Always Take Notes (book) - what writing means to us
Always Take Notes is a podcast interviewing a lot of writers. Now they have a book extracting and categorizing words from their interviewees into various topics like how they get ideas, how they research, how they can successfully get their works published, how they treat money, how their life is, how to stay motivated... It's not only for those who want to be writers, but for everyone too!
When free stuff is better than paid products; when cheaper things are better than expensive those
Under capitalism, life is always easier when we make use of our money to pay for products or services. However, there are also things for free, which can be worse than purchasing, while some can be better. Based on my experience in London, I am here to list a few free and cheap stuff which are worth.
Speaking of feedback loops
One thing we aren’t really aware of is the existence of feedback loops, which greatly affect our daily life and future.
To not worry is not to stop thinking
"Don't think too much" is the usual response to others when they are worrying about something. It makes sense when our emotions are driven by what we think. Stop thinking negatively looks easy but not.
Thoughts after reading The Notebook: A History of Thinking on Paper (by Roland Allen)
I don't want to say I am doing my book review because I was not literally reading every word in detail or I want to rate how the book is well written. But, the book is so inspiring that I want to share what I think and what I will do related to my daily life including sketching.
Travelling by bus is like a game
Yes, bus is inefficient, but taking bus is a sort of great practice in life, when our modern life has become much more convenient and straightforward so that we can be more vulnerable to changes and even challenges which we are unable to avoid.
My reading habit for a decade
Reading books may be one of my habits besides running. Ten years. I count this because there are more than ten books finished each year. The number of books read is one thing, but changes involved in ongoing reading is more important.
My longest run ever: 32km
Last Friday, I ran for 32km, breaking the previous three records of 30 and 31km which were done in 2022 and 2023.
Vulnerability is not necessarily bad!
Vulnerability is inevitable in our life. Ignoring it won’t make vulnerability fade away, and in fact, being vulnerable is not totally a bad thing.
What if a male is sexually assaulted?
Sexual assault does not only happen to females, but also males.
Yesterday afternoon just after school, when I entered into a toilet, which shares the same building with a cafe in a park, peeing in the only shared urinal which allows maximum of two persons at the same time, a guy came close to me.
Rational dress nowadays
I love to see how people can make sandals become the shoes which are no longer limited to swimming and at home: comfortable, practical and even more fashionable, elegant in different circumstances. A kind of creativity that should be encouraged!
Mental capital
Of course I am not a sociologist so I can't justify the idea of mental capital, but I will regard it as a reminder for me to not care too much about money and productivity, which are very important but only the SECOND most important, as mental health is always my top priority. Without it, you can't have money and productivity.
17 April 2025
The key message is that when we are more willing to aware of the surrounding environment and ourselves, we will never lose the ability to learn and adapt, and see life is full of options.
On the idea of daylight saving time all year round
I always wish the clock wouldn’t go back and stay in the summer time throughout the year. Believe it or not, I already have this idea without googling.
On uncertainty
When the earthquake strongly struck north Myanmar, many of us were shocked that Bangkok, the capital of Thailand with increasing number of skyscrapers, was also greatly affected. Tall buildings oscillated and even collapsed. People there escaped to outdoors to stay safe.
The purpose of note taking
The purpose of note taking, or writing, is not to avoid missing everything or fill our schedule, but to find out the true focus so that we can enjoy our life and thus become happier.
When failure doesn't exist
When I was travelling in Bournemouth, I enjoyed watching the people who surfed for almost an hour…