Artist & Athlete
I was at Stretch*d getting a massage when the physical therapist was doing some fascial release and he goes, “you’re an athlete.” It’s different when someone else says you are. It felt good. I felt seen for the hard work I’ve been doing. “You’ve got to take care of yourself like an athlete, that means ice baths, sauna rooms, rest.”
He’s right. I am a fucking athlete. I’ve run for almost 2 decades and multiple times a week. While I might think of myself like this, I have neglected taking care of myself like one. Sure I run. But I don’t recover like an athlete does. I don’t eat like an athlete does. I want to though.
Before I die, I’d like to know how fast my body can run. So for a while, earlier this year, I had a 21-year old trainer who helped pace me at McCarren Track and strength train with me in Central Park. He was great. Honestly, I should probably hit him back up and resume that kind of training.
I think of myself as an artist and an athlete. I don’t know if anyone else thinks of me that way. But I do. “A storyteller and long distance runner” I wrote in my Twitter bio.
Sharing the story of my tech startup journey at an event at The Org
Identities are powerful so careful with what you label yourself.
I’m a runner because I run. I’m a storyteller because I tell stories— on Quora, Instagram, here this blog, at open mics, at our monthly storytelling club The Six in UES. I’m a community builder because I take care of the experience The Org team has when they come into work at New York City location. Eventually I see this to pouring externally. I’m a host for events because I help put on after work tech events.
Of course, the list can go on - I’m a daughter an immigrant, etc. The most important one and the one I hear Oprah say all the time, “I’m a child of God.” That is true and has been proven true over so many years in my life.
For the rest of this year and into 2023, I want to focus on the identity of being an artist and athlete. In that order, too.
Things that grew important to me recently:
Beauty in life and in work meaning leaving things better than how I found them, submitting work that LOOKS aesthetic, taking care of beautiful things, treating myself to things that make me feel beautiful, sleeping more
Creativity because I consume way too much and I feel lighter and more like myself when I create something. I love having something to say “hey world look at this, I made this for you to connect with me deeper. I made this for you to connect with yourself deeper. I made this for me but if it helps you then I am so happy.”
Feelings because it’s what drives decisions the most. Fucking feel them and be happy I can because it means I’m alive.
Freedom from perfection because I’m already naked and I have nothing to lose so it’s better to get started before I’m ready.
Healthy eating habits because I’m tired of my poor skin health and the feeling of fatigue in the late afternoons
Why now?
I didn’t know what it meant to be an artist. Growing up I thought it meant to be a painter or sculptor. While my grandmother said I drew well and had 손재주 (handicraft skills) I figured I had to take the doctor or lawyer or businessman route to make my father proud.
It’s not like I snap my fingers and my entire life journey pivots to an artists’ life.
I’m sharing this because I’ve felt this shift in me happen over the last couple of months. Being an artist and an athlete and stretching myself as a storyteller, writer, community builder, and runner are all areas I’m passionate about and curious to know how effective I can be in them.
