KaDeWo - The Joy Advocate

The night I turned “flirty 30”, I dreamt in color for the first time. I remember this so vividly, be c ause up until then I had only saw black, grey and white in all my dreams. Before this unexpected surprise, I didn’t even know it was possible to dream in color; my family and friends don’t talk about dreams regularly. I love dreams and have spent a lot of time reading interpretations. Dreams about rushing water usually a direct link to the dreamer feeling out of control in a relationship or a blazing fire can signify anger or the rebirth of something significant in the dreamer’s life. Many moons ago, I read that the average person has 100 dreams a night and is lucky enough to recall one or two when the wake up. And when remembered, the focus is on what occurred and sometimes what we felt — emotionally and physically — and not the colors seen or sounds heard. As a child, my dad and I discussed the toilet dream…You know the one where you think you’ve made it to the bathroom and relieve ...

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Lol It's necessary to greet you this way, because more than a year has passed since I last wrote. I must apologize to myself for that. Some of you dear readers know that I returned to the United States at the end of September 2018; so it is has almost been a year since I returned from life abroad... and GIRRRRLLL the transition has been full of UPS and DOWNS ...Break ups... moving twice ....three new positions.... incorporating exercise at least 3 days a week ... adjusting to a change in my eating habits to lose 40lbs in order to help an injury that happened a year prior... ending a first-time car lease to buy a new car ...returning to therapy to address childhood trauma... re-examining my struggle with codependency in order to encourage healthier relationships with my pare nts, siblings and close friends ...continuing my daily and weekly self-care routine...  and living single (cue sitcom theme song ) in the States alone for the first time. All I can say is that ...

Today marks the 7 year anniversary for this evolving blog. I am so GRATEFUL for all the readers (purposeful and accidental) that have visited to read my thoughts and opinions. Viewer/readership is UP, UP, UP!! =D  I am AMAZED at how this blog has grown. I APPRECIATE that YOU would use your free time to read through the topics that I find interesting and worth starting a dialogue about. I could not let another year pass without writing YOU a brief note to express my enormous GRATITUDE. Thank you for those of you who have shared, scrolled, followed and talked about this personal outlet.  I have come to love brainstorming, drafting, editing and publishing my words. Without an audience these posts would not continue. Thank you for VALUING this creative space. Continue reading and sharing. Every viewer is essential to this blog. The 7th year is special to me, because I believe the number seven is a number of completion. Who knows how long this blog will exist, but...

When I started teaching English in South Korea I entered in the middle of the school year. The fall semester had commenced when I came in at the end of August 2016. The start of the new academic year commenced in March 2017. After six months of working in a new school, living in a new country and rapidly adjusting to a new culture and community I felt the level in which I was getting to know my coworkers was moving at a slow pace. Although we ate lunch together, several teachers talked around me but not to me. I thought about this one evening and decided that when the new semester started I would write a Welcome Letter.  In my Temple University undergraduate education courses, one of my seasoned professors had us create a Welcome Letter as an introductory assignment. I am so happy that I took that assignment seriously and saved it with my files I knew I would use throughout my teaching career. When I student taught I wrote and distributed a letter to all of my students and it helpe...

For the past several years, she had been on a mindful journey to identify and make peace with her au t hentic self. With the aid of the therapists she reached the goal and began to naturally embrace her authentic self with love. She didn’t even realize the healing was occurring. Yes, she wanted to accept and be at peace with this woman whom she partly knew and would fully come to know. She stared at herself thinking,  I truly love her . She didn’t judge her or make her feel bad about her choices. Mainly because she is now honest with herself, after finding it hard to embrace some “ugly” or “undesirable” parts of herself. This 33-year-old woman found her inner child and let her out, she didn’t always worry about who saw her inner child anymore. She decided to be less guarded and more engaged in the present. She consciously chose to love her faults and subconsciously emerged into a goddess inspiring those close to her. She was fully aware of those in her immediate vicinity who were o...

Happy Thanksgiving! I was fortunate enough to attend a local KOTESOL chapter fall event in Daejeon and hear a message from Eunkoo Lee and Casey Lartigue, co-founders of the  Teach North Korean Refugees  (TNKR) organization.  TNKR  is a life-changing program that raises money and helps North Koreans, who are able to escape the country, adjust to life in a democracy and tell their stories as a form of healing.    Listening to these two passionate speakers caused me to reflect on my summer introduction to North Korean person who had only been out of the country for less than two years. During this summer tour we visited the DMZ to see the double-fenced, wildlife barrier that exists at the point where South and North Korea meet.  *This person explained the difficult adjustment that occurs when one has NOT had access to 24-hour electricity, processed food in numerous commercial stores, ridiculous  amounts of outlets for entertainment - includ...

 Entrance, outside the elevator doors Examination room In March of 2017, I had my first dentist appointment since relocating to SK. I was a little overdue, because my six month check up should have occurred in January. It was not very hard to find an English speaking dentist once I GTS. I found an expat forum that recommended a few doctors. I chose the one closest to my residence that had an English speaking staff and receptionist, Berkeley Dental Office with Dr. Man Hee Park. I had no idea what to expect as far as the conditions of her office, other than previous clients stating it was clean. I was delighted to find a spacious, modern, calm and welcoming atmosphere. The lobby is incredibly spacious and inviting; however, I did not have much time to spend on the comfy couch, because I only had to wait 5 minutes or less. I entered the glass doors to a brightly lit room with a flat screen TV and lots of seating, along the walls various Dr. Park’s degrees and advertisements ...