Newsletter #33
It's 2020 in six months, do not let anyone waste your time
Hi everyone!
Just wanted to keep this newsletter short and sweet as I am heading to the Netherlands this week to (lol!) lead 16 runners through the mother of all relays: the Hood 2 Coast Europe version. We've been preparing for this for months and damn.. seriously went through some challenges as I was the only woman on that leadership team because you know.. there are not enough women / female identified / femmes as founders / captains of crews / teams out (tbh) ANYWHERE since this is a joint project between WAYV, Braves and Kraft - the other Nike supported teams here in Berlin.
As you can see, a lot of testosterone around and at times, I wasn't even sure if I should just pull out and walk away (because it has been very emotionally exhausting).. nevertheless I persisted and pushed for more women to participate as actual runners (instead as only providers / drivers).
Will definitely keep you posted and make sure to watch / follow along on IG as well. I also have another podcast episode in the pipeline, so stay tuned for some more (diverse!) running content.
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Why the title?
As someone who needs the discipline and repetition of something to keep going and to keep going forward, I have joined my sister Michelle Kay in her #100wordsofsummer project. 100 words for 100 days. Thus, we're writing and publishing short pieces on our respective medium accounts to keep one another accountable, but to also stay in the flow of writing and creating.
For me, it will probably be some sort of notebook / diary entry / whatever thoughts will come to mind, so for my second piece, I shared a meeting-turned-into-personal-coaching-workshop from my study work job yesterday. My bosses literally gave me a pep talk and strengthened my sense of self in this world, which was kind of amazing. Thus, waking up this morning, while I was *dEd* tired working on a social media deck 'till past midnight, I also said to myself this morning: it's time to fully live your truth. Do not look back, do not look too far ahead. Stay present and fully embrace yourself. I am wearing all white today y'all because I am feeling godly :P
Oh right, thus the title: it's 2020 soon, so do not let anyone get into your way! You're here for big things. Also, learn to let go of anything that doesn't serve your purpose!
Anyway, read the full entry here if you need a *different* kind of pep talk as well + if you're on medium, I would appreciate the follow + the claps :)
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On Twitter
Recently did a small poll on IG asking about whether or not you're using Twitter. I've been having an on-off relationship with it since 2013 and cannot get my head around it. Probably because I am more a visual person, but then again I feel like I am able to connect with so many other people on there in different ways., especially on politics. Anyway, I am still re-exploring and seeing what it does.. definitely feeling a little bit overwhelmed with so much political exposure and social media-doing / publishing, but I had some super interesting thoughts from some of you:
Yasmina said: "I think Twitter is really useful academic community. I'm a history grad student, and there's a sense of solidarity and understanding on there that's not found on other social media. I also find it good for quick political tid bits! Re: academic Twitter, it's really nice to see communities do black academics and black women academics collaborating because we are so sparse in the States."
"IG and Twitter are my favorite social media platforms but Twitter has always been #1 for me because of the pace of communication and reach someone could have. The fact that for the most part you're reading someone's thoughts or opinions and you follow someone because of it is a lot more engaging. I hate to say it but I think IG lost that when it's feed lost its chronological order. Stories, like yours for example, are great but most people don't just go through their stories or don't follow someone just because of their stories. I also think it depends on the type of media you're putting out," replied Brian.
If you have any thoughts on Twitter, the reasons why you do / don't use it, let me know and feel free to reach out!
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On being queer, trans, non-binary
It's Pride month, this month in the U.S. and (don't ask me why), next month here in Berlin, so of course co-leading and co-creating a running team that is supporting and elevating queer and trans people, I have a certain responsibility.
Not so much because I have to, but more so, because I want to. And besides running and moving the bodies together, I also want to support my queer, trans, non-binary friends outside of running (because life!). I do want to share more on this later on, and I know, an interview, or rather a conversation, maybe a podcast with some of my queer friends, yes, Daniel is on the list! is due as well, but I just wanted to share that this past week was really special.
While this past week was also hard, it was also very much freeing and liberating. We went out and supported my friends Laurence dance / theatre show one week ago (learn more here) and gosh, it was so so so good. My heart was so full, I had tears in my eyes and the movement of the dancers, the words spoken, it was all so wonderful and amazing. After my big presentation at school, I also started watching the Netflix series POSE this past weekend, and lol! also had to cry during the first episode. If you haven't started, I urge you to do so. It's written and directed so well and the cast is just so amazing.
There is something just so wonderful, yes, godly about spending time with people who fully know themselves and live their fullest selves. Of course it rubs off and you yourself feel free and feel liberated enough to not hide anymore, to not make yourself small anymore, to step up and to step out. It's challenging out there and when I turn to the news, I don't want to read how many trans / queer people have been murdered this month alone, but we need people like Laurence and Daniel and all our other LGBTQI* and BIPOC friends, who do such incredible and important work. We need one another. We need hope and light.
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Thank you all for reading and supporting.
If you like my musings, forward and share with friends :)
Have a wonderful rest of your week + stay hydrated!
xx
Huyen
P.S.: If you have any feedback, comments etc. please feel free to email me directly. Also, if you have anything interesting about women's health, running, nutrition, style, sustainability, don't hesitate. Happy to have a conversation and always looking for contributors.
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ON SUSTAINABLE FASHION // Sat down with stylist and fashion director Rachael Wang to speak on all things sustainability. Read more here.
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PODCAST // Episode 4 w/ Artist and Dancer Jess Hu on air now. Click here to listen on iTunes, and here to listen on the magazine.
Subscribe, share and reach out for any comments. Thank you so much for all your love!!
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