A Feverish Pause
Hello friends and fam.
While I’d love to always share my wins on this newsletter, that would be disingenuous, and would make this no better than good ol’ Instagram.
This issue is one that describes some not-so-rosy times, and I think they're important to honor.
Summer is over here in Austin, which by most measures, is a great thing. There’s a new crispness in the air. The pace is quickening. This August/September, I allowed myself to focus on my craft without any distraction. That’s led to some beautiful growth. But Fall beckons for more socialization, more sharing, and fuller days.
And along with more activity comes more challenges.
A couple weeks ago, I got Covid, which, as you can imagine, was no fun. I’m sure you’ve heard lots about what Covid is like, so I’ll keep my comments on it brief. In fact, I’ll just let this Haiku do the talking.
Coronavirus
A goopy brain-fog delight.
A recovery.
Just as I had recovered, I received some shocking and tragic news. One of my friends from high school, Urushi, passed away in a car crash. Although we hadn't spoken in years, this news hit me very hard. I imagine that it will always be difficult to lose someone who has been a part of my journey. I still can’t believe it, and my thoughts and prayers have been and continue to be with her, her family, and close friends.
This news, along with Jackie leaving for a work trip, brought about a sense of profound loneliness, a feeling I haven’t experienced for a while. That feeling faded after a couple days, and I found peace in the solitude.
But the feeling, as all feelings do, taught me something more about myself.
I’ve been struggling to capture the mix of emotions I felt during those days, and I struggle to write about them here. They were a mangled mess of sadness, fear, uncertainty, excitement for the future, and gratitude for whatever exists. The sensations would flit in and out of my consciousness like fireflies, dancing on the edge of a campfire.
I eventually emerged from the haze, and for now, as I write this, I’m grateful for every moment I get to spend here, and I’m grateful for every moment I get to spend with you, the people I care about.
I know this issue isn't the most uplifting, so if you made it this far, thanks for reading. 😅
Cool Stuff Lately
📖 The Psychology of Money
This fantastic book by Morgan Housel is a guide to developing a mindset and dare I say, philosophy around wealth. Can’t recommend it enough.
🗣 Pimsleur
I’ve been practicing my Chinese speaking with the Pimsleur method. The app is pretty good, and while the conversations can get a bit cheesy (and cringey) at times, I find it helpful in my learning!
💼 The Rational Life
This Chinese drama is a guilty pleasure of mine. To improve my Chinese listening I wanted to watch a drama, so we picked this one from Netflix. It was great. So wholesome, and I was low-key addicted to it. Sad it’s over, happy it happened.
A Question For You
When I had my Covid fever, I had a whole bunch of crazy dreams. They were whack. I don’t remember the details of most of them, but I can piece together just one.
What’s a fever dream you had (or what little you remember of it)?
If you hit reply and tell me yours, I’ll tell you mine. 😉
I’m heading to New York City today. Excited to see some of you there!
Until next time,
Saalik