In Surrender, We Find Answers
How an event mishap turned into a valuable learning opportunity
This weekend, I hosted my second queer Asian support group in NYC. When I arrived at the studio to open my event up, I found the door locked. Due to logistical issues, the room was not booked.
I was not prepared to have a back-up and was at a loss of what to do. As my peers started gathering, I got extremely flustered and, in frustration, started spiraling into the blame game in my mind.
“It was someone else’s fault.”
“It was my fault.”
“If only I did this.”
Regardless of whose fault it was (and I take full responsibility for not having the space confirmed), the blaming was not doing anything constructive. It drove me further away from what needed to happen, which was to find a space to accommodate a group gathering immediately. As my support group members stood around patiently, I was running around in circles trying to make sense of what was happening.
And something else happened.
Somewhere between “omg they will never return” and “let’s just give up,” my maternal instincts kicked in. I realized that I just had to make something happen. It didn’t need to be glamorous, spacious, or anything in particular. But there was one requirement my heart told me: warmth.
Coincidentally, I had been frequenting a nearby restaurant, and the staff had just started to remember my face. I vaguely remembered the large sitting area in the back, and I told myself that it was worth a shot. I brought my support group to my favorite vegan Chinese restaurant, and everything ended up falling together perfectly. We got seated during dinner rush hour, had a feast, and collectively dove into a deep discussion on queer Asian stereotypes. I really enjoyed this unconventional style of hosting a support group, and something worth exploring in the near future.
I left the event with a sigh of relief and satisfaction. Whatever happens, things will always work out. In myself and the world around me, I trust.
The lesson this week?
- Creating connections in unexpected places will yield superheroes in the most unlikely circumstances.
- In surrender, we open ourselves up to opportunities that we would never have thought to explore.
If you are a queer Asian in town for our next support group happening February 9, please come join. Our topic is love and relationships. I promise to have the space sorted out by then. Or at least roll with the flow and partake in another spontaneous field trip. 😏
My next event will be for everyone to attend. I’m looking for large spaces to host a talk/panel. If you know of any affordable space in New York City that can host 50 people during weekday evenings or weekend afternoons, please let me know! 🙏
For future note, my events will never be inaccessible to those who may not have the financial resources. If there is ever a price tag on anything I create, please reach out to me to talk about sliding scale payments or scholarships. But as of now, the only event I host is Yellow Glitter Sparkles, which is entirely free and will stay free. No donations. No subscription. Just attendance and attention.
I host a podcast called Yellow Glitter, mindfulness through the eyes and soul of a gay Asian. You can find it on Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Stitcher, Overcast, and TuneIn.
Along with a bit of weekly mindfulness, I send out my favorite things I discover each week on my email newsletter at Mindful Moments.
Thanks for reading! Until next time.
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