From VIFF (Vancouver International Film Festival) queues to cozy reading nooks, we swap notes on the stories shaping us right now. Huan shares festival standouts—an Argentinian poet’s messy brilliance, a glamorous Moroccan grandma rewriting life at 70+, and a Chinese rural saga of rapid change—while Amanda riffs on rom-com lessons (Holidate, Maintenance Required), why love is cultivated (not “found”), and the dreams we inherit.
We also dig into a smart, myth-busting menopause guide (Women on Fire), laugh-learn with David Sedaris’ Me Talk Pretty One Day, and gush over People We Meet on Vacation. Expect empathy for imperfect artists, respect for elder wisdom, language-learning humility, and practical self-care for women’s health.
Grab tea, press play, and feel seen. 🫖🎬📚
🎥 VIFF takeaways: empathy, accountability & why some artists need scaffolding
👵🏽 Aging out loud: romance, friendships, and making new rules at 70+
🧭 China’s generational shifts through a village family’s lens
💘 Rom-com reflections: boundaries, rejection, and choosing courage
🔧 Dream-chasing: closing old chapters to restore what you truly love
🧪 Menopause truths: testing, options, and advocating for your body
🇫🇷 Learning French (and feeling delightfully clueless)
Films and Books Mentioned:
A Poet — directed by Simón Mesa Soto 🇦🇷
(Argentinian–Spanish drama about a misunderstood poet navigating life and purpose)
Calle Málaga — directed by Maryam Touzani 🇲🇦
(A Moroccan story of a 70-year-old woman reclaiming joy, friendship, and independence)
Living the Land (生息之地) — directed by Huo Meng 🇨🇳
(A poignant multi-generation rural Chinese tale through decades of change)
Holidate — directed by John Whitesell (Netflix)
Maintenance Required — directed by Mark Jean (Prime Video)
Women on Fire — Dr. Sheila de Liz 🔥
Me Talk Pretty One Day — David Sedaris 🎧
People We Meet on Vacation — Emily Henry 🌴
#MindfulAndMighty #VIFF #FilmFestival #BookClub #WomenOnFire #SheilaDeLiz #SimónMesaSoto #MaryamTouzani #HuoMeng #生息之地 #WomensHealth #AgingWell #Empathy #Vancouver #Creativity #ReadingLife #SelfCare