What can we learn from times of uncertainty?

Times are currently “uncertain”…but when has life ever been so certain?

“COVID-19 is now officially a pandemic.”

Sounds like a headline from a C-rated Hollywood movie, but it’s the front page of CNN. Time’s are uncertain as the world battles this so-called pandemic—and with the advent of social media, it’s not just a health epidemic but a social epidemic as well. The media is bouncing back with a vengeance with headlines stirring anxious souls around the world. Toilet paper fights in supermarkets around the world have now become million-view sensations on YouTube. Discrimination and finger-pointing have started surfacing again.

Yet…every yin has its yang. Clear skies in China. Cultural norms around the world may change. And people around the world may finally start washing their hands on a daily basis. A challenge of this scale presents an opportunity for us to rise to the occasion. What has history taught us and will it repeat itself? Or can we band together as a human race in the 21st century?

No amount of government stimulus can save us—it is us, as humans, that will either save or break us. Our ability to simply…listen and follow directions. Be kind towards one another. To distance ourselves for now. And to be patient. This may very well be one of the biggest learning lessons of the 21st century…if we choose to.

3 Lessons Learned from Walking 500 Miles across Spain | Camino de Santiago

When you have 33 days and 500 miles to walk…you have a lot of time to think and reflect. From personal reflection to group therapy—you may find that and more on the Camino. As they say, “the Camino provides.”

Why did I walk the Camino? To reflect on on life. To reflect on change as I I moved from California to the Netherlands. And to grieve for a passing friend. What did I come away with…500 miles and 33 days later?

As I entered Santiago after 33 days and 500 miles, an unexpected and underwhelming sense of completion filled my heart.

“Is this it?”

The end was anti-climatic, and I did not want it to end. It was truly the moments in-between, the process and journey itself, that was overwhelmingly fulfilling. They say the Camino truly starts once you arrive in Santiago, and they may be right. It’s been a few months post-Camino, and the lessons are starting to make sense and materialize.

“The people you meet shape the decisions you make. The decisions you make shape the story of your life.” - Day 12 Reflection

1. The importance of connection and community

   • Every day, the Camino was filled with new friendships, deep connections, and stories from people around the world. Whether it was a cafe stop, afternoon beer, or pilgrim’s dinner—the people were the most amazing part of the Camino.

2. The importance of time and being yourself

   • 1 month on the Camino felt like 1 year—yet we’ve all experienced 1 year passing by like 1 day. Life passes by in a blink of an eye if you don’t pay attention to it. Cherish your relationships and be grateful for what you have. Tomorrow isn’t guaranteed. “So don’t waste it living someone else’s life.” Go out there, be present, and live!

3. Walking and exploring

   • Not only can walking extend your lifespan, but it can also teach us to be more present and explore new places—better yet, do it with people.

As for me..the lessons are still materializing, but some questions that I am currently pondering…

1. How can I expand time? How can I make the next 1 month feel like 1 year?

2. How can I build more (deeper) connection in my life?

My 2018 Reading List

Here it is...52 books in 52 weeks (wish me luck):

1. The Sympathizer
2. A Walk in the Woods
3. Autobiography of Malcolm X
4. Sapiens
5. The Everything Store
6. Tao Te Ching
7. Brain Rules
8. Art of Learning
9. Atlas Shrugged
10. On Writing Well
11. Checklist Manifesto
12. How to Talk to Anyone
13. Total Recall
14. The Compound Effect
15. Personal MBA
16. Turning Pro
17. The Wisdom of Crowds
18. Principles
19. The Dip
20. How to Fail at Almost Everything
21. The Road Less Traveled
22. The Culture Code
23. A River in Darkness
24. The Kindness in Strangers
25. The Journey in Between
26. On the Road
27. Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man
28. In a Sunburned Country
29. The Power of Myth
30. Radical Acceptance
31. Tiny Beautiful Things

(to be continued)

What I Learned from 365 Days of Cold Showers

Have you ever heard of Wim Hof? He's the guy who ran up Mt. Everest with nothing but his boxers. Interesting but crazy man, I thought. Then he started popping up on every single podcast available. Apparently, he takes a lot of cold, cold showers. And it's supposed to have magical powers?

While I haven't tried the Wim Hof method extensively, what stuck was the cold showers. And now I can't imagine a day without a dump of cold water in the morning. Don't get me wrong, the fear right before the shower is still very much real, but they say cold showers strengthens immunity and improves blood circulation amongst other benefits.

So what has 365 days of cold morning showers taught me? I do feel more energized and like meditation, a cold morning shower starts my day on a positive, upbeat note. And the immunity part? I can't remember the last time I caught a cold, which used to be a common occurrence given San Francisco's bipolar weather.

Jumping into cold water is physically easy (anyone can do it), but it's a real tough mental game. More importantly, sticking to cold showers for a year and picking up a habit was a mental win. At the same time, you become less reactive and more observant. Like mindfulness training, you simply learn to observe the cold water spiking your bare skin vs. reacting to it. Hey...this isn't so bad, right?