Stop worrying
After vacation, real-life creeps in.
But breaks give you an opportunity for change. It is a good time to start over and put some new plans into work. Perhaps this time without so much worry?
After all, no matter how hard you work, you will never have enough money or be content with what you have. Even if you give your relationships your best effort and comply with everyone else's requests, you may still end up alone. Or just frustrated with the way you are treated.
You can maintain a healthy diet, keep track of your calories, and work out a lot yet still develop an unexpected illness. Less tragically so, you could do all of this and still be unsatisfied with your physical appearance. Which we always are, aren't we?
Worrying about things like money, relationships, health, or anything else of the sort is pointless. You see, we don't actually have complete power over them. No matter how much we believe it otherwise.
Obsessing
We obsess over these issues and many others, but it makes no sense at all. It goes without saying that you must work and earn enough money to live comfortably. For your well-being and the well-being of others, you should aim to improve your social ties and be supportive. Exercise and a healthy lifestyle greatly improve your quality of life.
However, it's the excess, the persistent anxiety over these issues, and the preoccupation. That is what is bad. The sense of scarcity. Or even the worry of always being short.
Because that’s the thing. These things will fluctuate and transform. Shit just happen. People lose their jobs, relationships end, diseases develop, and life is transient. If you constantly worry that those things may occur, your life is in perpetual agony.
We are paralyzed by fear of what might occur. We can't sleep because of it. We want control. We want to know that there's a magic formula out there that will bring about success, wealth, health, love, and happiness. All we need to do is locate this recipe somewhere.
However, there isn't. We have no overall control over what will occur, despite our best efforts.
And this may even be advantageous. Both positive and negative events can come as a surprise.
In fact, one of the most enjoyable parts of life is that we can't control it. It brings you amazing and unexpected experiences and turns. Upon reflection, everything always seems to make sense and fit together like intricate puzzle pieces that make up the whole picture of our lives.
Despite how clichéd this may sound, sometimes what you want isn't what you need. Allow yourself to let go a little bit and see where the world takes you.Â
P.S.: On the subject of being more laid back, I'm considering making this newsletter biweekly instead of weekly. I haven't so far struggled to write something every week, but the recommendations section can get a little tricky sometimes.
The truth is that I don't always watch a full television show each week, and I hardly ever read a book in a week. I like taking my time. I've been relying on past reads and watches a lot which is not sustainable long-term. I'll see how it feels.
What to read?
Normal People by Sally Rooney. This 2018 best-selling book takes us over Ireland and follows the lives of a young couple through school and university. It's a modern view on relationships and how difficult it is to maintain them through those extremely formative and changing years.
What to watch?
The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012) centers on a group of misfit high schoolers. Charlie, played by Logan Lerman, is the central character of the story. He has just been released from a mental institution and is starting his first day as a freshman. As the film progresses, the story gradually unfolds, making it clear why Charlie was in the hospital.
A heartwarming story about love, sorrow, fear, hope, and enduring friendships that support us throughout life. Charlie is able to let go and finally enjoy his adolescence thanks to his friendship with "the wallflowers."
What to binge?
This is us. I had a plan of writing a whole article about This is us since it has finished, but for now, I'll just recommend it here.
This is us is a tv show about the Pearsons’ family. It follows its highs and its lows throughout the years and even different generations. There's nothing supernatural or extraordinary about this family or this story. It's simply life as it is, with its many turns.
Although I do love this show, I also feel like there are way too many episodes. But that's a minor detail. If you have never watched it, prepare your tissues, because it will most likely make you cry at some point.
I’ve been enjoying your weekly posts. Perhaps you could write first impressions while watching a serialized show as a way to make more material available. Or write about shorter works (stories, poems, essays) in addition to entire books. That should be fun to read too.