What is a liminal state?
A state of transition; a ritual passage from one stage to the next; an in-between phase marked by ambiguity and uncertainty. Basically, it’s middle-aged life.
Welcome to Everything is Liminal
I used to write a blog called Sweet Fine Day from 2008–2019(ish) that documented our life as small business owners while raising kids in NYC. Before that, I was a partner in a blog network that covered products for kids and tech gadgets for women. And even before those blogs, I published a webzine on Asian American pop culture. I’ve rambled on the internet since 1999. That is a lot of rambling.
After taking some years off from writing, I’ve decided that I needed to write. The last few years have been a lot, and midlife is wild; maybe you’re feeling it too.
This is a newsletter with a collection of personal essays about:
the joys of midlife (with a side of sarcasm)
navigating another new shift in my design career (I have failed miserably at every turn in my quest for better work/life balance)
leaving said career to return to my first love: art (it’s only taken 32 years!)
raising adult teens (who have already started to leave the nest)
caring for elderly parents (only one living now)
processing death and grief (it’s a loooong journey)
my ongoing journey of getting back in touch with my Korean heritage
rambling commentary on current events (hoo boy, this world is a lot)
I was never very good at staying in one niche, so why start now?
Why should I subscribe?
If any of these topics are of interest to you, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. I publish once a week on Wednesdays and new posts will land in your inbox.
Wait, there’s a paid subscription?
If you were familiar with my old blog, you may remember that as a blogger I was really terrible about monetizing (meaning, I didn’t). Sometimes I really kick myself for not leaning into the opportunities I had to make money off the old blog. Maybe my life back then would have been a tiny bit easier had I not been so stubborn about maintaining my integrity as an ad-free, non-sponsored blog. But writing takes a lot of time, so I’ve turned on paid subscriptions (I’m making real progress in the name of capitalism, I’m really trying!). If you’re enjoying my newsletters, I hope you will consider becoming a paid subscriber. It will really help keep me writing, but most weekly posts will remain free.
A little about me
I’m a 1.5 generation Asian American raised in New York City, a mother of 2 teenagers, and a UX and product designer who has spent the last 20 years working with consumer brands, agencies, NGOs, and early-stage tech startups building products and brands. I co-founded a bakery with my pastry chef husband from 2008–2020. I’m currently on a self-proclaimed (semi) sabbatical while I figure out my next move in life.