apologies for the yap fest this is surely going to become…
So, it’s July…
How are we doing so far? How are we feeling mentally? Physically? Emotionally? Are there things we want to do later this year? Is there anything we wanna take away from these past six months?
For me, looking back and remembering all the things that have happened so far, I’d say it’s been a pretty solid year for me! I’m proud of some of the things I’ve managed to accomplish and in various ways, I’m more motivated than ever. On the other hand, I can also see where I want to improve and where I’m faltering a little bit at reaching my current goals. But, we’ll get to that later on.
Things I’m Proud Of:
For the first time ever, I was given the opportunity to be a cosplay guest at an event! Cool, right? It was a Glotaku Cosplay Rave and incidentally, it was also my first rave as well! It was an amazing time; I not only judged a cosplay competition, I also got a kandi bracelet from a very sweet person, which helped me feel included into this community.
Another first this year? Momocon! Though not my first out of state con (that goes to 2023 Dreamcon), it was my first Momocon and ATL con. I went with a couple of friends and it was amazing being able to travel again. Momocon itself was great as well! Getting meet friends IRL for the first and getting to hangout with my longtime ones created such a fun experience; and one of my friends even photographed my first cosplay shoot! Honestly, I don’t know if I’ll go back to Momocon next year, but that’s because I’m going to Blerdcon instead! (wink wink)
Things To Work On:
Like everyone else when the new year started, I was very on top of the goals I created this year. I made very specific goals, instead of bigger broader ones (i.e. save money, get fit, etc.) to actually work on specific things in my lifestyle. Some of these goals included:
-Have at least $500 in my savings
-Cut out pop/soda from my diet
-Start my journaling journey
These goals are more targeted and have been easier to measure my progress, for better or worse. When I areas I’m faltering in, saving money is a consistent fixture on that list. With my savings goal, I actually hit it early this year and I was immensely proud of myself and made the resolution to keep going. However, that was when I started to stumble a little. In these earlier months I was proactive in monitoring my spending habits, I was also doing noticeably less.
Then my year started to ramp up. I was going to conventions and events, all of which cost money ofc. And with these changes to my routine, I wasn’t able to modify my own money habits to accommodate. So while I hit my goal early, I wasn’t able to build and maintain that momentum. So in the next couple months, I want to work on paying things off, learning and building budgeting habits as a way to take my goal even further!
This wasn’t part of my initial goals list, but another area I want to work on is my self love and confidence. I’ve gotten out of the habit of positive affirmations, and back into the habit of negative self talk and jokes. This isn’t a good thing, especially when I can see how it’s affecting my mentality and self worth. Overall, I want to be a more positive presence and that’s really gonna have to start with myself.
I’ve already starting to bring back affirmations in my daily routine and have even been writing quotes and song lyrics that represent how I want to see myself and how I want to be. I’m also checking books out from the library (and rereading a favorite) that might help steer me in the right direction. I deserve to be kind to myself and love myself as I am y’know?
It’s good to reflect on the missteps you make. I’m not always gonna be perfect, there’s plenty to work on and towards, but acknowledging these things and making the effort to do better is the important part. We should continuously work towards being better individuals, if not for everyone else’s sake, di it for you’re own.
The Next Six Months…
I have many things I want to do, that I want to accomplish in this later half of the year. I haven’t thought in detail all the way to December, but there are things that I know I want to get done. For more short term plans, I’ve created a summer bucket list that I’m eager to complete, some of which will crossed off very soon.
Sundai’s Summer Bucket List:
-Go to a Tea Party
-Have my first stream
-Have my SpongeBob Birthday Picnic
-Go to a concert
-Start making a new cosplay
-Finish 3 manga series
-Try a new cafe
Like I said, some of these things are definitively going to happen (I’m Lucky Daye on the 28th! ), but I’m also optimistic that I can many of these done before summer is over! Most of these are for fun, but I do have more career and/or improvement goals as well, but they’re less… fully formed. They’re more half baked, random thoughts that need to be fleshed out. I’m still working on those, still figuring out what I want to do, what growth looks like for me. Later on, I may make a new post with those goals when I have them more or less set in stone.
Taking time to make sure things are the way you want is vital. I wish I could just complete my reflection in a short 30min timeframe, but it’s not like that. Goal planning, self improvement all take time. Wisdom takes time. It’s better to go at your pace and do things in a way that works for you. Keep at it ’til it’s the way you want it to be. You’re trying, that’s what matters.
Other Cool Things
I wanna take a little time to talk about the other things that have been going on with me lately!
I went to see Princess Mononoke in the theaters with some friends! It’s good to spoil yourself and watching a Ghibli movie on the big screen is a treat for sure! We went and bubble tea first, then headed over to the cinema. It’s been years since I’ve seen Princess Mononoke and I almost forgot how phenomenal this movie it was. Having the opportunity to see this on the big screen too? It was a magical experience!
I mentioned earlier how I was going to a concert right? Well, while I was planning my outfit for the event, I couldn’t find a skirt in the style nor color I wanted. It was frustrating at first, but then I decided to bite the bullet and actually make the skirt I wanted. I don’t have much experience with these types of projects, but I have successfully made a skirt I’ll be proud to wear during the concert! I’ll share pics of the full concert fit to the Virtual Closet after it happens!
I’m journaling! I bought both a journal and planner and they have so far been the joys of my life. After spending a lot, A LOT, of time searching for the exact journals and planners I wanted, they arrived in the mail and I’ve had a blast using them since.
Aren’t they cute?? I made it a point to get exactly the ones I wanted, without a single concession because I’ve realized that if I didn’t do that, these would just be added to the pile of unused journals that’s been gathering dust whoops. I WANT to use these because these are the ones I wanted, I get excited to use these when I know everything will be organized in the way I like it. This may seem like a small thing, but I recommend that you don’t budge on getting the things you want.
People may judge or have their own opinions, but you’re doing this for YOU. If having the pink, hello kitty, monthly-weekly, horizontal XL planner is what you want and what will get you to actually use the thing you’re buying (with your money no less), then go for it! It makes you happy, that’s not a crime. Just be mindful to not overconsume and just buy everything because it looks cute.
Ah… this is getting a bit long. I’ll end it here with a couple of song lyrics that have been keeping me going lately.
“Don’t ask me how I did, I just did it, it was hard.” – Nothin To it by ON THE HUNT, Chandler
“I’m a baddie and I don’t know how to act.” – Candy Paint by Normani
Sundai Paper 
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