Valentine’s Day tends to stir many kinds of feelings within us–yearning, excitement, disappointment, skepticism, ambivalence, thrill. Most of the time, though, we exclusively associate Valentine’s Day with a romantic notion of love when in reality, there are multiple types of love that are equally as important to making our lives feel grounded and fulfilled.

Through the process of setting goals for the New Year, I have learned that my goals need to be connected to my values in order to feel meaningful. Sometimes, the most challenging part of goal setting is not identifying the goal but following through on the necessary action steps to meet the goal.

One of the biggest reasons why New Year's resolutions fail is because we set unrealistic expectations for ourselves and then beat ourselves up when we inevitably fall short. However, when we are hardest on ourselves is when we need to practice self-compassion the most.

If you find yourself a caretaker this holiday season–of children, of siblings, of parents, of partners, of family members, of friends, of yourself–you might experience feelings of dread, overwhelm, confusion, anger, sadness, excitement, anticipation, and joy. And you might feel all of these all at once, which can add to the overwhelm and confusion.

While you may be familiar with talk therapy–sitting down across a computer screen or room and talking with a licensed therapist about everything from relationship dynamics to stress to other mental health challenges–many people are still learning about non-talk therapies and their power to help heal.

Celebrating the Latinx community, not only September 15-October 15, but all year long, is an important practice of solidarity, connection, and justice. Chasing Justice reminds us, yet again, that some of the ways we can practice this kind of solidarity, connection, and justice are: applauding Latinx beauty, absorbing Latinx resilience, acknowledging Latinx struggles, and advocating for Latinx humanity.

July is Disability Pride Month and July was chosen because the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was passed on July 26, 1990. The ADA prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities, including in employment, transportation, public accommodations, communications, and in relation to access to state and local government services.

Black and Indigenous people and other people of color (BIPOC) experience a broad spectrum of ongoing discrimination, oppression, and inequity rooted in America’s colonialist history, all of which foster both collective and individual trauma in those communities. Learn more from the resources and organizations below to promote BIPOC Mental Health, not only in July but all year long…

I find this time of year particularly special for reflecting on what I’ve learned while existing in both Asian and queer spaces, as well as how I’ve navigated these two identities over time. I often struggle to understand what it means for someone like me, both biracial and bisexual, to occupy these worlds when it can feel like I barely make the cutoff for earning inclusion in these spaces.