Heartwork ~ 26.6.2020

“serious transformations begin with two commitments:

the courage to try new things and act in new ways

the honesty needed to no longer hide from or  lie to ourselves.” 

~ @yungpueblo

~ Hwang In Yeop a.k.a Han Seo Jun appreciation post ~

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GIF Credits: GIF 2:  nicoledrg, Pinterest | GIF 3, 5: Tumbex | GIF 4: pinterest.co.kr | GIF 8, 11: We Heart It | GIF 9: Tumbral | GIF 10: @princesshibanaa​ 

Don’t Let Your Past Dictate Your Present Is What  I Learnt From ‘Chocolate’

For every drama I've loved so far, there's an inner Anvi screaming "O, my god! What a show! Go watch it!". It's screaming very loudly for this one as well.

My third drama to be precise and my first Korean one, ‘Chocolate’ (2019) had my heart in a knot and made me weep like a baby. It took every broken piece inside me and took its time in gluing it back with a little bit more magic and love.

Man, this show. Oh man, this show.

A tale of two childhood sweethearts, Dr. Kang and chef Moon Cha Young, the two reunite after nearly two decades with only Cha Young recognizing her first love. Dr. Lee Kang, an illegitimate heir of a big medical institution, lives with his step-family who wants nothing more than his inheritance. A boy who once dreamed of becoming a chef, Kang now seeks revenge for his mother's death.

Moon Cha Young has had it rough in life. A survivor of a terrifying building crash, she finds solace in food and cooking. Suffering from post-traumatic disorder, Cha Young keeps to herself, until Kang's best friend falls for her.

(I won't spill the beans further because that would just unravel the plot making it pointless to watch. Which is precisely what I don't want --- I want you to watch the drama and fall head over heels for it and cry buckets just like I did.)

Kang and Cha Young cross paths once again in a hospice for terminally ill patients and it is here, amidst stories of love, death, family and friendship that they begin to know each other.

The drama is tear-jerker, NGL. But I didn't mind that one bit. It isn't a light watch, it is mature and heavy and worth every minute of your precious time.

As is typical of drama male leads, Kang's initial treatment of Cha Young pissed the shit out of me even though I could understand where his attitude stemmed from -- Cha Young after all, broke the heart of his only and best friend. Still, I wanted to punch the man in his face a lot of times. And I also wanted to shake the hell out of Cha Young for returning to him time and again like a wounded puppy. Thank god she stopped after a while, thank god for some self-respect.

I also love, love the side-cast in this show. What freaking cool actors and boomers. I particularly love head nurse Ha Young Shi who's totally cool, gives zero shits about gender stereotypes and goes all in with her heart. Then there is Lee Joon who's narrative I particularly enjoyed, especially the way he chose to let his own heart guide him rather than his family's expectations of him. I loved Director Kwon Hyun Sik, a father figure to Kang and an absolutely beautiful man.

My learnings:

1. Some people are worth those second chances. 

Some people are worth placing your trust back into and trying once more. Some people are worth the fight. 

2. Don’t let your past dictate your present. 

Let your present dictate your choices, your heart. The past is long gone and if something from it comes revisiting, it is worth looking at in a brand new way.

3. It’s never too late to open your heart again.

For me, 'Chocolate' still remains one of my favorite dramas till date. I love the slow-paced nature of the show, I love how it wrings out all kinds of emotions from you and how it heals you in ways you don't even realize.

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GIF Credits: | GIF 2  - Soompi | GIF 7: Tumgir | GIF 11: Netflix 

Image Credits: Hancinema.net

~ Changing into a Personal Blog ~

Hello,

Firstly, I just want to say thank you for being here. I haven't really uploaded in a long time and I have been unsure about what I want to do with this space.

After much deliberation, I've decided to convert my blog from a journaling/K-drama blog to a personal one, where I record my daily memories, photo notes of things I am recently loving, and any quotes or pictures that inspire me.

I know this may not be anyone's vibe but mine, so please feel free to unfollow if that's what you'd prefer. :) Thank you for sharing this space with me, and now it's unto a new blog chapter.💙

~ Have you wondered how big an act of faith you perform every single night, as you fall asleep in the arms of darkness, trusting life to awaken you each morning, back to light? ~ @anvidoshi

“Y’all treat 30 like our lives will be over by then. 30 is extremely young. Some people just start new dreams in their 30s. Most are finally figuring out how to live fully in their 30s. Our 20s are not the peak. Not even close.” - Kaya Nova

My parents have quirks of their own.

The more I spend time with them, the more I realize they are their own people. Sure, they are birth-givers and that's the label I am most comfortable with, but they are their own, whole selves too.

Selves that love murder mysteries and crime thrillers. Selves that like slurping on instant noodles, if someone fed them those everyday. Selves that like table-tennis and purple tee-shirts. Selves that don't like being married as much they enjoy it. Selves that love talking about upset stomachs and sinsuses, and selves that love online shopping and going out.

Selves that I am just beginning to notice, after over three decades of being their offspring. It is these quirks that I cherish, that I have come to love the most about these two beings who brought me into the world.

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02: A little nugget to help me fall in love with life again.

Picture: @harrylawlor​

“It’s okay if every weekend doesn’t lead to big moments and campfires and laughter that carries on for hours and hours. Some weekends maybe quiet, still, with plenty of room to contemplate. And in that contemplation, there is room to grow. So hold those weekends dear. Don’t see them as less or as threats to the more exciting times. There is beauty and truth even in the seemingly mundane.” - Morgan Harper Nichols

'Over cake and coffee'

v. (verb) ~ to talk about the big & small things with someone you love, over a slice of cake and a cup of warm coffee. ~

I have sorely missed writing over the past couple of months. God only knows when it became a part of my being, but writing this is already making me smile.

I was telling my friend today morning that one of my favorite things to do was head to a quiet coffee shop, with a friend or a lover, settle ourselves with our respective cups of coffee and a slice of cake to share (always a good idea), talk for hours as we watch time slowly slip by, and people come and go. Those are my most, most favorite kind of dates.

So I was wondering, why not pair little notes of love, light and all the good feelings with pictures of coffee mugs and cake? :) The thought made me so happy that I had to write it down. :)

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Photo by: Masaki (IG)