Random Walk Newsletter, Issue 17#
Observations & Insights#
Adjusting Mindset#
Recently, my neighbor got a few chicks and put them in front of his house. It has been a while, and I didn't say anything before because it didn't really bother me. I could hear the noise when I opened the door, but once I closed it, I couldn't really feel anything. The smell was also okay, as they seemed to change the bedding regularly. However, last Sunday when I came back, the smell in the hallway was very strong and unpleasant. So, I went to talk to my neighbor. The first time I went, no one was home. I waited for about half an hour and went again when I heard some activity from their house. I explained the situation politely, and the other person said they would take care of it in a while. Well, it's Thursday now, and the chicks are still there, so I guess they still don't want to do anything about it. On the bright side, the smell has disappeared these past few days, so maybe they have been cleaning more diligently.
Because of this incident, I have been thinking about it from time to time these days. Questions like why they haven't taken care of it yet, whether they don't want to, and whether I should go talk to them again keep popping up in my mind. It's been difficult for me to focus because of these thoughts. So, in this edition of the Newsletter, I want to discuss my mindset issue.
I read a book called "The Pleaser Syndrome" before, and the content described in the book resonated with me. I guess I have a tendency to please others, although I wouldn't say it's a syndrome. However, I do care a lot about what others think of me. Even if someone is slightly indifferent towards me, I start to wonder if they don't like me. For example, if I leave a comment on someone's social media post, and they reply to many people but not to me, I start to think that they are intentionally avoiding me.
Fortunately, I have recognized this issue and started to adjust myself. For instance, through meditation, I try not to get trapped in my own thoughts. Whenever I have these thoughts, I remind myself that they are just thoughts and don't represent anything. Living in the past or the future is not right; everything is fine in the present moment, so I should enjoy it.
Will You Regret?#
A long time ago, I came across a website called https://worldregretsurvey.com. This website collects data on things that people around the world regret. It's quite interesting. If you take a look, you will find that most regrets are about missing out on someone or not studying hard when they were young, and so on. So, if you were to answer, do you have any regrets?
Audiobooks & Books#
Understanding a Book#
I previously tried to read "Walden" but unfortunately, I could only manage to read about 10% of it. I just couldn't continue, and it was quite frustrating.
When reading "How to Read a Book," the author also mentioned the issue of not understanding a book. "Not understanding" should never be a fixed state; it's just a temporary situation. Believe that slowly, you will be able to understand it.
Now, why do we sometimes find it difficult to understand certain books? The author believes it has to do with the size of a person's "pool of understanding." In simple terms, if you want to understand a programming book, you need to have some basic knowledge of computers. It requires a certain level of expertise. On the other hand, if it's a broad book that covers psychology, economics, management, philosophy, and so on, without a certain level of knowledge in those areas, it's easy to get lost and not understand.
So, when you don't understand a book, don't rush it. Put it aside and read something you can understand. Maybe in a couple of years, when you read it again, everything will become clear.
That's all for this edition of the Newsletter. If you have any questions, feel free to email me. Thank you for reading.