Hey there friends 👋
I’d like to thank you all for signing up to this newsletter - an experiment in every sense of the word. If we’ve spoken at all in the past 2-3 months, you’ll likely know I’m looking at ways to make meaningful relationships and community central to all that I do/am. Making it my top priority such that my decisions are based on whether it will lead to meeting new people or catching up with friends. There are a few reasons why I’m trying to do this:
📲As I’m sure many would agree, social media does not offer a true representation of our lives but instead portrays a filtered snapshot of our (perceived) finest moments. Now, I love seeing the joy and happy moments within each of your lives, but I’d prefer to know what’s really going on in that crazy, adventure-filled whirlwind of a life you all lead. I want to know what those joyous moments mean to you or what questions you’re currently ruminating on.
🗺Over the past two years, I’ve lived in and travelled to a fair few countries. Along the way, I’ve met and connected with some wonderful humans that I’m grateful to call friends but some of them I may never see again, and in some cases perhaps never even speak to. This sucks! I’m sure many of you can relate? So this newsletter is my way of staying in touch with everyone and keeping those relationships alive.
🔥You know those catch-up conversations when you lose track of time and suddenly it’s been 4 hours? Or when you anxiously meet someone but then leave a laughter and insight filled conversion with a new friend? These are the moments that fill me inspiration and motivation in every aspect of my life - It’s like an oxygen rush to a burning flame. It energises me to work on projects, to take leaps, and to feel good about myself.
So there you have it! Taking many steps backwards from the social platforms that were created for connection and community. Right 🤷♂️
I’d also like to thank Jonny, Rima, and Mike for the inspiration to start this.
There’s one incredibly important thing to note here, this newsletter is not just me sharing my stuffs with you in an egotistical buffet. My desire is for it to be the spark that ignites a conversation between us. I want to listen more than I speak (read more than I write?). Hopefully something I say will resonate with you or you’ll have an experience to share off the back of a question I ask. So if you Think, Smile, or Laugh hit that reply button! 🆒
🤔 Question Time
These are some of the questions I’m currently asking myself and would love to know if you’ve ever considered these and how you answered them.
📲How can we adapt technology to work in our favour?
I recently discovered a new(?) feature on the iPhone that allows you to block certain apps and set limits on your screen time (Under Screen Time in settings). Being someone who reaches for his phone first thing in the morning or at any interval during my day, this has been instrumental to reducing that craving and therefore being more productive. If you want to get real nerdy about it, check this out.
😻What are you most excited about right now?
>> Building a monthly review product and community. More on this in the next newsletter 😉
>> Picking up my laundry. What?! Yep! The place I do my laundry is surrounded by rice paddies, Balinese buildings, and greenery. It’s a little escape from the motorbike madness of Canggu. When the puppies show up I have to be (self)forcibly removed..
>> An upcoming trip to Vietnam for a solo motorcycle tour in Ha Giang. I can’t tell you how excited I am for another motorcycle journey. This time through truly foreign lands. After that, I’ll be heading to Railay, Thailand for some climbing, and then Nepal to hit reset and feel small next to some giant mountains. Are you going to be around any of these places?
>> Holotropic breath-work and the surreal experience this can induce. I had my first taste this past week lead by a very good friend and am quite amazed by the power of our breath. The aim of the game is to simply breathe deeply and rapidly, in a relaxed position, for at least 30-40 minutes. Having some meaningful music playing, and being in a comfortable environment is integral to the experience but the most important thing is to simply let go and embrace anything that comes up. Do try this at home! Although I’d recommend reading more about it for a more detailed overview and guide.
🎨How do you invite more physical creativity in your life?
Over the past few months, I’ve felt more of a drive to move away from online work, where I’m stuck behind my laptop all day and into more fulfilling creative work where I can use my hands and possibly different parts of my brain. I used to design furniture and mess around with woodworking which is making me want to hang up my travel towel for while, settle down, and create. How do you find a balance between online and real world?
Procrastination City
Population: The ones brave enough to enter
🐦All the tweet threads you could ever ask for.
🧗♂️Free Solo is now available on iTunes (and also Amazon and probably a million other places because the internet runs the world). Watch it on a big screen and hold on to your seats.
👽A fascinating conversation with Brian Cox on the incomprehensible questions of our universe and how it all works. It’s so good!
🎵 Share that funky music white boy 🎵
I make a lot of playlists. For sunny days, windy days, travelling by train/bus/plane, writing, working, playlists for friends etc. (playlist for making playlists anyone?) I figured I’ll start sharing these as music is such a powerful way to connect and it ignites emotions in us like nothing else (read this).
First up, I’ll share a playlist I use almost daily to get myself into a flow state and concentrate on whatever it is I’m working on.
Huge procrastination warning 👉 Listen to music from any corner of the world, from any decade in the 1900’s
“If music confers no survival advantage, where does it come from and why does it work? I suspect that music is auditory cheesecake, an exquisite confection crafted to tickle the sensitive spots of at least six of our mental faculties.”
One final thing.
I was recently given a grant of £1000 which I am so incredibly grateful for. The meaning of this grant is very close to my heart and in honour of its purpose, I would like to share it with you all. One way I’ve thought of doing that is by asking you - What book or online learning subscription (or some other form of learning!) have you really wanted but haven’t been able to bring yourself to purchase? Hit reply and I will get it for you as a gift.
Thanks for sticking with me through this laboriously long first edition. Everything above was ideated in just a few hours and is likely to evolve as we go. I’d be really grateful for any feedback you can offer or suggestions on what you’d like to see included 🙏 I do not consider myself a writer by any means and have huge imposter syndrome doing this, so any support is gladly accepted.
I hope you all have a lekker day
With all my enthusiasm,
Jay
“The goal is to make a space where a few ideas and images and feelings may be so arranged that a reader will want to linger awhile among them, rather than to flee.”