Switching on

Hello, there. Lovely to have you.

This is Linus writing from the Other Side of the Screen – hence the name. A space for personal intimation and content advocacy. These suggestions might include quotes, music, websites, tools, or articles – carefully curated.

I will try to find a main topic for each issue, sharing thoughts on a matter that occupies my mind for the time being. Thus, encouraging exchange of opinions and interaction with you. Even if all you need to hear are a scant words of affirmation.

Hopefully, in the midst of life, I will be able to write up regularly.

Today’s thought

Ed Sheeran’s new album Subtract is themed mostly with the topics of loss, grief, and love – how unthinkable. Nevertheless, perhaps the most important emotions of human nature.

Only two months back I had to say farewell to my grandfather (my dad’s dad) and it was one of the toughest moments of my life. Albeit never being profoundly close with him, he was a very honorable character, being constantly available when someone needed a ride or their grass mowed, while still incredibly grounded and content.

“Is this the ending of our youth, when the pain starts taking over?” – a line in one of Sheeran’s songs. Once we encounter unbearable pain for the first time, it feels like we have arrived in the brutality of real life.

We’re now sensing what ends the joyful and worry-less part of one’s life. Only to realize later that these hard feelings hardly ever vanish completely and we must find the harmonious coexistence of life's contrasting concepts. There will never only be either the good or the bad. But we can still – to an extent – choose what we put our focus on, and thereby find strength in the bright moments to heal and overcome our painful ones.

Acute

A section to cover recent topics, mostly distant from any hype.

As I come from a development background, I related much to what Philip and Will were showing during one of the videos published around the WWDC this year, called “Design with SwiftUI.”

Building your designs right away can remove a lot of unnecessary iterations during an approach using solely visual design softwares. It enables fast adaptions and quick discovery of possible errors you wouldn't think of theoretically, or while just moving around rectangles.

Testing designs in realistic scenarios is often overlooked, though very crucial for creating the best experience possible – distinctly, for a huge company like Apple.

This leaves me with great hope that in the future, their designs will be more polished and Apple achieves it to bring back its original drive for details and attention to the small things. Making Steve proud.

Music

Sounds that touched my soul or simply provided a calm moment.

Quotes

“So, for now, That is my description of Love. Your heart finds it. Your mind grows it. Your actions keep it.” Blank

“I love listening. It is one of the only spaces where you can be still and moved at the same time.” Nayyirah Waheed

“No questioning of ‘Could I be wrong?’ None. Because that’s what you need to break out of Earth’s gravity. You need and enormous amount of momentum. And that momentum comes from suppressing introspection about the possibility of failure.” Mark Porat

“If we care enough about all the details that make up a product, then in the end we will have designed an experience that really feels like there’s no other way it could be.” Alan Dye

Questions for reflection

• What’s something you didn’t say that you should have?
• Do you believe in love at first sight?
• What’s the biggest regret in your life?
• Do you think we are ever born again?

Curious about your answers.

Featured website

One that has caught my eye through extraordinary design, immersive details, or a unique personality.

Felipe Elioenay
flplny.com

Excellent typographic usage paired with a lot of authenticity.

Less and More

Evaluation on things and activities I want to increase or reduce in the upcoming weeks.

Less

• Phone usage
• Blaming
• Judgement
• Decisions

More

• Drinking water
• Flow
• Time outside
• Silence
• Words of affirmation

After texting with Manu, I will also be iterating to shift my sleep schedule. The plan is to consistently wake up between 5am and 5.30am each day. He explains why on this post.

So far for the first issue. You may have noticed it's quite text heavy. I aim to keep things as concise as possible with a touch of profoundness – challenging everyone’s attention span. Nevertheless, open for feedback!

Now that summer is close, I encourage you to take lots of walks – it really does help to find solitude and gain energy.

Until soon, take care :)