Skincare and Youthfulness

Hello Readers,

Yes, I am in my 50s, here is me with no makeup, no filters.

My facial skincare routine is the following (entirely independent and not sponsored.)

Morning

Neutrogena cleanser with cool water followed by Dr. Louis all-in-one Light Essence and La Roche-Posay SPF 50 facial sunscreen.

Night

Neutrogena cleanser, Aveda exfoliant every 2-3 days, followed by Dr. Louis all-in-one Light Essence. Osmia moisturizer when I have my perioral dermatitis breakouts (along with Elidel anti-inflammation prescription cream). Clarins multi-active night cream on my neck. Clarins Total Eye Lift Cream.

Other factors which help: lots of water, good sleep, work-out routine for cardio and strength-training, soul-nourishing activities (for me, it is journaling, music, spending time with loved ones and learning something new every day!) and of course, my Korean genes.

Stay young by feeling young. Imagine yourself 20 years from now and you had a gift of going back in time to 2026. How would you live? ENJOY life and love!!

2026 Music Video Year

Hello Everyone, Since I released four albums last year, I decided that 2026 was going to be music video making year - every time I travelled, I hired a local videographer and picked a song or two which went with the vibe of the city. So, I recorded four in Seoul (two to be released later), one in Toronto, and one in Lisbon. Grateful that I can delve into my creativity! Keep up with your passions, those things which inspire your soul - outside of work and loved ones - they fuel your heart for a lifetime! Enjoy!!

Did You Ever Know - Toronto

See the World Through You - Seoul

Honestly - Seoul

Spoken - Lisbon

Quiet, Deep Thoughts with No Phones

With all the technology available and all the apps on our phones which pull us into them, it is more important to be aware of this and put it all aside once in a while, at least once a day or more, if possible. 

Try this one night and next day.

An hour or two before bed, turn on sleep and do not disturb modes on your cell phone or if you can, turn it off entirely. Leave the phone in the living room in a drawer or in a closet. Out of sight.

Before bed, try to journal, read a book or think about what happened during the day that you were grateful for. Think about all the people that bring a smile into your life, from the friendly bus driver, the grocery cashier, friends, loved ones. Think of them and send them love out through your window. You will fall asleep smiling.

Try to find a time to fall asleep so you can wake up the next day without an alarm. Open your eyes and savour the process of waking up. Say good morning to yourself and feel the blessing of being able to wake up for a new day! Not to seem grim here, but one day, that blessing will no longer be true - so embrace life! Tell yourself "I love me!"

Morning hygiene routine, take your time, put on the music that sets a positive vibe and wear something that makes you feel beautiful - not for anyone else, just for yourself. Enjoy breakfast in the music, the beautiful clothing and perhaps journal while you eat and enjoy sunrise.

If you have a solitary day, continue with this set tone and you will find yourself have quiet, deep thoughts without being interrupted by a ring tone. Solo time is important for creative ideas and thoughts about decisions in life.

Turn your phone back on, if you need to contact someone about meetings or plans, but try to make that quiet morning last at least an hour into after you wake up.

You will feel more at peace.

And we need more of that in our lives.

Tell me how it works, if you want to share.

Stanford Sabbatical Winter 2023

I had the privilege in working with the Stanford Life Design Lab Team in the Winter of 2023. https://lifedesignlab.stanford.edu/team Kathy Davies, Urmila Venkatesh, Dustin Liu, Christian Simamora, Shanice Webb, Bill Burnett - what a team! I learned so much from them about designing your life principles for first year and senior undergraduate students, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. https://designingyour.life/ I strengthened my skills in design thinking concepts, brainstorming, prototyping, class engagement in topics such as success, discernment, wayfinding, and so much more, all outlined in Bill and Dave's book. THANK-YOU! 

 As for my living, I stayed at a one bedroom Stanford West Residence practicing minimalist living surrounded by other scholars and faculty. So refreshing! One Korean floor bed, one floor chair, one floor table, one bowl, one pot, and I used one closet. The living room and den stayed empty enough for me to dance and work out in, if I wanted. I walked and ran everywhere (closest grocery was 1 km away), only having to use uber twice for groceries coming back home. I took the train to travel to the city (SFO) for events and seeing friends. It was liberating not having things, a car and furniture to clean/dust. I took advantage of Stanford programs such zumba classes (love it!), ballroom dance, healthy living, personal trainer for my half marathon training, and ran the San Francisco Half Marathon by the Pacific Ocean! The run was breathtaking and inspiring to run my personal best at 2:42! I maintained my piano by playing at some beautiful music rooms on campus.

West coast living is definitely different from east coast Boston because the weather is warm all the time, people are outside exercising more. It was common to see people show up to class in yoga wear because they had a fitness session in between. Loved it! 

Big thank-you to my co-parent partner who made this possible as he hosted the kids for a bit over two months (I did visit once in the middle). Kids could have come with me, but then they would have been in three different schools in one year, so they stayed home in Toronto. Grateful and lucky for this opportunity! Thoroughly enjoyed my experience at Stanford and bringing it all to my home U of Toronto!

Harvard Sabbatical Weeks Two - Twelve Fall 2022

I experenced so many scholarly and personal adventures during my sabbatical, but I will summarize here in one posting because I so many current events I would like to cover. More details will be in my next book!

Scholarship

I attended some of the programming for the Master's of Medical Sciences in Immunology as I had been involved with the Applied Immunology Program at my home university - as an observor and a guest lecturer for the individual development plan and career planning session. I also attended their PhD Pathfinder program and other sessions hosted by the Office of Graduate Education. I learned so much from the professors and students there. Everyone was so friendly and welcoming. Thank-you!! Enjoyed a beautiful office space at 77 Pasteur and visited many times to the Cambridge campus to hear lectures outside of my discipline and visit museums. I gave four talks at Tufts University and worked on a national project developing GPD programs.

Personal Growth

I student jazz piano and composition at Musician's Playground, Boston Commons and gave a private concert with about 15 of my Boston friends at the end of my time there. I will post the video on my music youtube channel one day. Skated on Boston Common. Enjoyed the oldest subway system in USA. Stayed at 67 Joy St during my second half of my sabbatical which was the place the first African-American woman doctor lived. I was part of history as I am pretty certain I am the first Korean-Canadian GPD professor in Canada. I thought that was cool, but I do not think my name will get a plaque on the outside wall of the building.

I met a friend who took me to the famous Harvard carillons, visited the coastline with some previous students from U of Toronto, had many dinners with old and new friends and mentees, attended cultural events and just met so many cool, intelligent people who I still keep in touch with today. I ran the Cambridgeside Half Marathon  - even though I had sore throat and a few days later, tested positive for covid for the first time. I stayed home for a week and wore a mask for a few days after. I ran a half marathon and beat my previous time!

I missed my childern terribly, but I visited Toronto every three weekends and the semester flew by. I almost gave up and packed it up in the first week, but my women professor friends told me to embrace Nana time and reminded me how it took me years to plan this valuable experience. Thank-you to their Papa who hosted them in Toronto while I was away. I had thought of bringing them to the USA while I was on sabbatical but then they would have to be in three different schools in one year - so we decided to keep them home.

Harvard exceeded my expectations as a place of scholarly and personal growth. I miss it from time to time and hope to visit again very soon!

Instagram Handle

Hello Everyone,

You will be able to find my reels at nanaleepianokeys. See you there, if you have IG!

Hope you are all enjoying the Spring sun!!

Nana

Relationships and Peace

I was just walking the dog and saw a couple taking a walk together. They looked like they were together and then I heard her say “You have no logical reasoning. What did I say? I told you that twice” and then he said something. She stepped back and started to turn around. People yearn for connection. But once in a relationship, it is work, trying to understand each other. But then sometimes it is stressful or even distressful. Great if you are part of a couple in which distress is minimal or nonexistent. 

From a psychological point of view, why do we disturb our peace for "coupledom"? 

A broader question which I will explore in my next book! 

Why We Chose Virtual and Home Schooling in 2020

 

Sept 13, 2020.

I asked each of my three children (high school, junior high, elementary) how they were doing with our current times. How do you feel about all this and how do you feel about school? They all enjoy school, the learning, teachers, meeting friends. They have missed this environment since March now. They all said they would love to go back to school, but they also understood what that meant during covid times, wearing masks, physical distancing, not being in close project or lunch groups, not sharing papers or art projects supplies, They also know the statistics, as being the science Mom, I have shared that with them. And that Mom had a minor heart condition and studies have showed that patients with the same heart condition did not do well with covid.

So I homeschooled my third grader and the teens stayed on zoom. I did not want my 8 year old on a laptop 6 hrs a day. 

Homeschooling a third grader was an hour of her lesson in the morning, followed by imaginative play with games, cardboard boxes, paints, books, and trips to the park. I also squeezed in my work, teaching classes over zoom. We finished grade three by January 2021 so we then started grade 4 curriculum. When she got to grade four, she didn't learn anything new until half the year in.

Pivoting.

Such is the secret to life.

Harvard Week One

September 12, 2022

I have been here for almost 6 days now and I feel peaceful, excited to be part of this community and happy to be living a minimalistic lifestyle in a one bedroom place in Jamaica Plain. It is close to the subway and the commute to 77 Louis Pasteur is short and sweet. 

I am missing the children so much...

But looking forward to this experience. The people here are amazing and I have a beautiful office all to myself! Excited to meet students and other colleagues.

I have a total of 63 items listed here. This should last all Fall. 

The minimalism is bringing the peace, as I have less "things" to take care of.

1. A book
2. A journal
3. An agenda
4. Journal called story of my life
5. Pencil case with pens, pencils and eraser
6. Work notebook
7. Piano book one
8. Piano book two
9. Watch
10. Necklace
11. Bracelet 1
12. Bracelet 2
13. Bracelet 3
14. Lap top and charger
15. Cell phone and charger
16. Shoes
17. Running shoes
18. Suitcase
19. Jacket
20. Umbrella
21. Yoga mat
22. Grocery bag one
23. Grocery bag two
24. Grocery bag three
25. Socks
26. Undergarments
27. Feminine napkins
28. Passport
29. Harvard ID
30. Wallet
31. Eye glasses and case
32. Jeans 1
33. Jeans 2
34. Black pants
35. Black tote
36. Heating pad
37. Jacket2
38. Toiletries
39. Makeup and case
40. Curling Iron
41. Blazer
42. Sweater
43. - 51: 9 dresses and 52-64: 11 tops

More later!

Falling in love with waking up

Eyes open. Flutter. 

The faint light of sunrise or the dimness of predawn streams through the small rounds of my eyes. I feel my muscles move with a slowness, newly energized from rest. Tips of toes, fingers. My inner core. I can feel them and I am so happy. I smile. I say "I love you" to the day, to my own spirit.

I love falling in love with waking up.

I get to think. I get to emerge from slumber and feel the heels of my feet on the floor. I get to stretch and move towards the window to see.

Early dawn. How our planet Earth has spun around again so that the horizon greets the rays of our star. 

I get to see and feel these beautiful moments.

I love falling in love with waking up.

I remember when just walking and functioning in the morning was a struggle after my surgeries. I am so happy that today, I get to walk and run!, enjoy the views, and nourish my body, mind and soul all day.

Grateful.

I captured the rare moment when all the conditions are right for the sun to peek through the secret window. Miracles do happen.

Sabbatical to Harvard University Overview

September-Dec 2022

I arrived into Logan International Airport with two suitcases, a backpack and about 80 items (including my passport) to embrace my sabbatical at Harvard University. I was going to sit in and observe a course and teach a session for their Master's of Medical Sciences in Immunology and learn how professional development is delivered to Harvard's bioscience PhDs and MSc's. I had also set up a professional development monthly workshop series with Tufts University and some work with UMass Medical.

All of these activities were made possible by me building professional relationships with colleagues at Harvard, Tufts and UMassMedical over years of conference attending and speaking.

The first few weeks I stayed at Jamaica Plain, a neighbourhood in Boston, which was right adjacent the Harvard Arboretum, a beautiful place where I thoroughly enjoyed the forest trails for my daily runs or walks. 

The second half of my semester, I moved to Boston Commons, right in the heart of the city, cobblestones and all. 

I worked with creative, intelligent, enthusiastic faculty, staff and students. I attended thought-provoking seminars all over campus. I made new friends and reconnected with old ones. I learned lots about life at Harvard and about myself through the process.  

Harvard definitely has the scholarship vibe. 

I kept notes. I will detail them in the entries to follow!

Updates for 2025

Dear Everyone,

Happy 2025!

It has been a while since I have written. Many things have happened in my life and am just now absorbing and processing. I think I will start writing again as the stories I have within me are ready to be told. 

Some stories about motherhood with older children. New stories about my career, sabbaticals to Harvard and Stanford, the launching of our book, the journey with cancer (I am ok now!), my music productions and Spotify debut, and the emotional experience of an amicable, conscious uncoupling. Co-parenting. How I learned so much about myself through it all. So many things to share - I will try to write weekly. I hope these stories help anyone who might be going through any of these, anyone who decides to lead an authentic life and walk another direction when everyone else seems to be walking elsewhere.

I might take these new stories to another website - will let you know if I do.

Thank-you for reading, thank-you for either visiting for the first time or coming back after I had taken a break. Ready for some stories? Stay tuned.

Visiting from Heaven: Butterfly

Butterfly

By Nana Lee, April 24, 2022.

When my mother was younger, I asked her if she could be another creature, what would it be.

“A butterfly.” she replied.

“A butterfly is delicate yet strong, pretty, and can fly into the sky as if it was floating without a care in the world.”

We would talk about that from time to time.

She passed away when she was 47 from colon cancer.

On the day of her funeral on Sept 26, 1997, the morning of the service had been raining, lightly.

We all drove to the cemetery and the rain magically stopped as we stepped out of our cars. The first movement I noticed was a that of a white butterfly circling her headstone. Her wish had come true. She had come to visit as a butterfly. She circled everyone’s heads before she rose up into the sky as if to say “I’ll be ok. I am flying now! Love you all.”

Ever since that day, I remember her when I see those butterflies – the wings visit me at important times in my life – when I fell in love, became a mother, lost a pregnancy, or just when I needed some extra strength to be. I knew. She will always be there. As long as I remember.

As long as the butterflies fly.

Fostering Creative, Independent Children

Hello current or future parents,

One of the most common question which I am asked as a mother of three is "aren't your kids bored during this quarantine?"

Here is my answer. The word "bored" was always "banned" from our house. From day one, as soon as they able to speak, if they told me "I do not know what to do," I would say "that means you have to tap into your imagination and creativity a bit more."

"Should I remove all the books, craft supplies and games in the house?"

Their immediate response would be "No, Mama. I can find something."

And then they would find, on their own, something to be involved with.

Because of this foundation, our children have been independently coming up with their own projects along with their homework during the no-school, stay-at-home period during social distancing. My 15 year-old is reading, writing a few novels and practicing her piano and clarinet. My 13 year-old is reading, creating her own short movies, painting, animating. My 7 year-old is reading, playing piano, painting, and just recently wrote down all the countries with their capital cities in a book she made on her own. We provide the tools, paints, canvases, brushes, resources - they provide the creativity. We go on walks outside together, they girls are cooking more often and helping with the chores.

Have they watched more movies during this time? Not more than they usually do during the school year. My 7 year-old has not watched any movies. My teens have watched perhaps two or three Harry Potter or anime the past 2.5 weeks.

Our typical day looks like such

7 am Wake and breakfast
8:30/9 am Home school
10:30 Mama works while they independently read or write/math practice
12 Lunch, sometimes walk
After lunch: free time
4 pm Help with dinner
5 pm Dinner
Sometimes evening walk
7:30 Seven year-old gets ready for bed
10 pm Teens go to bed
Mom and Dad sometimes work until midnight

The day is not that long - so they take advantage of all their minutes!

In short, parents, do not have to provide all the creative solutions when they are "bored" - they can figure out their own activities. And later in life, you and they will be thankful that you let them.

Evening Dress for Holiday Reception

Embracing Modern Hanboks (Korean Dress) at Work

 Daily Han Blouse and Skirt (Insadong) at Hart House, U of Toronto

 

Teterot Hanbok Blouse with BR Skirt at Faculty of Medicine

Hanbok Blouse and Skirt Teaching in Class, Medical Sciences Building

The traditional Korean hanbok is 5000 years old, but the modern, daily hanbok is a recent invention by new designers who have joined the traditional with current, daily life. With my recent trip to Korea, I discovered these lovely creations (Teterot Salon, Daily Han and Leesle) which all could be ordered online. I have embraced these works of art to wear to at home, work and parties, to celebrate my cultural identity! Why wear just "anything" when you can wear such "something!"

Embracing Cultural Identity

My modern hanbok (Korean dress) made its professional debut at the American Association of Medical Colleges - GREAT (Graduate Research, Education, and Training) National Conference in Seattle, Washington in September, 2019 as I spoke and faciliated a workshop session on "Design Thinking Applied in Graduate Professional Development." The Conference Chair commented on how it was great I wore my hanbok during my presentation. To all professionals - embrace your heritage and feel free to wear your best attire which reflects your ethnicity. The jacket and suit have their place, but let's mix it up! 

Greener Science

Dear Everyone,
11,000 Scientists warning of a climate emergency. Ninety-eight percent of scientists believe climate change is due to human activities.
https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/advance-article/doi/10.1093/biosci/biz088/5610806

The act of research requires energy and plastic. Let's make greener labs and video stream our conferences. Our kids are depending on us.
https://www.mygreenlab.org/freezer-challenge.html
https://mosaicscience.com/story/science-research-plastic-single-use-sustainability-lab-waste-environment-gloves/

Happy International Women's Day!

To all the daughters, sisters, mothers, grandmothers, aunts - Happy Women's Day!
Cheers to being women!

Have fun being a girl - enjoy the dresses, colours, hopscotch, braiding hair, playing make-believe, creativity.
Have fun being a mom - experiencing pregnancy, childbirth, childrearing and fostering goodness.

Being a woman is an adventure - enjoy!

Minimalist Living with Kids

We spent the summer at the beaches with our three kids, in an unfurnished apartment with 2 bedrooms and roughly about half the living space as our home. We brought our beds, one couch, 2 chairs, clothes, one large box of toys for the 8 month-old. Our older kids each brought a small suitcase and a backpack for books and stationery. My husband and I each brought one bag of clothes as well. Out kitchen was minimal for 4 and a baby. No glasses, just water bottles and some plastic cups. One large pot, one small pot, one strainer, a pizza pan, a baking pan, dinnerware for four. We borrowed a dining table and 4 chairs, some cutlery and plastic plates. We were on minimal operations.

And you know what?
We were just fine.

Our lifestyle changed.
The kids and I walked to the neighborhood grocery store almost everyday, we brought home fresh bread almost everyday. We borrowed many books from the local library every 3 days. There was no tv so the only electronic entertainment was 12 minute episodes of Octanauts once in a while. Some of our kitchen cupboards were empty! We walked to the beach almost everyday. We walked to the park, restaurants, menchies, local music festivals.

We have returned home to notice all the "extra stuff" in it..
We purge and donate every 3 months or so, but this summer's experience really accentuated our collection we accrued over the 10+ years of marriage and 3 kids.

I am in the middle of the big "purge," and I notice as more toys and things are removed which haven't been played in a while, the key pieces we are keeping are played with and valued more.

I am in no way one of those moms who own only 2 pairs of jeans. I am still nursing and I know that my body will probably shift again so I am anticipating wardrobe changes in the next year. I know that families are always in flux, so I know I will be making purchases and donating again in the future. I do know, however, I will keep my purchases in check and not be so tempted with the 75% off signs as I make this largest purge this year. I hope to refrain from making bulk but "cheaper" purchases as the hidden cost of seeing towers of paper towels and toilet paper in my basement are too much for me.

My mantle looks so clean now - nothing except a picture of the kids and a wedding gift of a vase of glass roses. I can actually appreciate them now as they are not hidden behind plastic plants, candles and other dust-collecting knickknacks which I have forgotten about already.