Hello from the Himalayas,
I’m getting used to this new world but it remains exhausting. Geopolitics has taken a nasty turn. We are probably already into a new cold war. While like you, I’m cooped up in a confined private space and face the onslaught of outrage-opinions and bullshit-news, to keep myself sane and calm, I take to curating my virtual space. Particularly the virtual activities that have an immediate impact on my personal physical space.
I’ve taken a liking to is using ambiance-ASMR more regularly. The ambiance-ASMR scene is exploding right now and most of them are available for free on YouTube. From the sounds of cozy-cabin-in-rain to walking-in-Tokyo-streets, ambiance-ASMR content allows you to alter your immediate physical ambiance.
Another virtual activity I discovered that makes me content is writing to my pen pals. To counter against the NOW-ness of instant-messaging like WhatsApp, email and Twitter, I have started to reduce spending my time IM-ing, and I now write to my pen pals across the world with no rush. I take time and write thoughtfully and with consideration. It’s great to receive an e-letter from a pen pal two or three days later, written with reciprocal thought and consideration. I use Slowly mobile app for this. It’s built for the special use-case of discovering and writing to Pen Pals across the world. The letters take 12-36 hours to deliver to evoke non-utilitarian connection building via old-school letter-writing activity on the digital medium. I discovered it in mid-2019 and was delighted to use it from the first day onwards. After a gap of a few months in late 2019, I have become much more active on it recently.
Announcement
I talked to Ben Mosior (fellow Yak Collective member) on why Small-World Networks have become more relevant in the post-pandemic business world.
Interesting Finds of the Week
The Stoa - Named after the covered-portico in ancient Athens where stoics gathered to philosophize in an informal setting, this is a digital space for regular, discussions — facilitated by various conversation-hosts— on a wide range of topics from philosophy to art & design. This digital space is stewarded by Peter Limberg, co-founder of Stoicism Toronto.
CozyRoom (free p2p spatial audio environments) released by Azlen Elza. Given that I’ve been experimenting recently with making ambiance-cocktails by playing different distinct ambiance ASMRs on YouTube(like this one), this is timely.
This 2x2 by @shreyas on the role of high free-agency:
This is an example of where the focus of my slow traveling will be in the coming 2 years — small goldilocks cities, with slow-life neighborhoods.
Think BIG, feel small. Living in a tiny treehouse for a season with big ambitions, this resonated with me.
Countryside Cabins are on an uptrend in post-pandemic LIFA worklife.
Instead of theories, today’s note was about everyday mental wellbeing in a LIFA lifestyle. Thanks for reading. Hope this sparked delight in you.
Until Next Week,
Vinay
Things to Note
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