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Chrislyn

@chrislynchoo

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𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞𝐫 🦋
✨ Living Heirlooms Studio: weaving family lore into everyday life
🌀 how do we become better ancestors today?

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🫧when is a time you felt reborn?🫧

I’m welcoming my 30th birthday as a collective genesis ~ a tender homecoming to our wiser selves, reborn from the cradle of loss 🦋

with laughter + lament, joy + sorrow, dear community circled round with me to witness each other’s grace + resilience in seasons of grief ~

“when our worlds shatter… what are we willing to shed + let go of? what are we open to discovering + honoring about ourselves?” 🤲🏼

this gift of being seen, heard, and celebrated ~ it fuels + flavors every Story Hotpot I’ve hosted to this day. to all my friends + family, thank you for holding me with love + inspiring my “rebirthday wish” for this season of new beginnings…

🫧🫧🫧

in this unknown, unraveling, unfolding
may we slow ~ savor ~ steep ~
welcoming each other home to remember:
in this chrysalis of rebirth
i am alive
i am awake
i am able to
say yes to what scares me
say no to what no longer serves me
gently, bravely, let a dream die
surrender the illusion of control
embrace the chaos of my own galaxy
delight in my divine baby steps
welcome the new way I see me, and you
with open hands
i dare to ask
what feels most alive?
what amends can i make to myself?
what if honesty is faith?
what if it goes right?
unmasking myself
i breathe, flow, geoflex
as change reshapes my core
i welcome grief to ripen my soul
at the speed of care
i am becoming an ancestor
my descendants can be proud of
reweaving my loom of memories
i love who i am becoming
with and without you
🦋

🫧🫧🫧

much love to my #birthcanalsquad ~ I feel awed to grow with you! 🫶🏼🐣 @joonearth @ectck @davidchooo_ @anicanicab @mar.mizunaka @joejlam @learned_optimist @clotildiclo @liuhao_46 @funkybeanie @yen.tqing @ak_artventures @airic.ad @joodfish @mck123_ @denisetzy @lindalogston @s__wan__s @tinybutcurious @tellingabetterstory @journeywithbre @eunice.ks @jesterofthepeace @charlottexlw @sha_zng @angelahsiehmusic @ctats @michifornow @hummingharmoniez @huihan_lie @eckoh7 @swimmer.chuang @chelseygriffith by @chrislynchoo

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3 years ago

In 1978, my dad left his family in Malaysia to pursue the American Dream. (Yep, he wore this for the flight over!)

This St. Patrick's Day, he became the president of Shamrock Technologies – the first company he joined as a chemist nearly 40 years ago. Congratulations @joonearth! We are so proud of you 💛☘️

Now March 17th was a jarring day. Celebration was whiplashed with grief for our Asian sisters slain in Atlanta. In the wake of ongoing dehumanization, I lift up my grandmother’s story of love and resilience. She’s a badass who beat war, sexism, and betrayal — modeling the courage and generosity I so admire in my dad.

You can read more about their inspiring stories in my bio. Big thank you to @familypicturesusa for inviting me to share the wisdom of my ancestors on your blog! 🌿

Writing this article took 2 weeks, but really, it’s the fruit of over 20 years.

Daddy, thank you for your hard work and sacrifice. Thank you for supporting my desire to understand our roots, even when it leads me far away. I will never forget the ironic twinkle in your eyes as you sent me off to Beijing: "Good luck being an immigrant!"

Now here we are, traveling back in time with the brave woman who once sent you and @freedom_marsha off on your adventures. Thank you both for the gift of your mother’s story. Her legacy is a blessing ✨

#proudtobeasian #stopasianhate #stopaapihate #womenshistorymonth #childofimmigrants #immigrantstories #ancestralhealing #ancestorswildestdreams #intergenerational #familyhistory #familyphotos #chinesediaspora by @chrislynchoo

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6 years ago

Storm chasing ⚡️⚡️⚡️

I've always dreamt of witnessing lightning crackle over the ocean for the photo bucket list... but I didn't anticipate how spiritual and adrenaline-pumping the inter-flash wait would be.

Perched in the dark beside my makeshift laundry-basket "tripod," sky rumbling as loud as the sea, I saw Genesis unfold. The Spirit of creation hovering over the waters...

Then BOOM! a mighty flash as light rips the air, literally taking root to give birth to life.

It was a lesson in patience as my emotions evolved from entitlement ("yo I'm ready, gimme a bolt already!!") to embrace ("ok let's dance. hope our rhythms sync. dazzle away!").

Best not-so-quiet time with the Creator yet!

#naturespeaks #artstigators #stormchaser #lightning #lightningbolt #thunderstorm #natgeo #earthfocus #artofvisuals #agameoftones #penang #malaysia #igersmalaysia taken in Penang, Malaysia by @chrislynchoo

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4

9 years ago

to all the emergent rituals, ceremony, and returning to self and other

with all my love. guided by @chrislynchoo by @chrislynchoo

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3 months ago

Trotting into the new year, flames afoot 🔥
Happy year of the Fire Horse to everyone!

Fire Horse is the 6th zodiac animal we’ve brought to life, inspired by the annual Lunar New Year tradition of a “prosperity toss” – known as yee sang 鱼生/撈生 – in Malaysia & Singapore.

We’re halfway through the 12-year cycle! 🤯

🐴 design: @funkybeanie
🎥 edit: @chrislynchoo
🎧 music: Pony @ginuwine by @chrislynchoo

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8 months ago

“Love, not hate, makes America great.”

Surreal gathering of 5000+ at the Princeton Battle Monument today in New Jersey.

I grew up here and remember sketching the monument in art class ~ a woman symbolizing Liberty urges on George Washington as he led his troops to victory, turning the tide in the American Revolution.

Nearly 250 years later, the fight for our collective freedom lives on. Here are some of my favorite messages affirming not only what we stand against — but what we stand for and choose every day to protect.

#nokings #nokingsprotest #princeton #historyhasitseyesonyou taken in Princeton Battle Monument by @chrislynchoo

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3

a year ago

nomming our way through the year of the snake! 🐍🥢

known as “prosperity toss,” yee sang 鱼生/撈生 is a beloved tradition celebrating 人日, “everyone’s birthday” on the 7th day of Chinese New Year 🎉

shout out to @funkybeanie and @learnedoptimist for bringing retro snek to life with me, one pixel carrot (and mouth pop sfx) at a time!

🎶 Snake Rag - Louis Armstrong

featured snacks:
🍍 pineapple cookie 凤梨酥
🐠 dried seaweed fish bundle 紫菜鱼丝条
🌹 red date 红枣
🍬 blackcurrant Sugus chews

#chinesenewyear #prosperitytoss #yeesang #yusheng #鱼生 #chinesediaspora #chinesefood #chinesetradition #familyreunion #yearofthesnake #snake #snakegame #retrogaming #retrogames #foodart #penangfood #penangfoodie #stopmotion by @chrislynchoo

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2 years ago

🎂HAPPY 3RD BIRTHDAY🎂 to our global community on Discord!!! 🫶🏼🌏🎉

Since 2021, our My China Roots family has hosted over 35+ meetups in San Francisco, New York, Florida, Singapore, Toronto, and Vancouver!

We love going on adventures as storied as our roots~

🥢 Eating ALL the comfort food: dim sum, banana leaf, @99ranchmarket samples… even baking kek lapis from scratch!

🕵🏻‍♀️ Tracing our shared history across Chinatowns, museums, cemeteries, and historic sites: @aiisforg @asianartmuseum @chsamuseum @camlaorg @ccmuseumbc @chinatownstorytellingcentre @mocanyc @harparvilla.sg @peranakanmuseum @singaporechineseculturalcentre @sysnmh @thinkchinatown

🧧 Celebrating traditions around the world: Chinese New Year, Qing Ming, Hungry Ghost Festival 👻

🤝 Crossing generations at the World Hakka Conference, @deathoverdimsum, even @animerevcanada!

👀 Not shown: Watching @eeaao in theaters… plus incredible musicals and dances honoring our ancestors! @cambodianrockband @oaklandballet @independentchinesedancers

Every day, we’re inspired by our community’s energy and drive to help each other make breakthroughs in our family history research ✨

We feel so grateful for the abundance of historians, artists, and storytellers all around us, working together to keep our collective history alive…

So that we – and our descendants – may forge our futures rooted in dignity and hope, building bridges of belonging as one human family 🪴

Here’s to more family reunions to come! 🌿

Hop on Discord at mychinaroots.com/community to join our next meetup 🥰

#wearefamily #community #chinesediaspora #chinesegenealogy #ancestry #familyhistory #familyreunion #historylovers by @chrislynchoo

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2 years ago

💨 magic dragon yee sang 鱼生! 🐉

sooo fun joining forces to fashion this fierce beauty with @funkybeanie + @clotildiclo ~ the winds truly blew in the ultimate dream team for this year’s “prosperity toss,” a Chinese New Year tradition unique to Malaysia and Singapore 🥢

here’s to soooaring high and frolicking freeee! 💫

#chinesenewyear #prosperitytoss #yeesang #yusheng #鱼生 #chinesediaspora #chinesefood #chinesetradition #familyreunion #yearofthedragon #dragon #dragonart #foodart #penangfood #penangfoodie #stopmotion #behindthescenes by @chrislynchoo

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3 years ago

new year menu, born of a new mother’s love! 🥰

all hands on deck to welcome @lindalogston’s bby daughter 小珍珠 (“lil pearl”) with a dragon’s horde of rainbow dumplings + diasporic comfort food + earl grey ice cream topped with boba, 汤圆, black sesame, candied taro, and coconut milk… the aunties are aaall ready to spoil this lil one hehehe 😘🐉

“family reunion” looks different every year, and I will never tire of reimagining it together 🫶🏼

🧧designed by @s926142003

#chinesenewyear #dragonbaby #chinesediaspora #comfortfood #homecooking #dumplings #familyreunion #friendsreunion by @chrislynchoo

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3 years ago

It’s said that every generation has someone who’s cursed - or blessed - with the mantle of “The Family Historian.”

Is this calling a burden or a blessing? Some days, it’s honestly hard to say 🥹

Family history is boss-level storytelling. A lifelong quest full of factors well beyond our control.

Faced with endless possibilities, how do we sustainably pace ourselves?

Given our innate sense of duty, how do we set healthier expectations, so we can feel more fulfilled + less overwhelmed on this journey?

Today, I’m excited (and tbh a bit nervous!) to have the opportunity to share what’s helping me reframe my role as a family historian + nurture my wellbeing in the process 🌿

This talk came out of many challenging conversations with my loved ones on the value of preserving the past + leaving a legacy. I definitely still have much to learn, and hope this speaker series will help open up the conversation more to explore genealogical wellness + sustainable storytelling together 🪴

Heartfelt thanks to @xochikuo for organizing this amazing series! I’m so inspired by your motivation to connect your son with his rich heritage. Thank you for following your curiosity + creating this opportunity for our wider community to learn together 💌

⭐️Registration is free ~ swipe for the full lineup of incredible storytellers (Nov 1-Dec 5)!

🗓️Before You & Beyond You: Passing on Your Family History with Peace of Mind

⏰Wed, Nov 1 @ 5:30pm PT

🔗leavingalegacy.eventbrite.com

#familyhistory #genealogy #genealogyresearch #ancestry #ancestralhealing #leavealegacy #knowhistoryknowself by @chrislynchoo

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3 years ago

Happy 2nd birthday to our My China Roots community on Discord!! 🎂💖🎉

Enjoy these highlights from our recent meetups – plus advice from @chrislynchoo for planning engaging heritage experiences with your community too ✨

While this @eventbrite interview focuses on AAPI Heritage Month, we encourage you to create intentional spaces to celebrate your heritage *all year round*!

After all, what began as a virtual village to connect during the pandemic has now become a beautiful tapestry of memories and adventures weaving our roots together as an MCR family🪡🌏

From San Francisco to Singapore, New York to Hong Kong, we’ve gone from online friends to IRL detective buddies: exploring Chinatowns and cemeteries, sharing family stories over comfort food, even live-streaming from the streets of our ancestral homes in China and Southeast Asia!

💌 MCR fam, we’re so inspired by your spirit of discovery & can’t wait for our adventures to come. Drop some love in the comments and let us know~ What’s one thing you’d like to remember from our time together this year? 🥰 by @chrislynchoo

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3 years ago