From time to time, what’s going on in the world feels so disproportionately heartbreaking, overwhelming, and impossible to comprehend that I lose my usual momentum for writing on an open platform. I, of course, like to be optimistic and uplifting because that is a part of my nature. I have observed myself take many difficult, forward-moving steps in the past during challenging situations, thanks to those naturally occurring attributes within me. The pandemic, multiple natural disasters, racial injustice, to name a few from recent years... and here we are again... my heart breaks apart with tears over and over every morning when I wake up to news and see where our current home country is heading. I shared a story on Substack a few weeks ago about carrying my U.S. passport when I step out of the house as part of my current reality.
It’s hard to believe things have gotten even more intense over the past weeks. I grieve and feel anger for the unnecessary and inhumane harm and loss of lives that are happening under the name of “immigration enforcement”, and also personally truly fear that we could be the next target that will be stripped of our rights to breathe and express, since I was not originally born in the U.S. as I am a naturalized Asian American citizen. I have been asking myself, “What can I do as a person who is so small in scale?” Aside from looking for ways to peacefully protest on the street and boycotting purchasing from companies that support values we don’t believe in, is there something (anything) I can contribute to shift the pounding force?
And I come back to the same answer - stay present and keep writing, creating, expressing, and connecting.
Back in November, I closed my personal IG account so my focus and attention could stay centered in the present moment. Last week, as I woke up to the recurring question, “Is there anything I can do?” I decided to remove most of the non-tool apps from my smartphone. These were apps that kept me as a captive audience through algorithm-driven scrolling, or had me “keep tapping” the glass screen for status updates. In exchange for escapism, I wanted to create an open vessel for time and space. Today, more than ever, I need my two eyes wide open and looking up (not down at the screen), and my heart cracked open to experience the raw emotion of now. And I am writing in my notebooks, painting on my pages, and seeking ways to connect with family, friends, and neighbors so I can be present with the current feelings and energy of the world in solidarity.
Thank you to everyone who is here, reading this love letter, and continuing to support our small business through thick and thin. I
-wakako
always a metamorphosis in progress...
Topanga // February 2nd, 2026
P.S. It is probably very obvious that this love letter holds a different tone of voice from my usual stories. I chose to name my personal feelings and experiences in this love letter because Baum-kuchen is a female Asian-owned small business, and pretending that the current status of immigration enforcement does not affect the well-being and livelihood of my family and immediate community would be a lie.
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