Don't Forget Why You Started, To Create Is To Escape, On Not Moving Up, and More
Friday, December 1st, 2023
Happy Friday everyone!
Here are 10 things I found interesting from the last week or so.
Don’t Forget Why You Started
To start this week's newsletter, I'd first like to share a quote by David Bowie worth remembering:
“Always remember that the reason that you initially started working is that there was something inside yourself that you felt that if you could manifest in some way, you would understand more about yourself and how you coexist with the rest of society. I think it’s terribly dangerous for an artist to fulfill other people’s expectations — they generally produce their worst work when they do that.”
Don’t forget why you started doing “the thing” you’re doing — writing, drawing, dancing, running a business, etc.
And furthermore, don’t forget that even on bad days, even on terribly low days, you’re still doing it. You’re still showing up to do “the thing” that you feel called to do. That still counts. That still adds up.
Doing “your own thing” even when it doesn’t live up to your expectations far succeeds doing something you don’t feel called to do even if you meet or exceed expectations.
As Dostoevsky wrote, “To go wrong in one’s own way is better than to go right in someone else’s.”
Shout out to Ray Nayler!
Shout out to Ray Nayler’s The Mountain in the Sea being selected as one of the best sci-fi books of 2023 by The Times — congratulations! Here is a short excerpt from a book review I wrote on his novel:
“A myth,” said existentialist psychologist Rollo May, “is a way of making sense in a senseless world.” Humans need myths and legends to survive. And they need us to survive too; it’s how we’ve learned to escape ourselves so that we can live with ourselves.
Côn Đảo Archipelago is no stranger to legend. The ghost of Võ Thị Sáu reportedly continues to roam around Côn Sơn, the largest island within the group and home of the hellish “tiger cages” formerly constructed by French colonists in the early 20th century. However, in Ray Nayler’s novel, The Mountain in the Sea, readers are lured into a labyrinth built out of a new myth. It’s not the ghosts of political prisoners seeking revenge, it’s the Con Dao Sea Monster lashing out because of overfishing, destruction of reefs, and other environmental pressures throwing the ocean’s natural order out of balance. It’s the tale of octopuses that walk, make tools and even write. And, above all, it’s a story about a species that does what humans all long for and fear: sees us
Here are a few more links to check out:
To order The Mountain in the Sea, go here.
To read the rest of my review on Nayler’s book for Saigoneer, go here.
To pre-order Nayler’s upcoming novel, The Tusks of Extinction, go here.
And, if you’re interested in reading more about Nayler’s work, check out his website here.
To Create is to Escape
I came across a quote this week by Andrea Barrett that just made sense:
“You don’t need to write a novel if you feel at home in the world.”
Those who don’t feel at home in this world are those who build new worlds.
Dan Koe has a quote tucked away under his Instagram Highlights, Musings, that furthers Barrett’s point:
“You’re either escaping reality, accepting reality, or creating reality.
Acceptance of reality is a prerequisite to creating a new reality.
Therein lies the paradox: to create is to escape.
“Be Careful With That.”
I recently started reading Robert Greene’s 48 Laws of Power.
And when I told one of my friends about it, he replied: “Be careful with that.” This was the second time I’ve heard someone say that about a book. I remember watching a Jordan Peterson lecture a while back warning people about reading Carl Jung’s work.
Now I’m curious: when you think of “dangerous" books,” what comes to mind?
On Not Moving Up
Thomas Merton famously wrote:
“People may spend their whole lives climbing the ladder of success only to find, once they reach the top, that the ladder is leaning against the wrong wall.”
Yet, most people learn this lesson after reaching the top. Here’s a great Twitter thread I found from a Dad explaining to his son why he never moved up in his company. His lesson brought him to tears.
Happiness x Achievement
One of my favorite writers, Vizi Andrei, has a great post that I think builds on this idea of climbing and trading happiness for success. He writes:
We trade what we want—freedom and peace—so we can get rich in order to enjoy…freedom and peace.
Check out the rest of the post here.
DK Metcalf’s New TD Celebration
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver DK Metcalf is a freak of nature.
He’s built like a linebacker at 6’4, 235lbs. He runs a 4.3 40-yard dash. He has a 40-inch vertical. And he officially has one of the best touchdown celebrations in the NFL. After scoring, he doesn’t talk trash — he uses sign language to taunt his opponents.
Shout out to Coach Matt Van Pelt!
Shout out to Coach Matt Van Pelt for accepting a new job as Head Coach for the Goldfield Giants in Western Australia.
Van Pelt was the Head Coach of the Saigon Heat for multiple years. This season, he won Coach of the Year for the Vietnam Basketball Association, led the Heat to their 4th championship in a row, and even published his own book:
Hoopin' Abroad: How to have a long, successful career playing professional basketball around the globe.
On top of that, I’d like to add Van Pelt was very courteous to meet with me before their playoff run and answer any questions related to the his basketball journey, the Saigon Heat, and the future of basketball in Vietnam. I wish him the best of luck going forward!
If you’re interested in checking out an article I wrote about the Saigon Heat including, an interview with Coach Van Pelt, check out the link here.
Charlie Munger x Seneca
Charlier Munger died this week at 99 years old. He was Warren Buffet’s right-hand man, a billionaire in his own right, and shared a lot of wisdom throughout his life. One of my favorite quotes of his speaks to small daily efforts:
“Spend each day trying to be a little wiser than you were when you woke up. Day by day, and at the end of the day-if you live long enough-like most people, you will get out of life what you deserve.”
Munger’s words are similar to Stoic philosopher Seneca. In Letters to a Stoic, he writes:
“Each day acquire something that will fortify you against poverty, against death, indeed against other misfortunes, as well.”
Munger, like Seneca, came to the same conclusion whether they lived a long time or not: take your time, one day at a time.
That’s all you can do.
Do It Scared.
To end this week’s newsletter, I wanted to share a LinkedIn post I wrote:
It can be scary sometimes.
Leaving your hometown. Leaving your home country. Switching majors. Switching careers. Making friends. Losing friends. Signing up. Giving up. Saying yes to that job. Saying no to that job. Creating your own rules. Breaking your own rules. Starting school in a new place. Going back to school in a new place. Loving others. Loving yourself. Starting that project. Finishing that project. Writing that first sentence. Writing that last sentence.
No, all of it’s scary.
Do it scared.
Enjoy the weekend and see you next Friday.
-Garrett
Thank you!