Around the beginning of November, I discovered Stray Kids, a 4th generation K-Pop group. They're currently huge (like BTS huge) and they're really enjoyable and adorable. They have 8 members, years of content online and they have a chaotic energy that delights me.
I really fell down the rabbit hole with these guys.
Then in January, my original K-Pop loves, Monsta X began their military discharges. First Minhyuk, followed by Honey, Kihyun and my prince Hyungwon who was discharged on my daughter's birthday.
Got7, another group I loved, who all went separate ways then came together again, released a new song and content together. Then Ateez slipped into my vision and I'm fighting going down their rabbit hole because this is a lot already and I live on a budget.
So $39 on Amazon got me the wire grids and I decided my desk area needed a K-Pop makeover. I got two prints on Etsy ($14 a piece) and I brought out my lightstick, my collection of photo cards and postcards and albums and all the little doo-dads I've been picking up over the years.
There was a part of me, the 66 year old part, who thought this was childish. This is just a shrine to handsome Korean men. But I didn't listen to her. She doesn't have my happiness in her mind. Maybe it is a shrine to handsome Korean men. Maybe it's also a shrine to the woman who has had to rewrite her story over and over again and found a soft landing in K-Pop when the times got hard.
Monsta X got me through the empty nest when Mollie went to Japan. Stray Kids has helped me find a reason to smile while negotiating relationships and boundaries with my family. When I watch their content I almost always discover that I have a huge smile on my face. They make me so happy. Their energy, creativity, silliness fill me with joy. Yes, I also romanticize Hyungwon (MX) and Hyunjin (SKZ) but that also gives me joy. What's the point of having those few remaining hormones in my body if they can't get excited over gorgeous men?
Anyway. I love my corner. The pure joy it contains cannot be measured.
Maybe the best thing about growing old is that you're no longer embarrassed about being young.
First: I love your corner, and I LOVE that it makes YOU happy.
ReplyDeleteAnd "the best thing about growing old is that you're no longer embarrassed about being young" will, soon, be a crossstitch sampler.
Because WORD.
(Keeping you in my heart on those boundary negotiations with family; they're always hard)
I love how easily you can see the soul behind people's words, Az. You amaze me constantly.
ReplyDeleteIt's darling! And no sillier than my purple office.
ReplyDeleteTo quote C.S. Lewis: 'When I became a man I put away childish things, including the fear of childishness and the desire to be very grown up.'
I want to see your purple office.
DeleteIf it makes your soul smile, then who cares if people think it's childish or whatever. I love my Bulldogs more than you love your KPop (hehe) and everywhere I look I have things around that remind me of them. I've been a supporter for 46 years this year so you can imagine how much I have... I need more than a corner, that's for sure lol. Just looking at the framed items on the wall or the bobbleheads of some of my fave players can bring a smile to my face, which i really need at this point.
ReplyDeleteSo, go forth and decorate your little KPop heart out my lovely. It's awesome that we can all find that one thing that makes us happy and we're finally at a point where we no longer need/care/seek others approval.
Big hugs to you and the ladies xxx
<3
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