Dad’s birthday

hello dear, how are you? miss you 🤍

Today is my dad’s 68th birthday, my brother and I both took a day off from work to have some family time together. My dad has been craving for Japanese food because there aren’t many good and affordable ones in the UK, he doesn’t have high standards for food, so we figured that Japanese all you can eat suits him the best cause he can eat as much as he wants.

After that, I went to get his present, he said he wants the Samsung Watch and also his birthday cake. Then we had a simple dinner and a cake celebration.

I am not sure why, but this year for his birthday, I do feel strongly cherish this time that we can have together and celebrate his birthday. I guess it’s also because he is getting older, I can also tell his mobility declines every year. So it’s really worth being thankful for God for protecting him for another year that he hasn’t had any major health issue yet.

I look a bit tired, haha

I also bought a vintage camera toy recently, and i took these very old school photos of today with the camera

On the other hand, just sharing a bit of update about João. He’s been in low mood and experiencing some mental breakdown episodes in the last few days, so I’ve been texting with him on and off, but I feel like my role has shifted slightly to be more like “counselling” or just listening and standing by him as he shares his overwhelming thoughts and emotions with me over text.

I don’t really know how to explain it, but I do feel very moved to be in that role for him, not because I am romantically attracted by him, but perhaps I’ve been through a similar mental journey too, and I could really relate when he shares about his struggles and emotions. It reminds me so much of myself few years ago, but more than that, I was reminded how my therapist friend walked alongside with me in a healthy distance as a very good friend. I really appreciated that and want to be able to do the same when I see someone in need. In fact, since I met João, I have always felt God must have his reason to put this person in my life suddenly at this specific timing. So perhaps this is one of the things that God wants me to do, to walk with someone who’s going through similar journey as I had before.

But as I do that, I am also very aware that I am also still in my own journey, and sometimes I still struggle too mentally. So it’s always more important that I take good care of myself before I try to take care of the others.

Love you and good night, dear 🤍

My outfit today, I actually had a short inside but it disappeared and I look like I am bottomless, haha