A Blue Monday, a Fall Reset, and Small Joys

Wrapping up a long holiday week here in Seoul (Chuseok, basically Korea’s Thanksgiving), this Monday hit me with that classic post-holiday blues. So forgive a girl for being sentimental — I thought I’d share a few small things that genuinely made me happy last week.

Ezra Klein Podcast — The Brian Eno Episode

The Ezra Klein Show from The New York Times is one of those podcasts I’ve always heard people rave about — I think I first caught it mentioned on The NTS Breakfast Show with FLO. I’ve been enjoying how he reflects on the cultural, political, and technological shifts of our time, and how he invites people from completely different fields into surprisingly thoughtful conversations.

So when I saw Ezra Klein and Brian Eno in the same sentence (Click here for transcript!), I clicked before my brain even processed it.

To be honest, I didn’t know much about Brian Eno beyond the basics — that he’s the godfather of ambient music and the guy behind the Windows 95 startup sound (the slowed 4000% version is also an ethereal gem :P ).

His reputation and body of work are so vast and influential that it’s actually kind of intimidating. Whenever an artist has that much legacy, I freeze. I want to explore their work, but the weight of their genius makes me hesitate. That’s why I started listening to Björk, Aphex Twin, Ryuichi Sakamoto… and now Brian Eno… embarrassingly late.

This episode felt like the perfect, low-pressure introduction — a starting point for what I’m calling my long-overdue Brian Eno journey. Hopefully it can be that for you, too.

One of my favorite moments was when Eno said he wanted to be a gardener rather than an architect — someone who plants seeds and lets things grow, rather than someone who meticulously plans every detail. He also mentioned how he enjoys experimenting with tools in ways even their creators never imagined.
That idea — of looking at familiar things through a completely new lens — really stuck with me. Even in the same city, if you shift your intention or perspective just a little, the streets you thought you knew by heart can suddenly feel like a new world.

Fall’s Arrival (and My Mini Fall Reset)

October 1st officially marked the end of Seoul’s steamy summer. Which means dog walks have gone from sweaty suffering to actual neighborhood adventures.

I live in Hyochang, a quiet residential pocket in Yongsan. It’s close enough to Itaewon to feel lively, but far enough to still smell like… people actually live here. I love that about it.

During one of our first true autumn walks, I took my dog to Hyochang Park, and it was honestly the most satisfying walk I’ve had in months. Unlike some “parks” in Seoul that are basically a few trees and a bench, Hyochang Park is A REAL ACTUAL PARK — big, leafy, with an actual pond and people of all ages using the space.

At the park entrance, there used to be this abandoned-looking building that sat empty for ages. But earlier this year, a small café/deli called Pajama Deli opened up there — and the whole area just came alive overnight. Now it’s where runners cool down, students gossip, young families grab sandwiches, and people like me stop by mid-walk with our dogs.

Ever since Pajama Deli opened, I’ve had a reason to take longer weekend walks — grab brunch, enjoy some green, and take a break from doomscrolling. Honestly, I’m grateful for it.

On my walks there, I’ve also noticed more tiny, independent cafés and sandwich shops popping up — you can feel the quiet creativity of young people building lives here. I hope this neighborhood becomes a place full of small, character-filled local spots — not just endless apartment blocks and franchises.

Delphic Tea — “Mili Fili”

A few months ago, for my birthday, a colleague who loves tea as much as I do gifted me a tin of Delphic Tea’s Mili Fili blend.
I’ll admit — it sat untouched for months, because my kitchen cabinet is basically a chaotic archive of teas I _swear_ I’ll finish someday. But recently, when she asked me how I liked it, I finally opened it… and oh my god.

The scent is insane.

I genuinely want everyone I love to smell it once in their life.

It comes in this beautiful baby-blue airtight tin, and even the process of opening it feels ceremonial. According to the label, it’s a blend of oolong tea with marigold petals and a touch of milk aroma.

When you brew it, there’s this creamy, almost woody scent — like warm milk and sharpened pencils (in a good way, somehow?). I can’t quite describe it, but it’s familiar and comforting. Maybe someday I’ll find the right words and come back to edit this post.

The perfect ritual, honestly: after finishing work, cleaning the house, showering, lighting a candle, and finally sitting down with a cup of Mili Fili while the crisp autumn air drifts in through the window.

There’s no better way to say hello to fall.

Wrapping Up

Maybe it’s because fall is my favorite season, but this past week I found myself noticing small joys more vividly than usual.
It’s crazy how much the seasons can shift people's mood (especially mine).

Now that autumn’s officially here, I want this next chapter — this Q4 — to be one of reflection and curiosity. Less doomscrolling, more noticing. And as a start, I want to spend a little more time here, building Endive Chaos with care and intention.