Issue 60

Hi! How has the new year been for you so far?

A lot has been going on on my end. I just finished photoshoots for Ferrari Magazine and Qatar's inflight magazine. I also recently wrapped up a rebranding shoot for an international school and I'm working on two ongoing projects - one for a property developer (which I shall not name) and another for Singapore Tourism Board.

On top of that, I have been working on my podcast with Dan (we are committed to recording 52 episodes this year!). We are also discussing how we can move LITO in a new and more exciting direction so keep a lookout for news on that!

I know I said it's my desire to live a Sloth Life in 2019. But again, like I explained in our previous podcast episode, living a Sloth Life has nothing to do with being lazy. To be a sloth is merely and simply to enjoy life as it happens. Even if there is work to do, the work is never done in an overtly strenuous way. In other words, a person living a Sloth Life has a most relaxed mindset. Because of this mindset, life and work become far less stressful and much more fun.

Speaking of fun, can you believe it? We are at issue 60 of this newsletter! Thank you so much for being here, for reading, and for allowing me to invade your inbox and your consciousness every week. If this weren't fun I wouldn't have lasted 60 issues. (If you would like to unsubscribe, here is your chance to. Don't worry, I will understand if you leave. I might just occasionally cry into my pillow on nights when I feel particularly vulnerable. Alright I'm kidding. You should only be here if you really want to.)

For those who choose to stay, THANK YOU again for being in this magical place with me. 

And what a magical place this is indeed. After all it has no reason to exist. Nobody needs to read my writing, and I certainly don't have to impose my thoughts on anyone. But against all odds this place exists, where I am free to explore my obsessions, go where my thoughts lead me, and in the meantime be able to share my life with you. Thank you!

I started this blog/newsletter in 2016 because I wanted to write about creative success - what it takes to make a good living doing what one enjoys. Suddenly it's three years later and it's 2019 and I have ended up writing about far more than creative success.

My dream is to continue to write honestly and fearlessly here and to grow into a much better writer than I am today. I want to continue to share my struggles, my explorations, my experiences, and to continue to learn. And I wanna do it with you guys in tow.

I'd like to reaffirm that the purpose of writing here is not to figure out the answer to anything. As kids we were taught that there is always an answer sheet at the end of our assessment books, but life isn't an assessment book. Life, maybe, is about asking the right questions. If we see life that way, then the pressure on our shoulders is relieved. It means we don't have to figure anything out or find the right answer. We only have to keep exploring, keep walking through the forest, and keep learning. 

Everything is always a work-in-progress - there is no finishing line.

And really, we can finish when we die. In fact death - whenever it swoops in swiftly and without warning - reminds us that we have to live before we die.

For me, to live - and live well - before I die is to continue to stay curious, interested and excited about things and to be open to life, come what may. If I see life this way, how can I ever be bored? 

Ending off this issue with my best wishes for you - I wish for you a year of curiosity, joy, peace and ease, and I'll talk to you again soon =)

PS: If you like my newsletter and for some reason think it might delight/benefit someone you know, please feel free to forward this email to him/her. Thank you!

Some inspiring things

1. In Praise of the Quiet Life led me to this inspiring talk by Alain de Botton.

2. Mike Posner spent a week in total isolation. He reads journal excerpts from that week on his podcast, What Does This All Mean?

3. Loving the haunting music of Hildur Guðnadóttir. The magic of just one cello. Amazing.

4. Speaking of cello music, this Yo-Yo Ma performance at NPR's Tiny Desk Concert is a must-watch. Halfway through the performance the maestro offers some advice on how we can best learn things.

5. Alex Honnold climbs mountains without a harness. He is a superhero.

6. 30-day yoga practice with Adriene. I'm doing it, albeit inconsistently.

7. I just became a patron of Humans of New York. Brandon Stanton is doing very important work by documenting the stories of random, ordinary human beings. He is bringing power to the people. 

8. Currently reading: "The Vegetarian" by Han Kang. Terrifying book, but also beautiful...

9. Quote to think about: "The only wrong way to do a day is to believe that there's a right way to do a day. It's to waste your time worrying if you're doing it right. That's the only wrong way." - Mike Posner