What a powerful essay and such an original and impactful way to tell the story of ambiguous loss and grief. Having made my own sauerkraut in this fermentation method myself, I could understand the metaphor but marvel at the way you wove it into this essay with such a punch! So much tang! I am proud of you for how far you have come, my kimchi friend!
Thank you, Amy, for your enthusiastic response to my kimchi analogy and for being proud of me. This idea had been fermenting in my mind for quite some time and finally it was ready to be shared.
I hope we can enjoy some of kimchi together soon :-))))
Louisa, this extended metaphor is powerful! I could smell the sauerkraut and then the kimchi as I read. Thank you for sharing your journey and turning a terrible experience into something that can enrich and inspire the lives of others. (And thank you, Victoria @carermentor for making me aware of Louisa's work!)
Hi Sarah, thank you for stopping to read this essay. I appreciate how you reflected back to me the visceral impact my sauerkraut and kimchi metaphors had on you. (I actually ate some kimchi in my rice noodle soup right after I finished writing this piece, ha ha ha!) So glad that one person's painful experience, once fermented, can transform into nutrients for others to partake :-)
This is Kimchi with a kick, Louisa! It is expertly woven with so many health benefits. ;-) I always marvel at how you can make something so ugly beautifully soulful. Also, I love your new profile photo - shining bright, hon!!
Thanks so much for your lovely comment, Victoria. I appreciate your observation of how I turned something ugly into soulful beauty. I think it comes from the mindful practice in daily life, of taking in deeply what nature can teach us, and integrating it into my lived experience.
I love that picture too. It was taken a year prior to my recent tragedy--thanks @amybrown for being the photographer :-) The last photo reminded me too much of that dark period.
"My cabbage has lost its original people-pleasing sweet taste altogether. Its unabashed spiciness may repulse some people who prefer a milder taste. The interesting thing is, kimchi doesn’t care for everyone to like it. It knows its worth, and those who aren’t afraid to take a bit of heat in life will acquire the taste for it. They will, of course, enjoy its health benefits too."
I love this. As a still recovering people pleaser (and aren't a lot of us Asian women brought up to be that) your story emboldens me. Let's be spicy and healthy together!
Thank you for sharing your reflection on this kimichi concept. I'm glad you feel inspired by it! So true that many of us Asian women are brought up to be extreme people pleasers. It takes a lot of "fermentation" to unlearn that conditioning. Ha ha, yes, let's be spicy and healthy together!
Hi Teyani, thanks for taking the time to read this! I really like the word "becoming" that you used in describing what I've shared here. I find it interesting and even funny sometimes that we become a version/versions of ourselves that we never ever imagined before. But we can learn to appreciate the "surprise" and grow deeper with what we've been given. This kimchi is nice to meet you!
Kimchi leaves an impact. I know you will leave an impact from what you have learned and share. 💕
Hey Mika! I like the word "impact"! And kimchi does make a strong visceral impact, doesn't it? ;-)
An excellent read! And I love chumplady too!
Thanks so much! Great to meet a fellow fan of CL 😊😁
What a powerful essay and such an original and impactful way to tell the story of ambiguous loss and grief. Having made my own sauerkraut in this fermentation method myself, I could understand the metaphor but marvel at the way you wove it into this essay with such a punch! So much tang! I am proud of you for how far you have come, my kimchi friend!
Thank you, Amy, for your enthusiastic response to my kimchi analogy and for being proud of me. This idea had been fermenting in my mind for quite some time and finally it was ready to be shared.
I hope we can enjoy some of kimchi together soon :-))))
Louisa, this extended metaphor is powerful! I could smell the sauerkraut and then the kimchi as I read. Thank you for sharing your journey and turning a terrible experience into something that can enrich and inspire the lives of others. (And thank you, Victoria @carermentor for making me aware of Louisa's work!)
Hi Sarah, thank you for stopping to read this essay. I appreciate how you reflected back to me the visceral impact my sauerkraut and kimchi metaphors had on you. (I actually ate some kimchi in my rice noodle soup right after I finished writing this piece, ha ha ha!) So glad that one person's painful experience, once fermented, can transform into nutrients for others to partake :-)
This felt so uplifting.💖
Thank you for reading, Pooja! 💖
This is Kimchi with a kick, Louisa! It is expertly woven with so many health benefits. ;-) I always marvel at how you can make something so ugly beautifully soulful. Also, I love your new profile photo - shining bright, hon!!
Thanks so much for your lovely comment, Victoria. I appreciate your observation of how I turned something ugly into soulful beauty. I think it comes from the mindful practice in daily life, of taking in deeply what nature can teach us, and integrating it into my lived experience.
I love that picture too. It was taken a year prior to my recent tragedy--thanks @amybrown for being the photographer :-) The last photo reminded me too much of that dark period.
🩷 That’s even better, considering it was taken by your soulful sister-friend! Nice one @Amy Brown
"My cabbage has lost its original people-pleasing sweet taste altogether. Its unabashed spiciness may repulse some people who prefer a milder taste. The interesting thing is, kimchi doesn’t care for everyone to like it. It knows its worth, and those who aren’t afraid to take a bit of heat in life will acquire the taste for it. They will, of course, enjoy its health benefits too."
I love this. As a still recovering people pleaser (and aren't a lot of us Asian women brought up to be that) your story emboldens me. Let's be spicy and healthy together!
Thank you for sharing your reflection on this kimichi concept. I'm glad you feel inspired by it! So true that many of us Asian women are brought up to be extreme people pleasers. It takes a lot of "fermentation" to unlearn that conditioning. Ha ha, yes, let's be spicy and healthy together!
Such a perfect analogy.. the change and depth we acquire as we heal. Thank you for the insights you share in your becoming.
Hi Teyani, thanks for taking the time to read this! I really like the word "becoming" that you used in describing what I've shared here. I find it interesting and even funny sometimes that we become a version/versions of ourselves that we never ever imagined before. But we can learn to appreciate the "surprise" and grow deeper with what we've been given. This kimchi is nice to meet you!