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- 06| 🙋🏻♂️ Talking to my 18 year old self
06| 🙋🏻♂️ Talking to my 18 year old self
Yo team,
Thanks for reading once again - I love doing this and I hope you enjoy reading it too. Don’t forget to subscribe!
Here we are - back with numero 6. It's my birthday next week (the big 26) and I'm feeling nostalgic. So today's email will look at some of the main things I wish I knew when I was young and innocent at 18.
Document everyday: more of the mundane - and less photos
This comes from an excellent video by Danny Gevirtz. In it, he talks about the pain of having gaps in your memory - both in your head, or on your camera roll, or social media. It's so frustrating to lose photos and videos of past memories.
Because of this, Danny decided to start documenting every day. Trying to make sure there's a better chance of strengthening those memories with images and funny videos that take him back to the moment.
There's the photos you have that you've posed for, but the real magic is in the mundane. That's where the true nostalgia comes from. Random videos in the car, or a photo of your friend accidentally laughing before taking the final photo. Those are where the emotion and memory lies.
Documenting everyday - and developing the feeling of what's right to capture - will develop over time. But don't take multiple photos of the same moment, looking for perfection. The memory is in the mundane. Enjoy the transience of the moment, rather than looking for the perfect creation.
It's pretty likely that these moments you're documenting are for you and you only - they don't need to be show stopping stills.
When you take away this pressure of shooting for someone else's eyes, that's when you're able to see what moments in your life really mean the most to you and are really special for you. — Danny Gevirtz
There's no need to try and impress everyone
People who prioritise impressing people rather than letting themselves be impressed by others make it hard for those others to like them. — Happy - Derren Brown
This one speaks for itself. Don't feel the need to go out into the world (University, a new job), and feel the need to impress people. Be yourself and you'll be fine.
It's much easier, and much more fun, to be impressed by others.
Think about how to grow as a person outside of education
Pick up hobbies earlier and faster than you have in your teenage years. Nobody is going to ask you to learn the guitar, or how to write online. Only you can decide to do that.
Waiting for an opportunity or a push to emerge out of thin air. Relying on a sudden inspired urge to start playing hockey won't happen.
The most important thing is to take up new things as early as possible. When you're 25, it's frustrating to look back and know that you've missed out on 7 years of getting good at something.
And finally for today:
Embrace minimalism early
It's hard not to get sucked into sales and new gadgets. There's always something new and cool, looking for your attention and your money.
Learn to be happier with less. Save the money. Enjoy what you have, and be comfortable with having less. It's a simpler and more fulfilled life, when everything you own has value.
This is a great exercise. When you read back, you realise that everything you're saying to your 18 year old self, could easily be your 30 year old self talking to you now.
The main aim of this email is to look to make life as enjoyable and fulfilling as possible, and from a personal standpoint, these are 4 excellent areas to focus on.
Thanks! 😎
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How am I 1% better today? 📈
Me and Mills have been together 6 years this week. If that doesn't count as being 1% better than the person I used to be, then nothing will!
What have I learned this week? 🤔
When you say yes to more things, good things happen.
This Week’s Recommendation 🔝
This Week I’m: ⬇️
Listening to 🎧 - Brain Food playlist for when I need to get shit done
Visiting 🚶🏻 - Was meant to be en route to Eastbourne today and do the Seven Sisters walk but the weather decided it was not to be!
Planning ✏️ - My birthday next week 2️⃣6️⃣
Thinking about 💭 - When it's going to stop raining ☔️
This Week’s Video 📺
Have a watch of this to see how I'm making the most out of working from home. In terms of technical quality I think it's my best one yet 😎
This Week’s Quote 💬
The way someone else perceives what you do is a result of their own experiences (which you can’t control), their own preferences (which you can’t predict), and their own expectations (which you don’t set). If your choices don’t match their expectations that is their concern, not yours. — James Clear
There we have it!
Looking forward to catching up next week.