The Monday Mix (20/09/2021)
Hi friends,
So I had the intention of sending out this newsletter last week but life got in the way. My travels to Spain meant I had little time to send out an email and, in the end, I wanted a break from work.
When I started this email, it was with the intention of sending at least one out every week without fail. But during this trip, I realised it’s ok to deviate from a plan. There’s no shame in not living up to your own expectations or goals. I needed a break, I spent the whole week away from work and I don’t regret it for a second.
There’s more to life than work, even though we seem to value it above all else at times. Travelling, enjoying life, meeting up with friends, exploring new places. All of this is part of the rich tapestry of life. Without, it, life would be very dull indeed.
Sometimes, it’s ok to tear down your best-laid plans.
Meeting old friends
In a departure from the usual format of the newsletter, I’d thought I’d share some thoughts as well as articles. Travelling and living abroad has meant I’ve made many great friends in various places across the globe. The problem with this is you only see them once in a while, but when you do, it’s like you’ve never been away.
These are the best types of friendships. The ability to pick up where you left off when you last saw each other is a sign of strong bonds. This is what happened when I met up with my two friends and it was a crutch to say goodbye as we had such a good time.
When you click with people, you just know. Even though you might not be in the same country, you can still develop long-lasting friendships that stand the test of time.
This is the gift of travelling. You can make friends wherever you go and remain friends for a lifetime.
A break from the norm
I don’t know whether it’s the past year and a half of living in a pandemic, or the company of my friends, but I was so happy to be travelling again. It felt like a release.
It’s easy to devote your life to your work and struggle to make time for yourself, but this trip helped me to see why these breaks are so important. There’s more to life than just work. We need to experience other pursuits, take time off and explore new places.
Travelling with friends vs solo
Most of my travels have been alone. When I moved to countries I did so by myself. I met people along the way and travelled with them, and although I enjoyed my solo trips, I always felt the trips with others were more enjoyable.
The past week has shown me why. I visited the south of Spain by myself two years ago, as good as it was, it wasn’t a patch on this trip. Sharing experiences with others is much more enjoyable than the ones you experience by yourself.
While I’ll still travel by myself, I much prefer the company of others and their perspective on the places we visit and the memories you make along the way.
As one of my friends said today, if you’re sad the trip is over, that’s a sign you had a good time.
Nuclear power
This was about the only article I managed to read last week. It’s a long one but an interesting one too. It’s about the nuclear disaster at Three Mile Island and why nuclear power has become stigmatised.
With all the emissions from burning fossil fuels, nuclear power provides a useful alternative that’s much cleaner. So why aren’t we using it?
This is what the article tries to explain and some interesting answers are provided along the way. I’m not qualified enough to say whether nuclear is the answer. The storage of nuclear waste is a massive issue regarding its widespread adoption.
But with the pressure to lower emissions rising, don’t be surprised if you see nuclear power back on the agenda in the near future.
Book I’m reading - The Power of Words by Simone Weil
I read this short book on the flight back from Spain. It’s an interesting read of three essays from the French philosopher. Weil gives you plenty to think about after you’ve read her interesting and somewhat subversive thoughts.
Quote I’m pondering: “The way I see it, you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain.” – Dolly Parton
That’s all for this week.
Until next time,
Tom
Hey, thank you for the article. Not to worry, glad you are enjoying your holiday and meeting up with old friends and picking up where you left off. Enjoy your holiday. Enjoy being in the moment. "There is more to life than just work" - absolutely!