"Very Asian" Food Therapy

When society breaks my heart, I subconsciously crave the comfort foods that connect me to my history and heritage. The older I get, the more the foods my grandparents fed me as a child mean to me.

It's a rough time in the world. Hope you are finding ways to cope and comfort where you can. 

Thanks for reading.

[4-panel comic of a frayed-looking woman with a braid, remembering foods she ate as a child. Panel 2 is a flashback of a young girl with bowl-cut hair, peeking at a table full of Chinese foods, like dumplings, turnip cake, rice bowls, and steamed bao. In panel 3, she opens wide for a dumpling being fed to her with chopsticks. Back to present day in panel 4. Woman with a braid sits in front of a laptop. The text of the comic reads, "When society breaks my heart, I subconsciously crave comfort foods...that my family made for me as a kid...and it soothes a part of me...to watch the hell out of Asian cooking channels on YouTube."]

Everything Is A Lot

I imagine I'm not the only one who's feeling it these days. I don't have any better ideas, but I hope you have what you need and are finding ways to cope the best you can. 

Thanks for reading. 

[Single-panel comic of a girl with a bun, wearing a full astronaut outfit, next to an elephant. Caption reads: "I don't want to feel numb and desensitized, but everything altogether is a lot right now." Elephant in the room comments on new outfit: "Ooh this is new..." Girl responds, holding a cup of hot tea, "It was either this or pay somebody to hold me."]

Favorite Pre-Pandemic Pastime

Drawing on New York City subways used to be my favorite pre-pandemic pastime. It used to calm me and make me pay more attention to life around me. I haven't done it in a while and gave it a try again recently. It feels different, but I like how it makes me feel a little bit closer to other people in a city of strangers. 

Thanks for reading

[3-panel comic of a girl with braid, remembering her favorite pre-pandemic pastime. Panel 1, black and white frame of a girl sketching in a subway car: "My favorite pre-pandemic pastime used to be drawing on the subway." Panel two, full color, girl wearing a mask, standing stiffly on the subway, not touching anything. Text reads: "I haven't felt at ease enough to do it in a couple of years. Recently, I pulled out a sketchbook again on a long subway ride." Panel 3, full color, wide angle frame of a subway car of people, mostly wearing masks. Girl sits in the subway car with a sketchbook on her lap. Text reads: "Of course, nothing is the same anymore, but it did remind me of how much I miss -- [she crinkles eyes] -- creepily watching other people." Although the scene implies that the pandemic is ongoing, there is also a coziness in the subway car of people just living their lives. Two masked young people share a "shimmy of laughter."]

Pink Bear Head Hoodie

I don't know if this is disrespectful to bears in general, but it was a cool winter look. Kid looked happy.

Hope you're keeping warm and cozy through the season. I think it's been a hard start to the year for a lot of parents with young kids. I see folks trying hard and doing their best to keep their families safe and happy. A lot of unsung heroics. May the worst of the latest covid surge pass soon. 

Connie on Ko-fi

[3-panel autobio comic of a girl with a braid walking in Central Park in winter. She passes a kid who is holding hands with an adult and wearing a pink bear head hoodie with a bear nose and ears, which make it look like the kid's head is in the bear's mouth. Caption reads, "Yesterday, I saw a kid wearing what looked like a fuzzy, pink bear head hoodie." In panel 2, the girl with the braid walks on. In panel 3, girl turns to look back at them. Text reads, "My first thought was -", followed by a thought bubble that says, "I wonder if they have that in my size."]

Hope and Optimism on Twitter

Happy new year! The moral of this comic is to stay off of Twitter on the Monday after a holiday.

Wishing you an easy transition into 2022 and the strength to face anything. 

Connie on Ko-fi

[2-panel comic of a grave stone, inscribed with the text "RIP Hope & Optimism on Twitter, Dec. 31, 2021 to Jan. 3, 2022." In panel 2, Elephant and girl with a braid walk across an exposed, overcast landscape. Elephant remarks, "Wow, that was quick."]

Enough of a Year and Happy New Year, Elephant

May you have good company and an abundance of simple joys in the new year. 

Thank you for following along the journey and reading my cartoons. 

Connie on Ko-fi

[4-panel comic of a girl with a braid, talking to an elephant. In panel 1, she says, "I didn't do enough this year." In panel 2, she continues: "And yet, it feels like I did all I could." Elephant pauses briefly to listen. Panel 3 is borderless and Elephant says knowingly, while walking off the panel, "What about all those k-dramas you binge-watched? That's something." In panel 4, girl bristles with a touch of attitude at being called out: "Oh right. thanks." Off-camera, Elephant says, "anytime."]

[Single panel illustration of a girl and elephant quietly having tea and pastries. Text reads "Happy new year" and "Thanks for being there." link]

New Year Snowball

Thanks for all your support, encouragement, and thoughtful comments this year. It means a lot that you continue to follow my comics through life changes and growing pains. 

I continue to plow ahead with my writing project and process the journey, cartoon by cartoon. Hopefully, I'll see some progress in 2022. 

Wishing you safe and well and happy in the months ahead. 

Connie on Ko-fi

[Single-panel comic of a girl with a bun, strenuously rolling a giant, messy snowball across a winter landscape, toward an arrow sign pointing to 2022. Rolled snowball contains a live squawking chicken and a bewildered dog. Caption reads, "I'm not starting anew as much as I'm rolling a giant snowball of unfinished business into another year."] 

Very Shout-y Humans

Outbreak of covid from region to region has made things hard for a lot of people this holiday season. I think we're all trying our best, but it's tense and everyone is tired. 

Taking care of myself by limiting time on social media and spending more time self-soothing. 

Thanks for reading and wishing you safe. 

[Two-panel comic of an elephant and a girl with a braid, standing in a corner, covering her ears. In panel 1, Elephant asks, "What are you doing?" In panel 2, girl looks up, ears still covered, and answers "Social media detox." After a beat, she adds, "Humans can be very shout-y."]

Sad Song Loop

Mystery solved, but of course, it will change nothing ;)

Hope you are finding ways to delight in whatever makes you happy and brings you comfort this season. Sad songs and comedy are what get me through these days. 

Thanks for continuing to read and check in. Appreciate the gift of your time and attention, as another year draws to a close.  

Connie on Ko-fi

[3-panel comic of a girl with a braid sitting at a desk and crying a river, as an elephant ambles by, unfazed. Panel 1 text reads, "OH MY GOD WHY CAN'T I STOP CRYING??" Panel 2 shows a moment of reflective pause, music notes coming from her laptop, which indicate "sad songs in a loop." She sniffs and Elephant walks away, leaving the frame. In panel 3, girl is sedate and has stopped crying. After a beat, the thought bubble reads, "Makes sense."]

Pandemic Self-Assessment

Lol, the fatigue! The fatigue. We are all feeling it. We are human. Winter is here and yet another wave of infections.  

Take good care of yourselves and each other. Best we can do. Thank all the helpers and heroes in your world. I wish you well and safe.

Thanks for reading and supporting as I continue to develop new projects. Connie on Ko-fi

[Single-panel comic of a girl with a bun, laying supine on a mat, looking up at her phone. Above her is a simple flowchart that reads "Am I okay today?" Arrows point to yes or no. Yes leads to another question: "But am I really?" which circles back to no. Titled: "Pandemic Self-Assessment"]

Booster Shot

I was able to get a vaccine booster shot yesterday in New York City, just as a new wave of infections is hitting the region. 

Here's hoping everyone safe, boosted, and sound this season. Stay strong.

Thanks to the loyal for sticking around to read my cartoon updates. I continue to develop longer stories that I hope I will have the chance to publish in the future. Grateful for your support and encouragement. 

Connie on Ko-fi

[4-panel diary comic about getting a booster shot in NYC. The comic is dated December 14, 2021. Panel 1 shows a girl with a braid and mask running past a man smoking under a scaffolding on a city sidewalk. Text reads, "Running to my booster appointment." In panel 2, she's seated in a room with a doctor who is administering her doses: "Getting my booster and flu shot too." She has red bandaids on both arms, from the 2 shots. In panel 3, she is "walking home," passed a sidewalk stand selling Christmas trees. Cursive text reads: "All I can do is my best -- no energy left to argue right or wrong." In panel 4, she is home, "taking deep breaths" on a yoga mat. "Here's hoping we get through the season safe -- sanity intact."]

Follow The Emotion

This is the part of the writing process where I need a lot of courage. 

Thanks for staying with me and supporting through the cartoon-y growing pains. Connie on Ko-fi

[5-panel borderless comic of a girl with a bun, sitting at a desk with blank pages of paper in front of her. "Do I have anything worthwhile to say?" In panel 2, the caption reads, "I need my courage," as she holds up a magnifying glass. In panel 3, the search continues: "Where could it be?" In panel 4, she is prone: "Will I ever find it?" Elephant appears in the last panel pointing in the direction of the arrow that says, "Follow the EMOTION." Speech bubble reads, "I think you go that way --"]

Changed Person

When we say we want change, what we mean is we want things to stay the same. 

Thanks for reading and sticking around during a period of change and growing pains. Making some headway which I hope will reflect soon.

Appreciate your support on Ko-fi

[Two-panel comic showing a simple illustration of a girl with a braid, reflecting on personal growth. Panel 1 text reads, "I changed a lot...I'm a different person now." In panel 2, a mini-chorus of three figures say in unison, "We prefer the old you, actually." Dismayed, she exclaims, "Oh no - it's irreversible."]

Kinder To Myself Holiday

May your holidays be merry, but if this is a hard time, I hope you find the comfort you need. 

Thanks for reading. I am taking extra care of myself.

[3-panel comic of a girl with a braid looking a little bit melancholy. Text reads, "Holidays make me feel sadder than usual - even if I'm fine and nothing's wrong." In panel 2, she gives herself a hug. Panel 3 zooms out to show an elephant in the frame. Girl, still hugging herself, says "Let me be kinder to myself today." Elephant adds that "All is not lost. Maybe somebody you know made pie."]

Stronger Cartoonist (Tinyview #26)

I want to be a better, stronger cartoonist, but it's hard to know if I'm on the right path...

This is episode #26 from my comic series on Tinyview Comics app. 

https://tinyview.com/connie

It helps me a lot if you follow on Tinyview for my weekly strip!

[5-panel comic of a girl with a bun at a drawing table. Panel 1, overhead shot: "I really wish I were a better cartoonist. It's so hard." Panel 2, medium shot of the girl at her desk, looking mildly stressed. Text reads, "I don't know if I'm strong enough to do this." After a beat, panel 3 shows her determined face: "I can't give up! I have to try harder!" Panel 4 is a humorous illustration of the girl in shorts, lifting pink dumbbells. Text reads, "Must get stronger!" Panel 5 shows her "later," back at her desk, with bodybuilder arms, drawing pensively. Thought bubble: "Am I doing this right?"]

Thanks for supporting!

Seasons, Come As You Are

Fall foliage was at its peak in Central Park over the weekend. When the wind blew, it looked like it was raining sunlight in reds and golds. 

Seasons are never boring. Thanks for reading. 

[4-panel comic of a girl with a braid sitting, melancholy with her head on a table and a cup of tea. Panel 1 text: "I should get some fresh air." In panel 2, she is jogging in the park with fall leaves raining down brightly against a simple drawing of a city backdrop. Text reads: "I should exercise more." Panel 3 is a splash of color, the reds and golds of peak fall foliage. She is a tiny figure walking behind globs of bright color. Text reads, "I should live each day to the fullest." In panel 4, she is walking over fallen leaves with her hands in her pockets, head down, looking pensive. Text reads, "I should not feel sad." Title of strip: "Seasons, come as you are."]

Relationship Needs

I don't think I'm asking for much ;)

Thanks for reading and supporting

[3-panel comic of a girl with a braid, fantasizing about what the perfect relationship looks like for her. Panel 1 text reads, "I don't need much in a relationship..." In panel 2, she is being hugged tight by a figure with huge arms within a thought bubble and lifted a few inches off the ground. Text reads, "...just a guy with humongous arms - who will hold me until the world ends." In panel 3, there is a giant ferocious-looking monster (resembling "King Kong"), baring its teeth and towering over a dense cityscape, holding the girl in one of his hands in a tight grip. She is calm and expressionless: "I mean - this works too."]

Emotional Dictator

If my heart could talk, it would complain of a brutal dictatorship. 

Connie on Ko-fi

[3-panel sketchbook comic without panel borders. Shows sullen girl with a braid, arms crossed, her back to a forlorn-looking red heart that is locked in a birdcage. In panel 2, she turns to the caged heart and scolds, "Don't even think of coming out until you're ready to behave." Text reads: "My creativity is closely tied to my emotions...When I can't express myself openly, it blocks my ability to draw and write." In panel 3, Elephant comments, "That's not very nice to your heart," to which Heart echoes, "Yeah." Girl says dramatically, "HEY! This is really cutting into my productivity!" There's a flashing arrow pointed right at her that says "TYRANT."]

Room For Milk

May all your needs be acknowledged :)

Thanks for reading. 

[4-panel comic strip of a girl with a braid, ordering coffee. Panel 1 text reads "Current level of single desperation." In panel 2, she orders coffee from a bearded barista, with the caption "Imagining a future with anyone who acknowledges my needs in any way..." In panel 3, the barista asks, "Would you like room for milk?" In panel 4, there's a beat, as he waits, right before she responds with "marry me."]

Draw Anything (Tinyview #24)

Some days are extra hard and this is all you can do. It's something. 

Creative Notes #24 from my webcomic series on Tinyview. #25 is live on the app this week.

Thanks for liking and following - it helps! https://tinyview.com/connie

[6-panel comic about having a hard time finding the motivation to draw. In panel 1, a girl with a bun stares at a blank piece of paper taped to a wall. In panel 2, she doodles on the wall, everywhere but on the paper itself. Panel 3 shows white clouds. Panel 4 shows the girl sitting on a white cloud with a blank expression on her face. In panel 5, she's staring at a blank piece of paper again, with some empty thought clouds behind her. The final panel shows her drawing a "single dot of emotion". Text reads: "Sometimes the only way through a creative block is to go around it, to doodle in the margins and go somewhere wordless that can't be expressed verbally. Just draw anything and start there."]