Author Archives: jasonh52gmailcom

  In Vietnamese proverbs, there is a saying “No mud, no lotus”, which means the challenges in life (the mud) give us the condition to rise above, shine, and be pure-hearted and beautiful, like a lotus. These days, with the literal forest fire and all, I don’t feel very “rise above” at all. It’s mostlyContinue reading “Flowers in the Fire”

(Trigger warning: Political views) (Originally written May 2019 – Repost since the feelings are the same in May 2023) I heard recently from an Albertan  that they voted for the UCP  (a government I believe to be racist, homophobic,   anti-choice and uncompassionate)  because they have suffered,   because of their economic anxieties  justify their choices toContinue reading “A prayer for UCP voters”

  (Image generated on MidJourney by AI, set to the theme of Lemon Tree) I don’t know if there are any more lonely questions than “What is the point of this anymore?”  The past feel weeks have been…weird. We hit some major roadblocks with immigration for my brother (I called racist officers). Three of myContinue reading “Lemon tree”

We got news on Thursday that our Professor for my master’s program has passed away. Cancer. As messages were pouring in on Linked In, and then Facebook, and then the journals that I used to read/contribute to, I couldn’t help but think “It’s not what you say about yourself (in front of you or behindContinue reading “Death doesn't let you say goodbyes”

  “Every day, we are living as source materials of the eulogy for people who love us” It’s probably a morbid thought. But that’s what I thought to myself during a funeral. It’s someone we know from church. She was 80 and had an amazing, well-lived, and courageous life. She was surrounded by children, grandchildren,Continue reading “Eulogy”

In my feverish dream state of half awake and half hallucination (for the past 5 days), I reflected on the last time I had a severe sickness like this. Funny enough, it was exactly 8 years ago, 3 weeks before my birthday. I can confidently say that, in the past 8 years, the consistent improvementContinue reading “2 be loved”

  “Wherever you go, there you are” In recent meditations about life, career, and friendships, it is becoming increasingly clear that I’m the shared problem in all my problems. No, not the “It’s me. Hi. I’m the problem it me” kind of problem. If anything, it’s the opposite of that. In the effort to notContinue reading “(Un)grateful”

 (Cautiously) Pacing Forward As more and more people are posting 2022 photos and memories and the online life they presented for themselves, I can’t help but feeling, what’s the word, hopeful. People who know me know I do not do New Year resolutions (They fail usually at the Jan 15th mark and they are allContinue reading “The night before New Year”

(This is the first part of a year end two-parter: Year in review + looking ahead)  2022 was … well… wild. It is hard to describe a year with so many surprises, so many ups and downs, and so many instability. But I’ll try. As we were heading out of the pandemic (and some mightContinue reading “The night before Christmas”

I was photographing a wedding signing on Sunday, and it hits me in all the feels. I’m a sucker for weddings. Say what you will, but I’m a romantic at hearts, and in the world where I am cynical about everything else, I love love. (Also, all of the people I have taken wedding photosContinue reading “Love. Marriage. And Other Fool's Errands”