First of all, I’d like to sincerely thank whoever on the Cafetalk staff suggested this week’s topic; it actually motivated me to tidy up my desk!

I truly believe that a cluttered desk leads to a cluttered mind; however, mine still gets a bit messy sometimes when I’m not in the mood to put things away. So I’m happy to say it’s neat again.

Now, let me introduce you to “some” of my favourite things on my desk..

Miniature Me?

A miniature statue of an English teacher. 

I love collecting figurines, and when I spotted this one in my go-to shop, I just couldn’t resist.

I mean.. hello? It’s basically me! 

Perhaps, minus the fact that I’d probably never teach in a traditional classroom. At least not anytime soon. I definitely prefer teaching online, but that’s a story for another column…

A Seasonal Touch

Serendipitously, my spring vibes have a Japanese touch too!

If you’ve read some of my previous columns, you know I enjoy immersing myself in the seasons, and spring is no exception.

Well, to be honest, up until about two years ago, spring was an exception, along with summer. I absolutely dreaded them—mainly because of the weather.
 

They always felt like obligatory stretches of time I had to endure before reaching autumn and winter (and the festivities of Halloween and Christmas, plus Ramadan whenever it happens to fall). Once those times passed, I would just practically stop enjoying life until September rolled around again.

Last year, however, I decided to try embracing spring and summer, because surely there must be something worth cherishing in every season, right?

So, I started surrounding myself with aesthetically pleasing items, scents, and sounds that highlight the best parts of spring. I even picked up new activities, like gardening, to really connect with the season.
 

(P.S. the candle is unlit because the scent is surprisingly strong. Just removing the lid fills the whole room with spring vibes. Yay lungs!)

The Ray Journey

A thoughtful gift from my sister

My TRJ mug stands for “The Ray Journey” which is the name of my blog: therayjourney.com/blog and lifestyle.therayjourney.com/blog. 

This is definitely one of my top favorite mugs (I love collecting mugs, too!). While I do use it for drinks occasionally, most of the time, I simply enjoy it as décor.

Books, Books Everywhere

And of course, there are books on my desk—there are books everywhere I go!

Nearly every table at home has at least one book, as if they are on standby, waiting for the moment I’m suddenly hit with the irresistible urge to dive into a story for some emergency mental relief.

Okay, I’m only half serious; I just really love the sight of books. They give off this warm, cozy, and at-home feeling, so I tend to stack them everywhere.

But yes, I do actually read them, too! In fact, I share seasonal book recommendations here. Oh, and I’ve just published a new book club lesson that’s only available in spring; you can check it out below.

And that was a corner of my desk! 

I hope you enjoyed this mini tour. 

See you in the next one!