Unsafe Spring

As Asian-Americans, we are still waking up everyday to more news headlines and stories about violent attacks and harassment, targeting people who look like us, our family, our elders. 

It is taking a toll on us, our families, and our community. 

I encourage you to speak up on our behalf, if you hear hateful anti-Asian speech around you, blaming Asians for the pandemic. 

It's also a good time to reach out to your Asian friends and colleagues to ask if they are doing okay. 

I hope we can take better care of each other and get through this together. One love. 

Thanks for reading and supporting.

Second Vaccine Dose

I feel very fortunate to have gotten my second vaccine dose in New York City this past week. (I drew a diary comic about the first dose too.) I had a pretty mild reaction, but felt dull and groggy for about a day and a half. 

It's worth it to me help minimize the spread of the virus that is still wreaking havoc and devastating entire communities worldwide. 

I got the vaccine for the same reason I wear I mask; it's to keep the people around me safer. 

With everything we've learned since the beginning of the pandemic, let us do better when we know better and look out for each other the best we know how.

Thanks for reading.

Never Stop Looking

New sketchbook comic about times when you need to dig deep to find beauty and strength. 

We've come a long way, but we're still in it, no matter how "done" we all are. This is for anyone who needs a boost. (I did last week.)

Thanks for reading. More updates to come.

As Long As You're Not Shooting

A new elephant comic strip. Thinking about gun violence in America while working. 

We've had almost back-to-back mass shootings across the country just in the last week, alongside fresh reports of police brutality. It's like another ongoing viral contagion, on top of the covid-19 pandemic, an overwhelming backdrop to getting on with our daily lives. 

I'm also trying to remind myself that these are not isolated tragedies; there's something happening that is bigger than we are. At times, just getting through the day without doing too much damage is an evolutionary win. 

Stay well, stay present, and thanks for reading.

A Society Where We Feel As Safe

In the U.S., this has been yet another week of waking up to news of domestic tragedy and violence against communities of color. It's difficult to see this about ourselves and it's critical that we do. 

I don't think there are any easy solutions, but I thought about what I wish for and wrote it down. That's where I begin. 

For anyone who is suffering this week, I hope there is momentary relief enough to replenish your strength and spirit. 

Thanks for reading.

4-panel comic text: I desperately want to live in a society where my black and brown friends feel as safe as my white friends and my Asian parents don't have to be afraid to leave home. That would be dope. (*By the way, it's weird how we still say skin is "black and white.")

Socia Media Burnout

Social media has become exhausting. I'm still writing and drawing, but it's better for my creativity and mental health to manage how much time I spend on social platforms. I will be looking for new ways to share my artwork in the near future. Stay tuned and stay well. 

Thanks for continuing to read along.

New cartoon about social media burnout and the need to recharge creative batteries offline.

Getting My First Vaccine Dose at the Javits Center

I was lucky enough to get a first-dose vaccine appointment yesterday at the Javits Center. After a year of living through a global pandemic and all that it brought, a lot of feelings raced through my mind as I made my way to get vaccinated.

When I got there, gratitude was the only emotion that mattered. May we all have this chance. 

Thanks to everyone helping in the race to vaccinate our communities faster than than people can continue to spread the virus.

Be safe, keep wearing masks, and thanks for reading.

Gut Survival Instinct

New sketchbook cartoon about survival instinct, trauma, coping, and wanting to feel safe. I think our instincts for survival are closely linked with how we experience trauma. 

It has been an intense year. I hope you all feel safe and that we'll all soon have access to one of the vaccines. At the same time, let's look out for each other too.

Thanks for reading.

New Wave Of Violence Against Asian Americans

I woke this morning to news of another violent hate crime against a 65-year-old Asian woman in midtown Manhattan, who was on her way to church at 11:30am on Sunday. Camera footage showed bystanders doing nothing to help.

https://www.npr.org/2021/03/30/982745950/attack-on-asian-woman-in-manhattan-as-bystanders-watched-to-be-probed-as-hate-cr

Sadly, we know from U.S. history that these attacks will continue, until enough people say that it is not okay to attack Asians or any group of people based on race, gender, faith, country of origin, etc.

There is a long history of hate crimes against Asians in America and we appear to be in a violent new wave. It is not slowing down and we need your help. If you see something, will you help us? 

Daniel Dae Kim's recent address to U.S. Congress https://youtu.be/fRhkZ5EZnJo

Thank you for reading. #StopAsianHate

Illustration: I (Still) Love New York

We've all been going through it, haven't we? I still love NY and appreciate everybody who's trying.

New sketchbook illustration of New Yorkers I saw walking, wearing masks, eating pizza, having coffee on-the-go. The city is always moving and most of us are just trying our best.

We all have the right to be here.

Stay safe, stay sane. 

We matter and we belong.

Thanks for reading

Practicing Self-Hugs

It's important to practice self-hugs, especially in tense times. Every little bit counts.

New sketchbook drawing. Everyone, take care.

Connie on Ko-fi

On My Way

New diary comic about finding self-affirmation in less than ideal conditions. 

• George Takei on the long history of anti-Asian hate in the US (link)
• Daniel Dae Kim speaking to Congress (link)
• Karen Chee on the Atlanta shootings (link)  

I have to learn the importance of loving myself no matter what external messages I get from my environment. 

Sandra Oh famously said, "It's an honor to be Asian." 

Yes, and now more than ever. Glad to know we are not alone. 

#StopAsianHate resources and organizations https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/stop-aapi-hate

How It Feels To Be Asian In America Right Now

It is as my black, brown, and Muslim friends told me. Sadly, this is a familiar pattern in America. 

Thank you to friends who checked in with me this week. I am fine, but the Asian community in the U.S. is not. 

Words spoken with malice to dehumanize a group of people can have violent and deadly consequences, as we have seen this past year and throughout history. And I learned this week how loud apathy can feel, when the target is on your back. 

Let us be better and look out for each other. Thanks for reading

#StopAsianHate https://stopaapihate.org/together/

To Be A Person Of Color

New sketchbook journal comic about living in a place where hate crimes against people of color and vulnerable groups are almost "normal" and unremarkable. 

There was a shooting spree yesterday, targeting Asian women in Atlanta. I went to bed last night and woke this morning thinking about how unsafe it feels to be a person of color in the U.S. now -- and essentially, throughout history.

At the same time, I am proud to be Asian-American and grateful to the leaders of the Civil Rights Movement and Black Lives Matter for creating the blueprint for finding strength in each other and the courage to not accept hate as our "normal."

Thanks for reading

Have I Grown As A Person In The Pandemic?

I don't know if I've grown as a person, but I did watch an unbelievable amount of T.V.

Thanks for reading along

"Sane" With Hard Air Quotes

It has been over a year of pandemic living. However you managed to get through, it counts. Thanks for hanging in. (Plus, Weekend to self-care)

Connie on Ko-fi

Sketchbook: Depression Cleaning

"Nothing sparked joy."

I'm in a better place now than when I drew this gag cartoon, but that's also about as much furniture and tableware as I have after my recent move. ^_^ 

Thanks for reading

Update: Moving Pains and New Beginnings

New sketchbook illustration about moving, transitions, and therapy.

I took a week off to move apartments for the first time in 10 years -- a significant change for me! Thankfully, I'm on the other side of moving pains and am settling in. Here's my first cartoon from my new set-up. 

Thanks for your patience! 

Connie's Ko-fi

Celebrate the Ice Cream Cones (Mini Milestones)

Reminder to myself that it is okay to be a work in progress, as long as I keep trying to move forward.

Cartoon text: "It can take time to figure yourself out. Change is hard for a lot of us. Don't forget to celebrate the mini milestones. If you got through the day, you did GREAT."

If anyone else wants to celebrate with ice cream, I am here for it.

Thanks for reading

Basic Yogi

Elephant is right: I do spend too much time sitting on my butt these days. 

The older I get, the less cooperative my body wants to be. 

Every little bit counts though. When I remember to take the time, exercise and yoga help with mental health wellness too. Hope you are taking care of yourselves a little bit everyday. 

Thanks for reading