Bookwyrm Breakdown: Starting the Healing Process (Again) and Other Things that Happened

2025 has been an interesting start so far, and I don’t mean the weather (which has been chilly to freezing cold to being in the 70-80s lately) or the current happenings in the world. Although quite frankly, these days I’m just taking it one day at a time and not really following along — because following along feels like I’m continuously watching the world and country fall apart even though we’ve basically signed up for this clusterfuck.

I recognize that I’m in a position of privilege currently where I can disassociate and disconnect for my mental health when others can’t, at least for now, that is. I’m genuinely not sure how long that’ll last before I become the next generation in my family to carry on this intergenerational trauma that I’m trying my best to break free from. But even if I can’t disassociate and disconnect, I’m definitely in a position of privilege to afford therapy for professional support, even if it’s on a sliding scale.

But anyway, gloominess aside, let’s chat about what’s been happening lately!

December – February Musings

• [6 Dec] Bookwyrm Breakdown: October + November 2024
• [10 Dec] Zodiac Rising by Katie Zhao ★★
• [27 Dec] The Last One by Rachel Howzell Hall ★★★
• [3 Jan] A Look Back at 2024 + 2025 Aspirations
• [18 Feb] Books I Fully Intended to Review But Completely Forgot
• [28 Feb] 2024 Book Blogging Stats Transparency Post

Books Hoarded

December

• Tarot of the Divine by Yoshi Yoshitani – I know I talked about this in the last wrap-up, but I did get it in December! And it comes with a little guidebook, so it counts.
• The Light Seer’s Pocket Tarot by Chris-Anne – I mostly got this to use as my “on the go” deck or when there’s not enough space to use my usual deck, but this has honestly snuck its way as my “new” usual because of the size.

January

It’s hilarious how I’m requesting books when I can still barely keep up with my old ARCs. But these come out in the summer, so I should be good, right? Right?

Narrator: she said this 6 months ago for a different book that she hasn’t read that came out last month.

• Fateless by Julie Kagawa (eARC)
• A Forgery of Fate by Elizabeth Lim (eARC)

Books Devoured

Lots of books were being read lately — most of them manga. There’s a few self-help books as well, but I’ve been trying to limit those to 1 per month since they can get pretty emotionally heavy. I’ve gotta take care of myself, ya know? It’s probably why I’m reading so much manga. I don’t question the brain with my reading. ¯_(ツ)_/¯

December

• What Would You Do by Wonho
• Enemy by AleXa
• rosie by Rosè – this album honestly just spoke to me, especially number one girl; I think I wanted to cry over that song even though the original meaning didn’t exactly felt I was feeling at the time. I also loved toxic till the end, stay a little longer, and two years.
• The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

January

• Into the Woods
• Python by GOT7
• Slow Motion by Alessia Cara
• doppelgänger by Creepy Nuts

February

• Better Off by VOILÀ
• Puppets Can’t Control You by ONE OK ROCK
• TEARS by Jisoo
• Hugs & Kisses by Jisoo
• Knuckles

The Breakdown

What catastrophes have the universe handed us throughout the month? Let’s find out. 🧐

The past few months have been busy busy busy. There’s been a lot going on in my life, though I won’t be sharing everything — but if you know, you know.

I scheduled therapy in early December for early January, which ended up with my first session getting delayed multiple times because of the weather. I originally planned on going once a month due to cost, but have been going twice since my therapist offered a sliding scale. It’s been nice to have a professional in my corner who I can turn to, and I’m so glad resources like the Asian Mental Health Collective exist now (which is what I stumbled across when searching for a therapist again).

December was also when I came across Little Words Project while doing groceries; some of the bracelets were on sale and I decided to get a few. I’ll probably forget to wear them as often as I would like, but I’ll take the occasional small reminders that I’m enough and I should keep going when I do remember to wear them.

I’ve continued to go for full-time roles at the library, though I’m not applying as aggressively now unless it’s at my home branch* since my therapist is within walking distance. There’s been one recently that I’m shooting my shot for, so here’s to hoping I have good news soon! Although by the time this post goes live, I’d have completed my interview (yesterday) and I’ll probably find out my fate by the time I work today or sometime in the near future.

*part of it is the amount of rejections has gotten to me and I just need a break from interviewing; it’s hard out here

While a full-time position would help me out tremendously, I’m not too fussed about it if I don’t get it this time around. Sometimes I feel like a full 8 hours shift is too much for me because I’m feeling sleepy two hours after waking and fully exhausted by the time I’m finished with my shift. But that’s probably connected to my current mental health.

January had me getting bitten by the stationery bug again when looking to accessorize my new Rocketbook Pro. I’ve probably spent way too much time looking at pen bodies and learning about different pen sizes — there are fountain pens that are worth 2-3 of my paycheck? What even..?

I’ve never really cared too much about having pretty pens growing up since most of mine can’t use refillable ink, but you know what? Bolt action pens, turns out, is way too satisfying for me.

Also, pen style scissors are so compact, index clips and book darts are absolutely life changing, and I can get adhesive pockets for my notebooks?!

January ended with the Lunar New Year, which seems to have a vendetta against me in recent years — there’s always something and if you know, you know. I won’t be getting into details, but maybe it’s a good thing I started therapy the way I did. I haven’t decided if it’s a good thing, a bad thing or a little of both yet.

Let’s talk!

How’s 2025 treating you so far? If you’re a stationery addict as well, what’s your must have?