Feeling Lost in Uncertain Times? Memoir 'Moon in Full' is the Story You Need Right Now
We are living in uncertain times. Politics feel more polarized than ever, and every day, the headlines seem to bring more division, more instability, and more reasons to feel discouraged about the future. Many of us are wondering how we move forward—how we find our place in a world that seems to be pulling apart at the seams. If you’ve been feeling this way, I want to share something with you: Moon in Full is a story for this moment.
My memoir is about resilience in the face of uncertainty. It’s about navigating multiple identities—growing up as a Cambodian American, a foster youth, and a gay man in rural Maine. It’s about learning to survive, to adapt, and ultimately, to thrive in a world that often makes it difficult for people like me to exist fully. But more than anything, it’s about finding hope and the power of embracing one’s full identity—even when the world tells you that you don’t fit.
Stories have always been a way for people to make sense of chaos. They remind us that we are not alone in our struggles, that others have walked difficult paths before us, and that there is a way forward—even when it’s hard to see. In Moon in Full, I share my own journey of self-discovery, but I also hope that in reading it, you’ll find pieces of your own story, your own resilience, and your own hope.
There’s no denying that we are in a time of crisis. Across the country, people are feeling more disconnected than ever. Political discourse has turned into all-out warfare, where people are less interested in listening and more interested in winning. Policies that impact real lives are being reduced to talking points, and many communities—especially immigrants, LGBTQ+ people, and people of color—are being pushed to the margins.
For many of us, this moment feels personal. As a Cambodian American, I’ve seen firsthand how history shapes the present. My family, like many Southeast Asian families, came to the U.S. as refugees, fleeing genocide and seeking a better future. But even in a country that promised freedom, we faced struggles—poverty, discrimination, the constant feeling of being an outsider. As a foster youth, I learned early on what it means to be displaced, to grow up without a stable sense of home, and to navigate a system that often fails the most vulnerable. As a queer person raised in a conservative Christian environment, I had to fight to reconcile my faith, my identity, and my place in the world.
Each of these experiences could have made me bitter. But instead, they shaped my understanding of resilience, of the power of identity, and of the importance of building bridges rather than walls. In today’s political climate, the lessons I learned feel more relevant than ever. The challenges I faced—feeling like I didn’t belong, struggling to carve out space for myself in institutions that weren’t built for people like me—are the same struggles many people are experiencing now. Moon in Full is not just my story; it is a reflection of the broader fight for acceptance, belonging, and justice.
When I first started writing Moon in Full, I wasn’t sure if my story was worth telling. Who would care about a Cambodian American foster kid from Maine? But the more I wrote, the more I realized that the details of my life—though unique—spoke to universal struggles. The struggle to belong, whether in a family, a community, or a country. The fear of being different, and the courage it takes to live fully as yourself. The fight to be seen, in a world that often overlooks the stories of immigrants, LGBTQ+ people, and those who grow up in poverty.
These are not just my experiences. They are experiences that millions of people share, especially in a time when marginalized communities are being targeted and erased from the national conversation. Right now, we need stories more than ever. We need to hear from people whose voices have been silenced. We need to listen to those who have been left out of history books and policy discussions. We need to remind ourselves that behind every debate, every statistic, every law that gets passed, there are real human beings whose lives are being shaped by the choices of those in power.
If you are feeling discouraged by the state of the world, I want to encourage you: reading stories like mine is an act of resistance. Why? Because stories build empathy. They break down stereotypes. They help us see people not as “issues” or “political talking points,” but as complex, multi-dimensional individuals.
When we read stories about people from different backgrounds, we begin to see the humanity in those we might not have otherwise understood. And when we see that humanity, we become more willing to fight for a world where everyone has the right to be seen, heard, and valued.
Moon in Full isn’t just a story of survival—it’s a story of transformation. It’s about taking the pain of the past and using it to build a better future. It’s about learning that we don’t have to choose between different parts of ourselves—we can be whole. And it’s about recognizing that the most powerful thing we can do in uncertain times is to stand in our truth, tell our stories, and refuse to be erased.
If you are feeling overwhelmed by the uncertainty of today’s world, I invite you to read Moon in Full. Read it if you’ve ever felt like an outsider. Read it if you’ve struggled with identity and belonging. Read it if you believe that stories have the power to heal, connect, and inspire change. Because while politics and policies may shift, one thing remains true: we are stronger when we share our stories.
I hope Moon in Full will remind you that even in the hardest times, we are not alone. That resilience is possible. That hope is within reach. And that no matter how uncertain the future may seem, we all have the power to shape it.
