had chosen that, but I had

It wasn’t as direct as me saying, “I want this,” then it occurred like a wish to a genie. I wasn’t attracting terrible men. I was just blind to the red flags that would prevent me from dealing with them in the first place.

While I told myself that I loved myself, my actions didn’t match up. I wasn’t sleeping or eating right, I was allowing myself to lay in bed for hours on end and rot in a hole–for the record, I am a fan of bed rot to a certain extent, but you need to know your limit–and I wasn’t doing anything positive for myself. I didn’t love myself. I wasn’t taking care of myself.

I started by doing the things that you get from the fortune cookies of advice.

Love yourself
Have me time
Rest is ok

I don’t know when it precisely happened, but it did. Things actually started to get better. I also stopped talking negatively about myself or my life. So you might argue that my perspective got better, not my life.

Maybe that’s true for the beginning. Maybe it really was the placebo effect, but it was enough for me to keep going. It was enough for me to try and step outside of my comfort zone to find things that made everything else feel a little more tolerable.

I’m not saying that it’s a guarantee. What I am saying is that you might be surprised at what you can achieve when you get out of your own way. I believe in you.

I’m not a therapist, just a person who has had some experience with climbing out of a hole. If you’d like to learn about the things that I did to do that, please join me February 1-16 for some helpful habits to bring you into the new year.

#mentalhealth #journey #newhabits #peace

I remember when I first heard someone use pop psychology to say that I was the reason why my life didn’t look the way I wanted it to. I was offended and a little angry because there was no way that I had chosen that, but I had

It wasn’t as direct as me saying, “I want this,” then it occurred like a wish to a genie. I wasn’t attracting terrible men. I was just blind to the red flags that would prevent me from dealing with them in the first place.

While I told myself that I loved myself, my actions didn’t match up. I wasn’t sleeping or eating right, I was allowing myself to lay in bed for hours on end and rot in a hole–for the record, I am a fan of bed rot to a certain extent, but you need to know your limit–and I wasn’t doing anything positive for myself. I didn’t love myself. I wasn’t taking care of myself.

I started by doing the things that you get from the fortune cookies of advice.

Love yourself
Have me time
Rest is ok

I don’t know when it precisely happened, but it did. Things actually started to get better. I also stopped talking negatively about myself or my life. So you might argue that my perspective got better, not my life.

Maybe that’s true for the beginning. Maybe it really was the placebo effect, but it was enough for me to keep going. It was enough for me to try and step outside of my comfort zone to find things that made everything else feel a little more tolerable.

I’m not saying that it’s a guarantee. What I am saying is that you might be surprised at what you can achieve when you get out of your own way. I believe in you.

I’m not a therapist, just a person who has had some experience with climbing out of a hole. If you’d like to learn about the things that I did to do that, please join me February 1-16 for some helpful habits to bring you into the new year.

#mentalhealth #journey #newhabits #peace

A man of his word, @natepebbs delivered on his promise of naked hotdogs. You'll have to catch the full episode to see if he actually eats them, though 😜

Dropping at 5 pm today for your ride home, don't forget to listen to your favorite KADs on any of your favorite streaming services. For video, tune into YouTube channel @deepsouthkorean

#podcast #kad #hotdog #newepisode

A man of his word, @natepebbs delivered on his promise of naked hotdogs. You'll have to catch the full episode to see if he actually eats them, though 😜

Dropping at 5 pm today for your ride home, don't forget to listen to your favorite KADs on any of your favorite streaming services. For video, tune into YouTube channel @deepsouthkorean

#podcast #kad #hotdog #newepisode

Join me and @jasonroars for the rest of the conversation. We're sharing some of our dating experiences and having the best time laughing ourselves.

Part 2 is on Spotify and YouTube now💜💜🎙️🎙️

#korean #podcast #dating

Join me and @jasonroars for the rest of the conversation. We're sharing some of our dating experiences and having the best time laughing ourselves.

Part 2 is on Spotify and YouTube now💜💜🎙️🎙️

#korean #podcast #dating

For New Years, I made kimchi jigae. Well... sort of.

Growing up in southern WV, cabbage rolls were the traditional food of choice to bring good fortune and blessings for the year. If you've never had them, they're simply meatballs wrapped in cabbage and roasted in tomato sauce with sauerkraut.

I love them. As I got older, I requested extra sauerkraut for mine. As an adult, I would make cabbage roll soup to get a quick fix. Who would know that it was my body craving something I didn't know I knew?

When I say I sort of made kimchi jigae, it's because I made it with a cabbage roll in mind. In lieu of pork belly (I didn't want to deal with it😅), I made pork meatballs (do not reget it) and added some pork dumplings at the end. I skipped the tofu because it would just go to waste.

I poured my finished product over rice and ate with roasted seaweed. I feel like it's a perfect representation of me, and it's a reminder that my Korean identity is as big as I want it to be. I'm also amazed whenever I find similarities between Korean and Appalachian culture or cuisine. It reminds me that home was never that far away....

#kad #adoptee #korean #newyear #kimchi

For New Years, I made kimchi jigae. Well... sort of.

Growing up in southern WV, cabbage rolls were the traditional food of choice to bring good fortune and blessings for the year. If you've never had them, they're simply meatballs wrapped in cabbage and roasted in tomato sauce with sauerkraut.

I love them. As I got older, I requested extra sauerkraut for mine. As an adult, I would make cabbage roll soup to get a quick fix. Who would know that it was my body craving something I didn't know I knew?

When I say I sort of made kimchi jigae, it's because I made it with a cabbage roll in mind. In lieu of pork belly (I didn't want to deal with it😅), I made pork meatballs (do not reget it) and added some pork dumplings at the end. I skipped the tofu because it would just go to waste.

I poured my finished product over rice and ate with roasted seaweed. I feel like it's a perfect representation of me, and it's a reminder that my Korean identity is as big as I want it to be. I'm also amazed whenever I find similarities between Korean and Appalachian culture or cuisine. It reminds me that home was never that far away....

#kad #adoptee #korean #newyear #kimchi

We chose life over oysters lol. But we will be hitting a happy hour hard today 🤣😂😜

#newyear #redo #snowedin #cle #winterishere

We chose life over oysters lol. But we will be hitting a happy hour hard today 🤣😂😜

#newyear #redo #snowedin #cle #winterishere

I don’t know how many times I’ve watched this, and I’m still amazed at where I am ending 2025. There was a time when I would have given anything to be here. Not saying this is the finish line, but “here” is a major milestone for me. Survival. If you’ve ever had to, you know there is a break after the storm. Just for a moment, you don’t see all of the work ahead of you. You see the end and you see how far you’ve come and it doesn’t seem quite so impossible anymore.

You can rebuild. It’s not about making it through, it’s time to grow. A lot changed for me this year, but I would be wrong to think that it all happened in one year. You could say a lifetime, but for sure, the past four years. I’ve been burning crops, feeding and turning the soil. (You’ll have to forgive the analogy.) 2025, I got to plant some seeds. 2026 is gonna be harvest season, I know it.

If I could go back and tell myself anything, it would be this.

You may be feeling like you can’t breathe right now. You may feel alone and lost. Keep going. Even without a direction–keep going. I won’t lie. There isn’t a guarantee. No instruction manual or easy button, but there is an end to it. It just takes one step at a time.

Get therapy. Journal. Hydrate. Exercise (yea, I know). Stay present–you’re learning. Baby Steps…

If you’re still reading, thank you so much for being here. I will continue to be amazed at your interest in me and the things I care about. Here's to another year together💜💜💜✨✨✨

Happy New Year🎉🎉🎉🔥🐴

#nye #firehorse #babysteps #growth

I don’t know how many times I’ve watched this, and I’m still amazed at where I am ending 2025. There was a time when I would have given anything to be here. Not saying this is the finish line, but “here” is a major milestone for me. Survival. If you’ve ever had to, you know there is a break after the storm. Just for a moment, you don’t see all of the work ahead of you. You see the end and you see how far you’ve come and it doesn’t seem quite so impossible anymore.

You can rebuild. It’s not about making it through, it’s time to grow. A lot changed for me this year, but I would be wrong to think that it all happened in one year. You could say a lifetime, but for sure, the past four years. I’ve been burning crops, feeding and turning the soil. (You’ll have to forgive the analogy.) 2025, I got to plant some seeds. 2026 is gonna be harvest season, I know it.

If I could go back and tell myself anything, it would be this.

You may be feeling like you can’t breathe right now. You may feel alone and lost. Keep going. Even without a direction–keep going. I won’t lie. There isn’t a guarantee. No instruction manual or easy button, but there is an end to it. It just takes one step at a time.

Get therapy. Journal. Hydrate. Exercise (yea, I know). Stay present–you’re learning. Baby Steps…

If you’re still reading, thank you so much for being here. I will continue to be amazed at your interest in me and the things I care about. Here's to another year together💜💜💜✨✨✨

Happy New Year🎉🎉🎉🔥🐴

#nye #firehorse #babysteps #growth

Stay tuned to see if I risk my life for an oyster🫠

#happynewyear #nye #cle #winterishere

Stay tuned to see if I risk my life for an oyster🫠

#happynewyear #nye #cle #winterishere

I swear, I don't hate men, but learning to be the love I needed has made me more... discerning.

I swear, I don't hate men, but learning to be the love I needed has made me more... discerning.

My annual reminder to choose better 💜✨

My annual reminder to choose better 💜✨

This year I WILL have my cake and have it eaten, too 💁🏻‍♀️🍑

Yea. You read that right 🤣😂😜

#cake #fitness #workout #glutebridge #motivation

This year I WILL have my cake and have it eaten, too 💁🏻‍♀️🍑

Yea. You read that right 🤣😂😜

#cake #fitness #workout #glutebridge #motivation

I hope your holiday was as happy as mine. If I could influence anyone on anything, it would be to stop trying to live up to the social and capitalist expectations of EVERY holiday.

If I have learned anything the past five years, it has been that you shouldn't need a holiday to celebrate your love for those around you--including yourself. A few gifts under the tree don't compare to showing up in little ways day after day. This has always been a hope for me, but it has recently become a reality.

By loving myself, I have found better habits and beliefs and much better relationships. You know who you are 💜. There isn't a gift in this world greater than you, and you remind me each day how distance and busy lives are only minor details when it comes to true connection. I may have had a table for one, but I was far from alone.

If you're reading this, let my gift to you be the permission to be happy. Stop trying to live up to expectations that aren't meant for you. Be kind. Be proactive. Be yourself. The rest will actually fall into place.

💜💜Deep South Korean💜💜

#happyholidays #adoptee #thischristmas #influence #clevelandbraider @foodincleveland @clevelandvibes @funshisushi @sasacleveland

I hope your holiday was as happy as mine. If I could influence anyone on anything, it would be to stop trying to live up to the social and capitalist expectations of EVERY holiday.

If I have learned anything the past five years, it has been that you shouldn't need a holiday to celebrate your love for those around you--including yourself. A few gifts under the tree don't compare to showing up in little ways day after day. This has always been a hope for me, but it has recently become a reality.

By loving myself, I have found better habits and beliefs and much better relationships. You know who you are 💜. There isn't a gift in this world greater than you, and you remind me each day how distance and busy lives are only minor details when it comes to true connection. I may have had a table for one, but I was far from alone.

If you're reading this, let my gift to you be the permission to be happy. Stop trying to live up to expectations that aren't meant for you. Be kind. Be proactive. Be yourself. The rest will actually fall into place.

💜💜Deep South Korean💜💜

#happyholidays #adoptee #thischristmas #influence #clevelandbraider @foodincleveland @clevelandvibes @funshisushi @sasacleveland

Seoul Searching is back to finish the inaugural season with our interview episodes. Join me as I sit down with friends and creators alike who have a story to tell.

My hope with this next chapter of the podcast is to shed light on the many way we can view our lives and experiences and, hopefully, not remain victims of it. The people I talk with have not had "easy" lives, but they are thriving anyway. I have come to love their spirits, and I so admire their resilience.

Kicking us off is @jasonroars today at 5 PM EST. You can find all episodes on Spotify and YouTube. Links are in my bio.

#podcast #interview #seoulsearching #creator

Seoul Searching is back to finish the inaugural season with our interview episodes. Join me as I sit down with friends and creators alike who have a story to tell.

My hope with this next chapter of the podcast is to shed light on the many way we can view our lives and experiences and, hopefully, not remain victims of it. The people I talk with have not had "easy" lives, but they are thriving anyway. I have come to love their spirits, and I so admire their resilience.

Kicking us off is @jasonroars today at 5 PM EST. You can find all episodes on Spotify and YouTube. Links are in my bio.

#podcast #interview #seoulsearching #creator

Yes. I'm shameless. @anthonyjoshua call me😜

Yes. I'm shameless. @anthonyjoshua call me😜

Bored now... but feel free to let everyone know how starved for attention you are.

#tictac #cocktailstraw #mini #micro #tiny

Bored now... but feel free to let everyone know how starved for attention you are.

#tictac #cocktailstraw #mini #micro #tiny

PBS’s Between Goodbyes tells a story many people still don’t want to sit with.

Korean adoption wasn’t one single narrative — it was a convergence of trauma, war, and policy. Orphaned children born around U.S. camptowns. Mixed-race children rejected by a rigid society. Children abducted, sold, or funneled into adoption through coercion and fraud. Families broken by poverty, shame, and impossible social expectations.

Some adoptions were born from desperation. Others from exploitation. Many from a system that prioritized removal over support.

This documentary doesn’t offer easy answers — and that’s the point. It asks us to reckon with how mass international adoption became normalized, profitable, and exported as “good,” while the voices of adoptees and first families were silenced.

For those of us in the middle — adoptees, diaspora, survivors — our stories are not one-size-fits-all. And they deserve to be told with honesty, nuance, and humanity.

If you’ve never watched Between Goodbyes, this is your sign. And if you have — you already know how much it lingers.

🎬 Watch Between Goodbyes on PBS:
👉 https://www.pbs.org/video/between-goodbyes-7g47s0/

#adopteevoices #koreanadoptee #internationaladoption #betweengoodbyes #aapihistory #kad #adoptiontruth #camptowns #transracialadoption #pbsdocumentary #adopteecommunity

PBS’s Between Goodbyes tells a story many people still don’t want to sit with.

Korean adoption wasn’t one single narrative — it was a convergence of trauma, war, and policy. Orphaned children born around U.S. camptowns. Mixed-race children rejected by a rigid society. Children abducted, sold, or funneled into adoption through coercion and fraud. Families broken by poverty, shame, and impossible social expectations.

Some adoptions were born from desperation. Others from exploitation. Many from a system that prioritized removal over support.

This documentary doesn’t offer easy answers — and that’s the point. It asks us to reckon with how mass international adoption became normalized, profitable, and exported as “good,” while the voices of adoptees and first families were silenced.

For those of us in the middle — adoptees, diaspora, survivors — our stories are not one-size-fits-all. And they deserve to be told with honesty, nuance, and humanity.

If you’ve never watched Between Goodbyes, this is your sign. And if you have — you already know how much it lingers.

🎬 Watch Between Goodbyes on PBS:
👉 https://www.pbs.org/video/between-goodbyes-7g47s0/

#adopteevoices #koreanadoptee #internationaladoption #betweengoodbyes #aapihistory #kad #adoptiontruth #camptowns #transracialadoption #pbsdocumentary #adopteecommunity

Let's go!!! Just for fun, let's make a list of all the things you could have done with your time that was better than this.

I'll start... Being an actual man instead of an emotionally stunted, chipped shouldered little boy.

I bet you have the personality of curdled milk.

#clapback #micropenis #manchild #happysunday

Let's go!!! Just for fun, let's make a list of all the things you could have done with your time that was better than this.

I'll start... Being an actual man instead of an emotionally stunted, chipped shouldered little boy.

I bet you have the personality of curdled milk.

#clapback #micropenis #manchild #happysunday

Product list in bio!

Product list in bio!

It is definitely an adventure, but not all adventures are good ones

What I am learning from my male friends is that we are all a little apprehensive. No one knows what is ok or acceptable behavior. There are so many games to play, and you don’t always know which one you’re playing. Some may not even know that they’re playing at all.

Add to it the levels of trauma and relationship baggage that weighs us all down… the waters get murky. There seems to be an infinite amount of possibilities when it comes to the type of relationship someone even wants. While I love the freedom of expression and the ability to have what you want, I wish there were fewer variations to make it easier to find a match.

Then there’s the communication barrier. We may as well be speaking a different language. Word to the wise: listen to your friends. I have been learning from my male friends that there is A LOT that gets lost in translation. It’s ridiculous.

Last but not least, I am no longer dating with desperation. No judgement to those who are. We’ve all been there. I don’t NEED a man. I’d just like one. This new position has greatly influenced how I approach dating this time around.

I’m not the only one talking about it, though. I see it in conversations from people all around me. We’re dating in our late 30s to 40s, and we have a new perspective on relationships and what we want from them. We’re working on ourselves and trying to be better than before.

And it will all be so much easier if we could just be honest with ourselves and other people about who we are and what we want. Go figure.
#single #dating #asian #hinge @hinge (collab?)

It is definitely an adventure, but not all adventures are good ones

What I am learning from my male friends is that we are all a little apprehensive. No one knows what is ok or acceptable behavior. There are so many games to play, and you don’t always know which one you’re playing. Some may not even know that they’re playing at all.

Add to it the levels of trauma and relationship baggage that weighs us all down… the waters get murky. There seems to be an infinite amount of possibilities when it comes to the type of relationship someone even wants. While I love the freedom of expression and the ability to have what you want, I wish there were fewer variations to make it easier to find a match.

Then there’s the communication barrier. We may as well be speaking a different language. Word to the wise: listen to your friends. I have been learning from my male friends that there is A LOT that gets lost in translation. It’s ridiculous.

Last but not least, I am no longer dating with desperation. No judgement to those who are. We’ve all been there. I don’t NEED a man. I’d just like one. This new position has greatly influenced how I approach dating this time around.

I’m not the only one talking about it, though. I see it in conversations from people all around me. We’re dating in our late 30s to 40s, and we have a new perspective on relationships and what we want from them. We’re working on ourselves and trying to be better than before.

And it will all be so much easier if we could just be honest with ourselves and other people about who we are and what we want. Go figure.
#single #dating #asian #hinge @hinge (collab?)

Life update... I've rejoined a dating app, and I hate it. But if you'd like to sponsor my experience for content hmu @hinge 🤣😂

Who wants to take bets on whether or not I give up again before finding someone? 🙃

#dating #korean #woman #datingapp #hinge

Life update... I've rejoined a dating app, and I hate it. But if you'd like to sponsor my experience for content hmu @hinge 🤣😂

Who wants to take bets on whether or not I give up again before finding someone? 🙃

#dating #korean #woman #datingapp #hinge

“Hot Dogs & Aliens… When does size matter?” We cover everything from condiments, survival skills, and conspiracy theories.

The OnlyKADs Pod - streaming NOW on your favorite platform.

Dropping the first Wednesday of each month (or whenever we can get around to editing)

Join us for some fun with your OnlyKADs crew from all over the east coast and Asia:
April (@deepsouthkorean)
Jenna (@mayor.jenna.explores)
Claire (@claire_magenheimer) &
Nate (@natepebbs / @color_shift_tra)
We spill unfiltered truths and unhinged laughs with late-night, group-chat energy.. We just can’t help ourselves

Heads-up: Mature language and topics! Keep little DoKAD ears away

Got a topic or a question? Email us onlykadspod@gmail.com

#onlykads #koreanadoptee #adopteevoices #podcastlaunch #kadcommunity #unfilteredchats #onlykadspod #koreanamericanadoptee #kadvoices #transracialadoptee #adoptee #podcast

“Hot Dogs & Aliens… When does size matter?” We cover everything from condiments, survival skills, and conspiracy theories.

The OnlyKADs Pod - streaming NOW on your favorite platform.

Dropping the first Wednesday of each month (or whenever we can get around to editing)

Join us for some fun with your OnlyKADs crew from all over the east coast and Asia:
April (@deepsouthkorean)
Jenna (@mayor.jenna.explores)
Claire (@claire_magenheimer) &
Nate (@natepebbs / @color_shift_tra)
We spill unfiltered truths and unhinged laughs with late-night, group-chat energy.. We just can’t help ourselves

Heads-up: Mature language and topics! Keep little DoKAD ears away

Got a topic or a question? Email us onlykadspod@gmail.com

#onlykads #koreanadoptee #adopteevoices #podcastlaunch #kadcommunity #unfilteredchats #onlykadspod #koreanamericanadoptee #kadvoices #transracialadoptee #adoptee #podcast

I wouldn't share if I didn't love it myself. This pillow has a great bounce back which makes it super supportive and soft at the same time. I like that I can add extra filler to adjust to my comfort level.

I'm a side or back sleeper, and I like the standard shape. They do, however, offer a crescent shape for those who prefer it.

Use code DEEPSOUTHKOREAN or go to coopsleepgoods.com/DEEPSOUTHKOREAN to get 20% off your first purchase🎉🎉

I have been a fan of their Comphy sheets before they were bought out by @coopsleepgoods 💜

They are the best sheets, and I wouldn't want to sleep on any other. I'll share those soon!

#pillow #memoryfoam #discount #comphy

I wouldn't share if I didn't love it myself. This pillow has a great bounce back which makes it super supportive and soft at the same time. I like that I can add extra filler to adjust to my comfort level.

I'm a side or back sleeper, and I like the standard shape. They do, however, offer a crescent shape for those who prefer it.

Use code DEEPSOUTHKOREAN or go to coopsleepgoods.com/DEEPSOUTHKOREAN to get 20% off your first purchase🎉🎉

I have been a fan of their Comphy sheets before they were bought out by @coopsleepgoods 💜

They are the best sheets, and I wouldn't want to sleep on any other. I'll share those soon!

#pillow #memoryfoam #discount #comphy

Due to the holidays, we’re a little behind on recording. This month’s episode will be released this coming Wednesday, December 10.

Until then, show your support by purchasing merch for the pod ❤️❤️

#pod #onlykadspod #merch #shopsmall #support

Due to the holidays, we’re a little behind on recording. This month’s episode will be released this coming Wednesday, December 10.

Until then, show your support by purchasing merch for the pod ❤️❤️

#pod #onlykadspod #merch #shopsmall #support

Birthdays can be difficult for many of us. The day is a marker of so many things: one of them being loss. At the very least, it is a tether to a life that splintered into two paths. It is often the only thing that was ours and never taken.

Imagine the jarring sensation upon realizing that the day you thought was your birthday wasn't your birthday at all. It isnt as rare as you'd think.

Gotcha Days are also strange. Perhaps it's my own personal interpretation, and I wouldn't dispute someone else's experience. I just find it odd to celebrate the day a child was displaced into a stranger's home to be raised as their own. And don't people do that for their pets, too? It's just weird🤷🏻‍♀️

If you're an adoptee, how do you celebrate your birthday? Do you celebrate it at all? What would you like to do?

#birthday #adoptee #korean #koreanadoptee #transracialadoptee

Birthdays can be difficult for many of us. The day is a marker of so many things: one of them being loss. At the very least, it is a tether to a life that splintered into two paths. It is often the only thing that was ours and never taken.

Imagine the jarring sensation upon realizing that the day you thought was your birthday wasn't your birthday at all. It isnt as rare as you'd think.

Gotcha Days are also strange. Perhaps it's my own personal interpretation, and I wouldn't dispute someone else's experience. I just find it odd to celebrate the day a child was displaced into a stranger's home to be raised as their own. And don't people do that for their pets, too? It's just weird🤷🏻‍♀️

If you're an adoptee, how do you celebrate your birthday? Do you celebrate it at all? What would you like to do?

#birthday #adoptee #korean #koreanadoptee #transracialadoptee

It's my birthday week, and I am kicking it off with a treat to myself. Thank you, @groupon for making it possible lol

I've never done body sculpting of any kind before, but @keiyinbodywork does that, too!

This is not a sponsored ad or collab. I just like to show support for #smallbusiness. Especially, when they have great customer service.

#treatyoself #lymphaticmassage #ohio

It's my birthday week, and I am kicking it off with a treat to myself. Thank you, @groupon for making it possible lol

I've never done body sculpting of any kind before, but @keiyinbodywork does that, too!

This is not a sponsored ad or collab. I just like to show support for #smallbusiness. Especially, when they have great customer service.

#treatyoself #lymphaticmassage #ohio

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