Virtual Breakfast Date

Posted on April 1, 2020 by Alison @ Daily Moves and Grooves

Never in Daily Moves and Grooves history has a virtual breakfast date been so apropos! I hope you and yours are still holding up well.

I forgot to take a photo of my breakfast, but it wasn’t that exciting anyway (Greek yogurt with banana, cinnamon, chia seeds, and pb + a side of almonds and pistachios). Here’s a prettier breakfast from the past!

…I would tell you that my quarantine life has been rather peaceful and fruitful. I am fully aware that it is the complete opposite for so many people right now — death, suffering, exhaustion, instability, fear, heartache. Those realities hit me, too, don’t get me wrong. But I am also extremely grateful that these past couple weeks have given me a time to grow more deeply in prayer and {socially distanced} communication with so many friends.

My current day-to-day involves some studying for the PT boards exam (that isn’t until July 28, so studying in small doses for now), job applications, a phone call (or two or three) with friends, long walks, some moves and grooves, and a lot of prayer.

I was talking to my friend Emma yesterday, telling her how this time has been so peaceful and fruitful, despite the vast unknown ahead. We discussed that oftentimes, God strengthens people with periods of consolation and peace for more trying times ahead.

That thought scares me a bit, but whatever He’s got in store for the rest of the year, I know He will help me through it. This time to reflect on His Goodness and Truth, I’m sure, is part of that help.

…I would tell you that my time in Boston is coming to an end soon. I have decided to move back home to New York after 6 incredible years in Boston. I don’t have a job set in NY just yet, but either way, my plan is to move back in with my very gracious (and excited) parents to save some money for the next year or so as I finally make a salary after being in school for so long. From there, if my heart still longs for Boston, I can move back and become more settled (just with a little more financial stability).

The fact that I don’t get a graduation ceremony next month makes me sad for 0.0000001 seconds and then I’m over it. But man, will I miss my dear friends here, who have truly become my family. I was walking through the very empty Boston University campus yesterday, and my emotions went from 0 to 100 real quick. I don’t love BU for BU, but for how it brought so many different people to one place for a multitude of different reasons. And now those people have built a solid foundation of faithful friendship that continues to grow and flourish, and for that I am (literally) eternally grateful.

…I would tell you that you are so loved.

…I would thank you for coming to my emotional virtual breakfast date.

…I would complain about how my breakfast is now salty from my tears.

…I would ask you:

How is your quarantine life?

What did you eat for breakfast?

What are some recent reflections you have on your current situation / the world’s situation?

What are your thoughts on the unknown future ahead of us?

I Would Like to (Actually) Blog Daily

Posted on October 15, 2019 by Alison @ Daily Moves and Grooves

I mean…this blog is called DAILY Moves and Grooves, is it not?

Here’s the thing: I have not blogged consistently for the past two years thanks to grad school. I am deterred from blogging because I feel like I need to have perfectly-themed and cohesive content in every post, and that takes TIME. But maybe that’s not entirely necessary…

I believe in the power of creativity, whatever that may be, as an outlet; it can be a tool for both personal growth and for fostering social connection. I also don’t want to let this hobby of mine die, not now at least. I’ve got less than a year until full-time, real-world work, baby, so I’m gonna soak up this time.

So how about some shorter posts? Posts with snippets of potentially relatable content that help you and I start a conversation, casual or deep. Or for you to just feel like you’re not alone. Or for me to process my life. All of the above?

I’ll try it out.

(Unfortunately, there will likely be limited to no photos in posts to come because ya girl has very little media storage space left. But perhaps take this as a break from image overload that you get on Instagram and Facebook anyway.)

Moves: If you watched my day in the life vlog from yesterday, you might have picked up on the fact that I was supposed to run a half marathon this past Sunday but decided it was in my best interest to NOT run it due to a (self-diagnosed) stress fracture in my femur. I’m walking, but running is not a happy time. I’ve been focusing on low impact workouts lately, and that’s just what I did yesterday.

20 minutes (5 rounds, 30 sec on, 10 sec off):

KB sumo deadlifts (50#)
modified v-ups
push-up to renegade row (15# DBs)
plank ➔ step to stand ➔ deadlift (15# DBs)
tabletop sit throughs
mountain climbers

I do not actually know if I have a stress fracture, but I will get it checked out ASAP because it’s been over 2 weeks now, and it hasn’t really made much progress. No worse, but no better either. (So…do not take this workout as something I would necessarily recommend based on the diagnosis of a stress fracture; this just felt good yesterday.)

Crying out of nowhere. I’ve been going through waves of feeling like I’m great and then feeling totally ashamed of all the crappy things I do in my life. Very clearly in my heart when I was feeling the latter yesterday (I was packing my backpack or something mundane like that), I felt like God was saying, “Hey, stop that. Stop. I love you.” And I started crying out of nowhere. I didn’t want to cry because I had just put on makeup, so tears were extremely inconvenient, but when the Spirit moves, He moves.

Hibachi. I had a date at a hibachi restaurant last night, and I think my sodium levels skyrocketed so much that I must have been borderline hypertensive. They squirt soy sauce on everything as if it’s the water that will put out the little onion volcano fire. I also couldn’t catch whatever the chef threw at my mouth. But it was fun and the company was lovely!

Family. I realize that I should call my family more often (hiiii, mom and pop and Ben).

Day off. Due to schedule shuffling thanks to the Monday holiday, I actually do not have classes today either! That just means catching up on all the things I should have done earlier this weekend.

Have a great Tuesday! Happy feast day of St. Teresa of Avila ♥︎

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Ascension Catholic (@catholicfaithformation)

So tell me:

What do you think of this format of blog posting? Yay? Nay?

When was the last time you cried out of nowhere?

Have you ever gone to a hibachi restaurant? Do you like the food?

What did you do this weekend?

Oh, I’m Going to Ireland For Four Months?

Posted on September 5, 2016 by Alison @ Daily Moves and Grooves

OneRepublic creates the perfect travel music.

It just gets you pumped up for adventure and LIFE.

I’m currently at the airport, waiting for my flight to Dublin, Ireland, where I will be studying and interning for the next four months. Remember when I said I have no feelings towards studying abroad? Well that void of emotion remains.

But I would be lying if I said I wasn’t a little bit nervous, slightly sad, and possibly excited. I’ve had fear of missing out (aka “FOMO”) at Boston University this semester, but I listened to a podcast from Fr. Mike Schmitz, and he encouraged his listeners to avoid letting fear become the motivating factor in our lives, because then it becomes a limiting factor as well. Instead, we should make gratitude our motivating factor.

I listened to that podcast on Friday night when I was super sad about leaving Boston, and the Fr. Mike’s words could not have come at a better time.

I am grateful for the opportunity to study abroad in a beautiful country, to meet new friends, and to learn more about myself and the world outside of my comfort bubble.

My family just dropped me off after we had a quick takeout meal from Duzan in Queens. I had an utterly stuffed chicken schwarma pita that was absolutely delicious.

That should tide me until breakfast/midnight snack on the flight.

I have no idea what to expect for these next four months, but I am at peace. I can’t wait to see what God has in store.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Alison Yeung, PT, DPT (@alison_grooves)

P.S. I ran 2.5 miles this morning and enjoyed it?? I was wiped by the end (lol), but the weather was crisp and lovely, and my legs felt strong. A nice way to move and groove before leaving the country.

DSC_2717 (1)

last breakfast in the states was an overnight oatmeal banana blueberry peanut butter smoothie in a jar 🙂

I should go try to look for the other students on my flight instead of being a blogging hermit in the corner.

I guess I’ll catch ya on the flip side! European friends, hit me up!!!

Feeling, Thinking, Knowing

Posted on November 16, 2015 by Alison @ Daily Moves and Grooves

There’s either cheese or yogurt on my backpack right now. Whichever one it is, I’m not surprised.

Last week, y’all.

First and foremost: The brokenness of our world resurfaced last week, most significantly with the Paris terrorist attacks. I’m sure many of you have also heard voices speaking up about other tragic world events that were just as horrific as the Paris attacks, such as the the bombings in Beirut. The bottom line is that there are a lot of injustices in the world—halfway across the world and in our own communities. We must show love. We must show compassion. We must pray for all.

12049157_953784677993993_5330547645574741255_n

[source]

Personally, last week was hectic and…weird. In addition to the all the tragedies we learned about, there were a ton of yo-yo-ing emotions going on inside of me as a result of daily happenings.

Nothing seemed constant. Feeling on top of the world at one hour, feeling like a failure the next. Feeling independent one day, feeling dependent the next. The only thing that was constant was this cycle of feeling, thinking, and knowing.

I would feel a certain way.

I would think about what I should make of my feelings.

I would force myself to move on based on what I know.

Let’s look at some examples:

Feeling discouraged by my so-so grade in one of my classes. Thinking about how I might not get the GPA I want at the end of the semester. Knowing that the only thing I can do is work my butt off and study hard for my upcoming exams. There’s no point in sulking.

Processed with VSCOcam with c1 preset

haha, stress.

Feeling annoyed at a friend. Thinking about how I could have avoided this annoying situation. Knowing that I am incredibly blessed to have such loving friends who truly want me to be happy, even if it can come across as terribly irksome.

Processed with VSCOcam with c1 preset

Feeling mildly sad about boy life. Thinking about all the {insanely adorable} relationships emerging among my friends. Knowing that I only need to worry about being the right person and letting God do his thang. Also, I am forever thankful for my guy friends who make their gal friends feel valuable and loved.

Feeling “soft” and “pudgy”. Thinking about what it would require to shed some body fat — eating fewer calories, doing high intensity workouts more often, and possibly sabotaging my progress regarding my relationship with exercise. Knowing that it’s not. freaking. worth it. I feel stronger and more energetic in my body than ever, so #guatever.

Processed with VSCOcam with c1 preset

don’t hold back that peanut butter

Feeling lost, down, and empty. Thinking about what I need to do to be better, look better, feel better. Knowing that the only One who can make me whole is God. As our priest, Fr. Barnes (he has a blog!), said in his sermon yesterday [paraphrasing]: The only thing that is constant is God. He keeps His promises and His love never wavers.

I like that a lot.

Wishing you all a fantastic week ahead. American Thanksgiving is coming. AGHHHHHH. In the meantime, go have some buttered toast, because it a neglected delicacy.

Processed with VSCOcam with c1 preset

So tell me:

One thing you felt, thought, and knew last week.

Three things on schedule this week! Two tests, work, and an a cappella concert on Friday!

Do you like buttered toast?

So Many Emotions

Posted on May 19, 2014 by Alison @ Daily Moves and Grooves

Hello there!

Sorry for disappearing on Friday— I had my fascinating links and everything, and I was trying to type up a post in school, but there just wasn’t enough time. Thursday night was also a whirlwind, which you’ll see in a moment.

I’ve cried {good tears} THREE times in the past four days, so I’ve just been on an emotional roller coaster this weekend. Maybe I’m just hormonal??

Linking up with Katie’s MIMM, because being emotional is marvelous 😉

Thursday

Feeling sad yet thankful at our last school concert. I’ve been involved in the music program at my school for 6 years now, so I’ve developed a great relationship with not only my peers in the music program, but my teachers as well. They’re some of the coolest people I know.

Annual concert selfie with Daliza

My friend Daliza was bawling on stage (love you, lady), and the rest of us teared up a little bit too for our last song, “I Will” by the Beatles. Nope, this doesn’t usually happen to seniors at their last concert. We’re just a special breed.

Daliza, Apaula, and I with our super awesome vocal teacher {what da freak is up with my arm?!}

We ate our feelings at the diner with our music teachers and all the seniors that performed.

Shared banana pancakes with Daliza

“Banana pancakes” just like Jack Johnson!

Friday

Feeling stunned that my friend Michael bought me not one, but TWO jars of no-salt, organic peanut butter. As if his prom-posal wasn’t awesome enough!! He says it’s a gift for all the times I’ve given him a ride and the one time I made him a strawberry banana smoothie, but uh…other than that, I didn’t do anything for these!

Kid knows what he’s doing. Thanks so much, Michael! I’m set for a month now. Maybe. 😉

Feeling just pain emotional while listening to this heart-tugging original song:

Like, sobbing in my bedroom by myself.

Feeling disappointed that the avocado for which I had been patiently waiting to ripen turned out to be a dud. I cut it as usual, and when I twisted it open, the skin just came off by itself…

I tried to salvage the avocado by cutting around the pit, but it was actually still really hard despite being on the counter to ripen for several days. When I tasted it, I could tell that there was something funky about it, so I chucked it. *sigh*

Saturday

Feeling blessed to see some of my third grade religion students receive their First Communion on such a glorious day!

Little angels

Feeling like a bro driving with my window down and sun roof open. Heh.

Feeling energized after a nap and some awesome moves outside. I’m gettin’ a little better at those double unders! The most I strung together was 20. I also got some unassisted pistol squats in there! (I guess eating more helps you become stronger or something ;))

Feeling blissful eating peanut butter banana soft serve again (aka the most ingenious dessert known to mankind).

Feeling inspired while watching the Crossfit Games Regionals online. They are all INSANE athletes. (<— Feeling guilty because I totally used this as procrastination from my economics paper…whoops.)

Sunday

Feeling touched by the support and love for our pastor at church who is retiring this year. I teared up when one of the other priests sang a song for our departing pastor at the end of our big thanksgiving Mass for him.

Feeling proud that I am Asian…Because I have a mother that can make things like coconut sticky rice with sweet, ripe mangoes.

Mom: “It’s like a five-star restaurant!”

Indeed, ma!

Feeling confused because our power went out for about 15 minutes, even though the weather was perfect yesterday.

Feeling in awe of my superhero dad. He was serving others non-stop yesterday—giving out report cards at Sunday School, serving Mass, talking to people in the church, going to a pro-life rally, doing political campaigning, and mowing the lawn. Not a peep of a complaint came out of him.