In an effort to be more consistent with posting, I thought of starting a weekly series called 7 for 7 which is basically my 7 highlights for 7 days.

One of the questions my friends and I usually ask each other when we catch up is “What are you watching/reading/consuming these days?” and I love how it always becomes a conversation starter about the things that bring us joy. When you hear about the types of content people consume, you not only get to know more about their interests, but also somehow get an inkling of what’s currently in their headspace. It becomes a way to empathize and relate to people better and I’m all for that.

This series is also inspired by one of my fave writers, Haley Nahman, from her “15 things I consumed this week” but what makes this different is that I want to include more than just content, but also breakthroughs, tidbits, and basically anything that stands out to me in a span of 7 days.

I thought this would also allow me to better process my most dominant thoughts so I can stay stable and grounded. It’s another way for me to be more intentional with the things I consume and where I allocate most of my time and energy.

That said, here’s my 7 for the week of November 20-26, 2022:

1. The FIFA World Cup Opening Ceremony

It’s finally World Cup season! I started actively following football back in 2018 (also during the World Cup) so it’s kind of a full circle moment for me. You can just imagine my excitement leading up to this week.

I also witnessed a crossover of my two worlds when Jungkook performed a song from the official soundtrack. The whole spectacle was pretty cool to watch and the featuring artist Fahad Al Kubaisi also did such a magnificent job. Overall, the whole ceremony was very interesting and I appreciate the way they highlighted Qatari culture and tradition.

2. Dreamers – Jungkook, BTS, FIFA Sound

3. More Than Friends (K-drama)

I haven’t watched a K-drama in so long but was suddenly in the mood for a romantic and feelsy show so I got on Netflix and checked my list. When I saw the synopsis and trailer for More Than Friends, I got quite excited and decided to start it despite me knowing that I’d end up bingeing the whole thing if I found it good. True enough, I did. I finished all 16 episodes in two days.

The plot is honestly so frustrating but I just kept watching cause I loved the actors. I suddenly had this huge crush on the male lead who I didn’t even know was a former idol and member of Wanna One. I guess I just continued watching cause I found him so cute. No shame.

4. The Bodyguard by Katherine Center (Novel)

In the spirit of romance and because I was extra feelsy this week, I also decided to read The Bodyguard by Katherine Center. It’s one of the nominees for Best Romance Novel of 2022 on Goodreads, and I absolutely loved it! It’s literally the perfect romcom. You can read my full review for it here.

5. Innisfree Volcanic Calming Pore Clay Mask

I added this new step to my skincare routine this week and I’m really loving it so far. I wanted something that could help control oil and also calm my redness and irritation. This was such a good find despite not seeing much reviews. 10/10 would recommend! Got mine from BeautyMnl.

6. Attaching emotions to people’s behaviour

A big breakthrough I had in therapy this week was the realization that I’ve been attaching emotions to other people’s behaviour. I tend to assume judgement and negativity from fundamentally neutral behaviour and it really affects the way I act and respond.

This usually happens when I’m with strangers, big groups, or people I’m not too comfortable with yet. I understand that it’s a coping mechanism and it’s simply my way of protecting myself, but it’s been quite debilitating in a sense that I don’t feel like myself or I’m always walking on eggshells around people.

I really want to be as authentic as I can and not let my traumas get the best of me, so I consider this realization such a huge breakthrough in my healing journey. Let me know if you’d like me to dive deeper into this. I’d love to write more about it in a separate piece on Cup of T if anyone is interested. ❤

7. Thoughts on money and where my treasures are at

I’ve also had big realizations this week about how I see and treat money. One quote from last Sunday’s preaching really stayed with me. It said, “Money is essentially and morally neutral and powerless. How you treat it and use it depends on the condition of your heart.”

For most of my life, I’ve been blessed with financial provision, but I never really saw how much it negatively influenced my behaviour and my decision-making. When I started to sow in my relationship with God, that’s when I understood that everything I have comes from the ultimate source and I am simply its steward.

It made me consciously look into my heart to see what my treasures really are and where I set my eyes on—the worldly or the eternal. I used to get anxious about my finances but I realized that as I focus on what truly matters and believe that God has set and prepared everything for me in this life and the next, I have nothing to fear or worry about.

Luke 12:22-23: “And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.”