About Lily

If you are new here, you are welcome, friend. You are welcome if we share the same views and values and taste in books and movies, and you are welcome if we don’t. I hope you stick around because the other people here are amazing and you will love them.

A little about me…

I am 30 years old and I am still becoming. I don’t know what I want to be when I grow up, but I hope it involves writing and travel and children and working for peace and justice in the world. After several years in the workforce, I do know some things I do NOT want to be: A mathematician, a flight attendant (claustrophobia), a professional mountain biker (bikes are not my friend), a computer programmer, a magician, or involved in commercial real estate at any level. Well, I take it back. I might want to be a magician. But only if I get a wand.

I am an avid reader across most genres and will often write here about books that I’ve loved and my recommendations.

I have Type 2 Bipolar Disorder as well as several anxiety disorders. While this does not define me, it is not something I want to hide because I believe the only way to break the stigma of mental illness is by being real and honest about it. I write about it often here.

I grew up in a fundamentalist evangelical Christian tradition and have spent much of the past few years trying to untangle the threads of my faith and of who God is from my experience with the tradition I grew up in. I don’t always know what I believe, but I believe in wrestling it out.

I met my husband Jonathan when I was 18 and we have been married for 8 years. He is good and kind to his core and he makes me better than I am.

I recently (as of August 2018) moved to Hong Kong with my husband to work as a literacy teacher at a company whose focus is teaching young kids to read. If you want to read more about my travel adventures and life abroad, head over to www.keeproamingon.com.

We moved here after a three-year stint in Columbia, South Carolina where my husband was attending grad school. Before that, we were in Daegu, South Korea for two years where I taught elementary school English.

This blog contains years and years of searching for purpose and meaning in my every day life, but I’ve never been able to give it up because after all this time, I am still asking questions, still learning, still growing, still becoming. My blog is a visible record for me of where I’ve been. It has given me the freedom to ask difficult questions and to honestly encounter myself and confront what I find. My readers are family members, close friends, acquaintances, and even strangers. They respond to my ramblings with grace and I am thankful.

 

55 comments

  2. Your writing is so genuine and eager. I really like how you’re honest about finding yourself and ‘becoming’. Knowing what you don’t want in life is as important as what you do want.

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    1. Thanks, I really like that. “Knowing what you don’t want is as important as what you do want.” I hadn’t really thought about that, but I think you are right. We are all works in progress, but making mistakes and finding out what we don’t want is still progress. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!

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      1. It is like Michelangelo saying he has a sculpture in mind and all he has to do is remove all of the marble that isn’t the sculpture. By eliminating everything we don’t want, we discover what we truly do want.

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  4. Wow are you just fantastic! So glad I came across your blog. I look forward to reading more about your journey. Keep your chin up – you don’t need to find the path your life will take, it’s clear you’re already walking it. Enjoy the view. 😀

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  6. Hey Lily. I just found you today through your wholehearted post. Brilliant post. I am intrigued by your writing style and integrity which shines through. Following you for more. Keep the Faith. Keep searching for more from God. Stephen.

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    1. Hi Stephen, thanks so much for your kind words. I’m so glad you appreciated the post and it really means a lot to me know that you sensed integrity in my writing. What an honor. Thank you for reading and for following. I really appreciate it!

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      1. It’s strange about numbers. For some, such as me, they are my friends. Always have been. I used to work as a systems analyst. Loved the job, hated working in an office. Now, if I had a choice I would spend my days seeking and photographing beauty. I feel eye-food is a basic need, at least for me. Love that it is for you, too. Cheerio, Barbara

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      2. Eye-food is indeed a basic need. 🙂 I really admire people who are good with numbers, but it just isn’t for me. But we need all kinds of people in this world and some of my closest friends are numbers people and I think that’s pretty cool. We all have something to offer!

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  8. Hi Lily! I’m Kelsey and I’m also 27. I’ve been married for a little over a year and I live just outside of Seattle. Since I like your blog and plan on visiting again, I decided to introduce myself. 🙂

    I just found your blog via your article on Relevant “4 Lies Church Taught Me About Sex,” and I thought it was spot on. And very well put. I felt like someone else had written up everything I think about what church taught me about sex.

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    1. Nice to “meet” you. I’m so glad you liked the article. I was really touched by how many people have reached out to say, “Me too.” It was obviously a really personal thing to write, but it was so worth it to hear from other people who said, “You are not alone! Thank you so much for saying this.” Of course, there were also people who thought I was saying waiting isn’t worth it and things like that and got really upset about it, but I think overall it had a positive effect. I’m really glad you could relate (though sorry since I imagine having a similar experience meant similar struggles.) Thanks for reaching out. Hopefully I will see more of you around here!

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  9. absolutely fab blog, one of the best I”ve found so far! I share a lot of your thoughts about continually seeking purpose and grace! I’m much older than you but still I think we are on the same page! Love your book choices too!

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    1. You are so sweet! Thanks, Hilary! I love how blogging has connected me with likeminded people all over the world and in different stages of life. I’m glad you’re enjoying my blog. I hope to see more of you here. Thanks for reading!

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  10. Pingback: Accepting the Premio Dardos Award | beyondtheflow

  12. I really love your blog, I hope mine can be as good as yours one day! If you want to step by and drop me some advice, you’ll be more than welcome! 🙂 Hugs!

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      1. To meet the human who will become one’s soul-person, (or however one can describe him/her) is such a testament that it’s possible after all. I met mine at age 57. I’m now 77 and it means the world to me (literally) Love is the greatest power in earth. Thus he/she keeps us connected and a better person for it. I’ll never get over it, either. Everyone should have a person and save the world, so to speak.

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      2. That’s such a sweet sentiment -“everyone should have a person and save the world.” Thank you for sharing. I’m glad you’ve found your soul-person. 🙂

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  14. Hi Lily, I’d love to know about how you came to be in South Korea. My partner and I live in London and have grown up here but we have always talked about moving somewhere, maybe south east Asia or Australia or endless number of places. What sort of jobs are expats mostly attracted to there and what is the cost of living? Hope I haven’t bombarded you with questions.

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    1. Of course! I’d be happy to share with you. By far the most popular job for expats in Asia is teaching, especially teaching English. There is such an enormous demand for English education here that many governments are funding programs to bring native English speakers in as teachers. Depending on the country, you may not even need any teaching experience or degrees in education to do this. The cost of living in Southeast Asia is incredibly cheap. Incredibly. Consequently though, the pay for jobs there is also quite low. It is enough to live comfortable there, but you won’t be saving money. Thailand and Vietnam are exceptionally easy places to get a teaching job – basically if you speak English you can get a job there. Japan and China are much more selective, often preferring professional teachers or those with a background in education. These two countries also have a much higher cost of living. (Cost of living in Japan is exceptionally high). The pay is better there, but the cost of living is also high. South Korea is somewhere between the Japan/China scenario and the SE Asia scenario. Cost of living is relatively low, but requirements for teachers are a bit higher. I have a degree in English, but no prior teaching experience. Korean teaching jobs are similar to Japan and China in that they typically pay for your plane ticket, provide your apartment for free and pay around 1,800 USD/month. My husband and I live comfortably on one salary and save the other one/use it to pay off student loans. As far as something like Australia goes, there isn’t the demand for teachers there and unless you have a highly specialized skill, something in a tourist industry would be the most likely way to get a job. The cost of living in Australia is exorbitant, however. Sydney is one of the most expensive cities in the world. There are many recruiting agencies for teachers that you could look into if that interests you at all. My husband and I have written more about our specific situation in Korea if you are interested in hearing more https://twosorethumbs.wordpress.com/2013/08/16/to-korea-and-beyond/. If you have more specific questions, please feel free to send me an email, I’m happy to help! 🙂 lily.e.dunn at gmail.com

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      1. Lily, thank you so much for your reply, it was very detailed, helpful and informative, exactly what I was looking for. I will drop you an email if anything.

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  15. you are a delight! i trip-stumbled face-forward onto your site because of your site-title…such small hands (as mine!) I just blog-posted a small-finger-tipped ditty regarding my own small hands at my blog-safe-place hugsnblessings.com

    In fairness a little fyi – i identified with which you wisely spoke above: “After more than four years of blogging about it, I find I am still searching for purpose and meaning in my every day life, still asking questions, still learning, still growing, still becoming.” Truthfully, I’m 49 years old and just this past Wednesday I finally figured out my own purpose….and now you’ve inspired a future blog post of my important lived-life expedition! Thanks! Must get off to tippity-tap type!

    Hugs & Blessings (on your continued journey!)

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    1. You are so sweet, thank you! I’ll have to check out your blog and see what you’ve been up to over there. Thanks for reading and for your kind words. 🙂

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  17. Hi Lily, I just discovered your delightful blog. Your title and tag line hooked me, and the honesty and transparency of your writing kept me reading. These words: “After more than four years of blogging about it, I find I am still searching for purpose and meaning in my every day life, still asking questions, still learning, still growing, still becoming'” resonated for me. As a 15 years-retired-teacher-married-to-my-special-man-for-55 years, I am still searching, learning, and growing, and I have no plans to stop. Just wanted to thank you for sharing your perspective.

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    1. Thank you so much for your sweet comment. I really appreciate hearing your perspective and just knowing that someone like you is reading and enjoying my words. Thanks so much for stopping by!

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  19. Pingback: Finding the Joy, Losing the Judgement | Roxical Thinking

  20. Hey 🙂 I love your writing and will definitely return to read your posts.
    I lived in Raleigh too. I loved it there eventhough it was totally different living there than in my home country. After two years we had to return to Germany and now I permantly want to travel visiting as much countries as possible in this beautiful world. I guess I just want to find out what I am here for – “searching for the purpose and meaning in my every day life”
    I hope you’ll find it out some day.

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    1. I understand just what you mean. Living abroad has really made me want to keep traveling and see the whole world. I honestly think that traveling brings me closer to God. But I admit that wanting to travel so much sometimes makes it hard for me to appreciate my every day life and to find the purpose and joy in the mundane. Thanks for joining me on the journey. I hope to see you around here more often!

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  21. I think you could be my younger sister. As I read your about page you are me in a nut shell…but I’ve aged a little more 🙂 and am still questioning, wondering and trying to improve myself. I too live abroad and am addicted to books. But I do have a little girl and once God gives you that baby you will find your kindle full or YA, juvenile, and picture books. I’ve actually become addicted to some awesome picture books that just send out amazing life lessons in 30 pages or less. Which is about the amount of time she lets me read. I love your blog. I have one too but I haven’t learned how to be so savvy as you :).

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    1. Your comment made me smile. 🙂 You know, in a weird way I find it comforting when people slightly further along than I am tell me they feel the same way about questioning and struggling and trying to grow. It might seem counter-intuitive, like it would be more comforting to hear someone say, “I used to be this way, but I’m all good now.” But I find it comforting because it reminds me that I’m not alone, but also that maybe I’m never going to figure all of things out and maybe that’s OK. 🙂 I’m so glad you love the blog, that really means a lot to me. I hope to hear more from you here soon!

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