We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Linda T. a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Linda, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
“Life begins at the end of our comfort zone.” — Neale Donald Walsch
Everyone always talks about how life is about taking risks and stepping out of your comfort zone— but that’s honestly easier said than done.
Having grown up in a traditional Asian household, I was taught to never shy too far away from our cultural norms and values because it was always either “the right thing to do”, “because our parents said so”, or a little mixture of both— since the last thing you’d ever want to do is not only be a disappointment to yourself but also be a disappointment to your family and the people who raised you.
Growing up, I didn’t truly understand the numerous sacrifices my family had made by coming to the US to start a new life and chasing after the American Dream. Just imagine how difficult it was for people like them to uproot their entire lives as they knew in the motherland just to set up shop in a foreign place where they didn’t speak the primary language, to begin with, or know anyone, let alone have support systems as they did back home.
As a first-generation Asian-American, I vividly remember the stories my grandparents and my mom would tell me about their life back home— where life wasn’t all fine and dandy. However, they still managed to make the best of the situation no matter what. As I got older, I started to piece together and better understand the hardships and adversities my family had gone through to get where they were and to do everything they could to give me a better life. Although I still remember the deep-rooted feeling of the constant pressure on me as an only child, the stakes were high, the expectations were even higher, and the continuous judgment from my grandparents would eat away at me constantly, which always led me to believe that I was never good enough and that anything I ever did was never going to be good enough, at least in their eyes.
As the years passed, I could eventually see why things were how they were. My family always wanted what they considered ‘best’ for me, but I often felt they didn’t know who I was or what I wanted to do. Honestly, it was hard for me to express my true feelings and thoughts to my family without the intense fear of disappointing them since it always seemed like they already had my entire life planned out for me – where everything was a predestined path for me to follow – whether I liked it or not, so the pressure was real. As I went through the motions of doing things they wanted me to do, getting an education was at the top of the list, which is entirely understandable. My mom didn’t fully fulfill her dreams in the education aspect, so to her, it probably felt like she had to live through me vicariously. By the time I got into college, I thought I had my entire life figured out and knew exactly what I wanted to do with my life. Boy, was I wrong about that…
At the end of the first semester of my fourth year in college, I had an epiphany & realized that the path my family had set out for me wasn’t the one I wanted to pursue in the first place. I’ll never forget the day I sat in the chair across from my advisor, where she went over my options of what I could do— it was either to continue to stay on the academic path of becoming a pharmacist or to switch to something else that I was closest to graduating with. I remember spending an hour in my advisor’s office, where half of that time was spent crying and trauma-dumping on them (to this day, I still feel terrible for doing so at that moment, but thank you for being the real MVP and listening to me vent). Ultimately, I gave up the pharmacy path and my family’s dream of becoming a pharmacist because I knew it wasn’t suitable for me. I graduated with a biology degree a year after meeting my advisor, which was a huge accomplishment. Looking back on it now, I just went through the motions of getting a higher education and obtaining a degree to land a good job because that’s what my family wanted. Still, I also wanted to prove I could do it.
Don’t get me wrong, I am extremely thankful for everything and will forever be indebted to my family for raising me into the young woman I am today. But I think they always tended to play on the safer side. Throughout the years, I was taught the apparent differences between right and wrong, good and bad, do this vs. don’t do that, etc. It always seemed like I’d be looked down on if I tried to stray from our societal norms, even for a second. Everything I knew about life was passed onto me by family, which was often considered right or the only way, while anything outside of those circumstances was always deemed wrong or taboo… let alone the judgment you’ll be faced with.
It didn’t hit me until the height of COVID-19 when we were sitting at home twiddling our thumbs or trying to find new ways or hobbies to pass the time, whether it was days, weeks, or months. It was a rough time because I was usually always out and about doing something or exploring something new, but being stuck at home in lockdown was probably one of the most self-controlled things I’ve ever had to do. I remember mindlessly scrolling on TikTok, where many creators showcased their creativity or recreated trending TikTok dances. Then, one day, I picked up my iPad and started to doodle to get the creative juices flowing. A few doodles later, I stumbled across a TikTok of someone making stickers from their doodles and putting them on Etsy to sell… I thought, “If they could do it, why couldn’t I also do it?”.
During this time, I started my sticker shop on Etsy as HappyBites Sticker Co., which was fitting because most of my designs were food-themed; we maintained that shop for a few months to keep us busy, but it wasn’t exactly what I saw myself doing long term, in terms of a side-hustle. I went back to the drawing board and hashed out many different ideas of what I could do, and eventually, we decided we still wanted to do something creatively, but more so on the photography side of things. As the year went on and lockdown restrictions were slowly lifted, I started to explore the opportunities within food photography further (a little side note: I have been running a foodie Instagram page at the beginning of college and have been active on the page ever since). After working on a project with a mutual friend, they suggested I use my skills and talents by taking on food photography professionally. I remember going home that night and giving it some more thought; in the end, I knew they were right, and this was something I could see myself doing long-term.
Two years later, I finally took that leap of faith and started my own food photography business, HappyBites Co. This genuinely felt like a full-circle moment for me, where I could stand firmly on my own two feet. For the first time in my life, I was finally doing something for myself that I wanted to, not because someone else wanted to. Taking this risk has drastically changed my life and my mindset for the better— it has opened doors that I never imagined were possible and allowed me to work with many different individuals, from local chefs and bakers to small business owners; it truly is a dream come true. Let alone play with your food for a living and create art out of it; what more could you ask for?
Although my vision for what I genuinely want to do in life may seem confusing and unclear to my mom and grandparents, they still try to support me anyway. I hope that one day they’ll understand that I am who I am because of them, and that’ll never change. Finally, I understand that living my life on my terms is one of the most freeing feelings, as I do things I want to do, step out of my comfort zone, take risks, and enjoy the ride life offers.
I wouldn’t be where I am today without the constant love, support, and guidance of the people nearest and dearest to me. I wouldn’t have made it this far to get where I am if it weren’t for them, and if there’s one thing to take away from all this, always try to experience life outside of your bubble. If you believe in yourself enough when no one else does, that’s all it takes to succeed, and sometimes, the most significant rewards come from stepping outside of your comfort zone.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Born and raised in the Land of Enchantment (also known as New Mexico), I am a passionate food photographer behind HappyBites Co. (@_happybitesco on Instagram if you’d also like to take a peek), based in the vibrant city of Albuquerque. My journey into food photography started with a deep love for culinary arts and a desire to capture the beauty and artistry that each dish embodies. I am a firm believer that food is a universal language that has the power to unite people from different backgrounds and create a sense of community and belonging— whether it’s through shared meals, the joy of discovery, or community events— food plays an integral role in bringing people together.
Living in Albuquerque, I am continually inspired by the rich, diverse flavors and unique culinary traditions our local food scene offers. From the bold, spicy kick of New Mexican cuisine to the innovative creations of up-and-coming chefs, my mission is to showcase our local businesses’ incredible talent and passion.
With every camera click, I aim to highlight the colors, textures, and stories behind each dish. My goal is not just to take beautiful photos that appeal to the eyes only but also to create images that celebrate the essence of local eateries and help them shine in a crowded market. Whether it’s a cozy café, a family-run restaurant, or a food festival, I am dedicated to bringing the heart and soul of our food culture into the spotlight and putting us on the map.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
The most rewarding aspect of being a creative is putting my heart and soul into something I’m passionate about. This means creating and curating aesthetically pleasing, drool-worthy content and making my audience hungry. By expressing my love and passion for food, I truly enjoy being able to showcase a more fun and creative side when it comes to food photography. With that being at the forefront of what I do, I love being able to give back to the community that raised me by supporting small & local businesses wherever I go.
Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?
Some follow their hearts, but I follow my stomach and do precisely that— but always with my camera in hand!
Over the last seven years and counting, I have been building my foodie page (@ilinsterr on Instagram if you’d also like to take another peek), which has consistently been a work in progress. To this day, the social media game is forever changing. The algorithm will work with you one day and then turn its back on you the next, so you’ll never know exactly what you’ll get. Your number of followers will always fluctuate but don’t dwell on that so much that it relatively defines who you are. If you find your niche and keep posting consistently, your content will eventually reach the right people. No matter what happens, you must keep your eye on the prize— you must see the vision for yourself, be willing to stick to it, and tune out everything anyone says about you, your page, and whatever you’re doing. At the end of the day, creating content that best resonates with you and connects you with your audience by staying true to your most authentic self is the most important thing you can do.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://happybitesco.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ilinsterr/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/happybitesco
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ilinsterr
Image Credits
Blushing Rose Images, Jelubi, & HappyBites Co.