Look outside your own world
#41 - waves wash my feet; sand smothers my shoes
Hi there,
Records were broken this week on the thermometer, as climate change dealt us a vicious attack, turning us all hot-headed and some having to reach for the fire exits. I’ve reached for my bottle at great frequency whilst worshipping the air purifier, which subbed in as a fan, being turned on and off, as the generous Adi gave the 2 handy helpers up to the rest of the family.
I spent the week watching a few films, special mention to 📽️ Unchartered: in spite of sisterly warnings of mediocrity, it was adventurous, daring and had more twists than a box of noodles.
Highlight of the week (here’s a fitting emoji ⭐): went to a beach after over 2 years. With upgraded cameras and a pleasant balance of breeze and sunshine 🏖️1
Today’s beam of enlightenment encourages you to see yourself as part of an interlocking network of people and consider how your actions affect others.
If this introductory line helped out, smash the like button at the bottom of the page 👊 👍
As I mentioned 2 weeks ago, I caught COVID. Likely ‘Omicron plus’, officially known as variants BA.4 and BA.5, it lived up to its name: not so severe yet even more virulent than its predecessor. Apart from a chilling headache, fever and lower back pain for 1 day, I left relatively unscathed. Sadly, the same can’t be said for the rest of the crew.
Without converting this into a lament, Mum was struck, drowned in fatigue and “killing body pain”, Dad also affected by tiredness. It certainly took proper toll on their adult bodies.
The secondary impacts were more acutely felt: Mum couldn’t go to work and had to reschedule appointments she had ‘toiled’ to pick up, Dad had to cancel a couple of shifts and my sister nearly missed her sports day, one she was heavily looking forward to. Even though she got to do it, on a baking day (at least, back then it seemed like close to the British weather ceiling), she was left exhausted from both COVID and the sprinting.
Case study 2: I had another duo of dental and orthodontal appointments last week, which resulted in a resemblance of an action plan, one that is set to take years to complete. I’ll have to sport these trendy braces for at least another 2 years.
My mum made her frustration and anguish known at how a single decision to both catch the bus on my own to go to hockey that fateful March night and also to not wear my gum shield out of part-laze has caused short-term, medium-term and long-term damage, all in equal amounts. It has, definitely, changed my life.
Both these events, in quick succession, highlighted the impact my decisions & my choices have had on others, including future me.
At a time when, upon self introspection, I have recognised my behaviour, thoughts, wishes and demands as particularly selfish, it is eye-opening and for sure important to learn this lesson.
In one of my English Literature plays, the key character, The Inspector, delivers his summative point at the end: There are millions…[and] their hopes and fears, their suffering and chance of happiness [are] all intertwined with our lives, with what we think and say and do. We don’t live alone. We are members of one body. We are responsible for each other.
When analysing and considering the consequences of your actions and decisions, which obviously you should, cast both a wider and bigger net, thinking of the broader effects on those around you and those not around you #climatechange and also how the future may pan out if you make a certain choice. Sounds simple but our brains are primitive survival machines, geared to quench selfish desires in order to live.
Book of the week 📖
We’re back on track. After cruising through Atomic Habits, with pleasure and purpose, I’ve now turned to a Dad-recommended Stocks 101 book from the Nineties - Learn to Earn: A Beginner's Guide to the Basics of Investing and Business by Peter Lynch. The references in here sometimes make me a crack a smile: how things have changed! The roots of how the stock market was created are fascinating, maybe the subject of an article one day 😉
Podcast of the week🎙️
FT News Briefing: Sri Lanka picks a new leader
Recently discovered this podcast and enjoying it; “bitesized” 10 min 3-course meals of 3 varied stories, elaborated in sufficient detail. This one features an insider’s dejected look.
Article of the week📰
What Happens When Stars Produce Iron?
A back-to-basics walk through of how big stars are made, and how heavy elements are formed.
Quote of the week💬
"Arise awake and stop not until the goal is reached." - Swami Vivekananda
Have a great week and, after some thought, here is a brand new closing line
All is well* 👍
Adi
*We’ll work on that…suggestions welcome
Breeze and Sunshine - sounds like a seaside resort holiday package