Happy Saturday!
I hope you’re having an excellent start to your weekend. We're already halfway through July. Crazy...
What I’ve been up to:
I've been studying Joseph Campbell's magnum opus, The Hero With A Thousand Faces. Around 90 minutes every day: reading, re-reading, noting, journaling, watching interviews and lectures.
I caught up with a good friend over sushi who's playing professional rugby. One thing I never appreciated was the sheer physical toll athletes undergo over the course of a season as well as the pressure within a team to perform flawlessly each week, their every movement filmed, dissected, and scrutinized.
Back to back half marathons. 20km last Sunday, 21km tomorrow. I'm starting to seriously consider a marathon in September.
Here's an inside look at the most interesting ideas I've explored this week.
Enjoy.
✍️ quote i’m pondering:
Lebanese-American poet, Khalil Gibran, on seeking wholeness:
Do not love half lovers
Do not entertain half friends
Do not indulge in works of the half talented
Do not live half a life
and do not die a half death
📚 book passage i loved:
‘I do not think that any speech will help me. For I know what I should do, but I am afraid of doing it, Boromir: afraid.’
...
‘I think I know already what counsel you would give, Boromir,’ said Frodo. ‘And it would seem like wisdom but for the warning of my heart.’
‘Warning? Warning against what?’ said Boromir sharply.
‘Against delay. Against the way that seems easier. Against refusal of the burden that is laid on me.’
― The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien
💡 idea from me: when was the last time?
When was the last time you lay on a grassy hill, and watched the clouds float by?
When was the last time you watched the sun rise from the gates of the east, pink mist melting into a golden dawn?
When was the last time you sat by a window during a storm, rain falling in sheets, wind straining the roots of trees, thunder booming through the heavens and echoing through your bones?
When was the last time you looked up to a star-filled sky and savored the silence, breathless with wonder?
When was the last time you gave a hug, that lasted a whole six seconds?
When was the last time your shoulders untensed? jaw unclenched? neck relaxed?
When was the last time your face wore its natural expression?
When was the last time you paused and noticed, and took it seriously, as if noticing was your job?
When was the last time you didn't hear the clocks ticking loudly, and failed to consider, what stretches beyond today?
When was the last time you were sufficiently grateful for the gifts you were given?
When was the last time you listened to your small voice, above all the traffic and ambition?
When was the last time you didn't hurry through the world, but walked slowly and bowed often?
When was the last time you smiled uncontrollably, as if there was nothing you could do to stop it?
When was the last time you truly felt alive?
For me, for many, life is busy, moments scarce. The mind is often occupied with more important things, than by happiness, and deep breathing.
Yet all you need is a glimpse, of these sweet things.
For in a glimpse, sleeps eternity.
❓ question i’m asking:
A question from investor, entrepreneur and philosopher Jeremy Giffon on the paradox of success:
Why do successful people spend so much time doing things they hate?
David Perell elaborates: "You'd think people would more adamantly do things they enjoy. But nope. People are too caught up chasing status or deluding themselves about what they actually want to do."
People cling to who they think they should be, instead of surrendering who they actually are.
📸 photo of the week:
Current writing setup. There's something euphoric about the combination of black coffee and sparkling water. (Would also recommend Coffee Table Jazz on Spotify).
Thank you for reading!
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With love,
Tommy
I'll have to try this coffee + sparkling water combination :)
Profound questions: “When was the last time you gave a hug, that lasted a whole six seconds?” 🙏