~ One Of My Favorites From One Of My Favorite Dramas: Guardian: The Great And Lonely God ~

~ When the Camellia Blooms ~

If There Was Only One Thing I Could Write, I Would...

Hello,

I hope the weekend is being kind to you and I hope you're being kind to yourself. :)

I took a week off from writing (didn't realize it would be this tough, I guess I had proper withdrawal symptoms, lol). But it was necessary. Last week, I asked myself, "What do I really want to write about? If there's only one thing I can write about, what would it be?"

The answer was very clear: words that add to the world. Words that bring in love, light, healing and warmth.

After thinking on this a bit more, I've decided to follow my heart.

I would like to share daily, positive prose-poems on my blog going forward. As for dramas, rather than reviews, I want to share a list of learnings from each show that's inspired me.

Putting this out here because what you see here, in this space, will change drastically. Please feel free to unfollow if it doesn't vibe with you.

As always,

With love and in love,

Anvi :)

~ He Buzui and Lu Weixun from ‘Instead of Tipsy Why Not Get Drunk’ (2019) ~

🥟🥟 Friday Eve mood 🥟🥟

Potstickers

~ I celebrated the discovery of my own creative journaling style, last Sunday.

Inspired by Ana Jimenez , I wanted to include cute, minimalist illustrations, enjoy fussy-cutting them, play with memos (my favorites), include bits and pieces of handmade papers (sometimes soft, sometimes scratchy, I love their textures), and my weakness--- Avril yarns. :)

I wanted to include one positive quote or saying in each page too. So here’s Davi Nakadamaki’s spring illustration saying hello.~ 🌸🌸🌸

~ Often, I say things because it gets me to belong in a circle of people I like. Often, those things are quite contrary to my own truths, to my values.  . Saying what you really want to say isn’t about being loud, but speaking clearly of what aligns with you.  . For. e.g. “Hey, I know it’s cool to talk dirty with your friends, but I do not like to. For me, sex is sacred and I don’t want to condition my mind to downplay it.” 

Or, “Hey, I know gossiping is fun, but it riles up a lot of negative emotions in me for someone, which I’d rather not feed.” . I am guessing we all talk of things we don’t whole-heartedly believe in sometimes, just to feel like we’re a part of people’s lives. But saying the things you really want to say is insanely powerful. It drops you back into your body, mind and heart thoroughly and when you say words which directly align with your energy, you feel beautifully grounded in who you really are. ~🌼

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~ I wanted to do a little appreciation look-book of Jin Su-Kyung’s super pretty, prints, hair bands and bows, from ‘Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol’. So here it is! 🌼 ~

~ My favorite quote from ‘I Am Not A Robot’. I think Ji Ah and Min Kyu make one of the cutest, prettiest K-drama couples.🌼  ~

With 'When The Camellia Blooms' I Learned The Beauty Of Owning Who I Am

Early on in my drama journey, curious about having 'When The Camellia Blooms' pop up on my Netflix feed, I tuned in. (Good job, Anvi.)

The Story:

The story revolves around a small Korean town, Ongsan and its residents. A fishing county, Ongasn's citizens are mostly fishermen who pride on their freshwater crabs.  In comes a single, young mother, Dongbaek with her 2-year-old son Pil-Goo. She decides to start a new chapter of her life and opens a small bar named 'Camellia'.

We then have Hwang Yong-Sik, a junior cop who's looking for his “Princess Diana”. With a heart of gold, he falls head over heels for our Dongbaek at first sight.

What follows is not just a love story between the two, but also a thriller mystery involving a serial killer who calls himself 'Joker'. We have Dongbaek's old lover, Kang Jong Ryul, return (who's now married with a child of his own), have her find comradery in the oldest badass of Ongsan, Mrs. Kwak and see her battle stigmas around single parenthood, objectification and bullying.

Not your typical male-female-lead Kdrama, this one is about: - the power of community, 🌼 - badassery (with some FANTASTIC female characters), 🌼 - real love standing the test of time, 🌼 - female companionship, 🌼 - healing 🌼 - and the pains of growing up in a society that prescribes 'two' parents as a requisite. 🌼

Each character has shades of grey versus your typical black and white. Each one, a poignant element, without which the story would have been lacking. The drama was a thorough delight to watch. And I am sure a lot of you who've watched this can nod your agreement when I say that it is legit a world in its own.

I don't know how to sum up a possible thesis of what moved me in the show, but here are my top 6 learnings from 'When The Camellia Blooms':

1. If you love someone, tell the whole damn world about it.

My favorite trait about Yong-Sik apart from his drop-dead gorgeous confidence, is the way he keeps choosing Dongbaek every.single.time. He taught me that love wasn't limited to a three-word confession. That was just the beginning of the beginning. Love meant showing up and choosing the person I loved, every single day.

2. Bravery often comes in surprise packages.

As we see Dongbaek own the person she is, an element we least expect to find is her bravery to stand up for herself and the ones she loves when the time arises. She taught me that often, we negate certain people as 'walkovers' and 'pitiable' only to see them outgrow their thick skin and show immense courage. At such times, one realizes the futility of boxing people up with permanent labels.

3. Wisdom and maturity have got nothing to do with age.

Bare with me as I prove my point by citing the stark contrast of EQ levels between Kang Jong Ryol, a father and his 8-year-old, Pil-Goo. While the former could pass for a bratty toddler, our Pil-Goo is too wise, profound and caring for a child his age. More often than not, he is the rock Dongbaek leans upon when she's too tired to fight the world alone.

4. Community is belongingness.

That's my favorite part about Ongsan. The town's committee is a motley of women who're there for each other through thick and thin. With stay-at-home trophy husbands, we see them battle their own regressive social stigmas and come to terms with inclusivity. It is here, in this communal space that DongBaek finally finds a home away from home.

5. We all just need someone who believes in us to start believing in ourselves once again.

Sometimes, without knowing, when we're lost, somebody's belief in us can help us find our way back home to ourselves. It's that person's belief that helps us reignite the belief we need in ourselves to grow and bloom. To rest my case, I give you Dongbaek's unconditional belief in Choi Hyang-mi.

6. Every person is a universe in their own might.

Each character's narrative in the drama made me realize how each of us are a whole, separate world on our own. Our ideas, our beliefs, our daily lives are individual universes colliding with one another for brief moments in eternity.

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Credits: Images 4 & 15: dramabeans | Image 5: kdramaclicks | Image 14: coffeecaramello.wordpress.com | Netflix | Doodle App

~ Sometimes courage is listening to that quiet, inner voice rather than the hundred loud ones surrounding you. ~ 🌼

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©anvidoshi