"just exist bro."

Now let me set the scene…

Last week, I shared a life update, and I can confidently say that a great deal had transpired in just one week. If you haven't had a chance to read it, you can check it out here: I struggle to write this one.

This week, we diving into some real deep sh*t, or more so, talking about a video that does. Though my opinion on the matter will sound a lot more sober… hopefully.

Dear Younger Self,

“Life is not a problem to be solved, but a reality to be experienced!” - Azaela Robinson

This Love Letter is dedicated to a video that appeared on my YouTube feed during a random Friday lunch break, it felt like fate had chosen that exact moment to show it to me.

I want to preface this by saying I firmly believe in planned fate, though not necessarily for religious or spiritual reasons. For me, it’s more about coping.

Whenever I experience a streak of good luck, I brace myself for the inevitable swing back to bad luck, much like valleys following mountain peaks. To withstand the lows, I tell myself each event was meant to happen, both the highs and the lows, so I can hold on to the hope that a new rise is always around the corner.

After discovering the video, I fought the urge to laugh at first. Perhaps it was the speaker’s manner of delivering his message. Then I noticed how genuinely he seemed to be living the advice he shared. It was all about “existing” in a broader sense of the word. So many parts, in fact 99.9%, of life are man-made constructs: money, jobs, and social norms. When we understand these are not universal truths, it becomes easier not to get caught up in minor details, especially with a more zoomed-out view.

This week, I also listened to an episode of Diary of a CEO with Steven Bartlett, where Daniel Priestley discussed society’s evolution from the Agricultural Age to the Industrial Age, and now into a Digital Age unfolding at astonishing speed. Our generation still remembers a pre-digital world, while future generations may only know the digital realm. That rapid shift can be overwhelming, but staying aware of it all can foster a sense of calm.

To be honest, I could go on about this forever, but I can’t imagine you’re here for a lengthy rant. More importantly, I hope you’ll take away the value of broadening your perspective, because in a hectic world, that shift can bring genuine peace. And at the end of the day, the only thing any of us truly controls is ourselves.

ALSO,

I apologise for posting these letters so late, I’m at the stage of early habit building when it comes to writing these and so, I leave it to the last minute to finish them off. I’LL BE BETTER!

Love,

Le Hare

Get your highlighter out…

We often highlight key lessons in our readings to capture essential insights. To save you this effort (since you can't physically highlight digital content) I’ve summarised the key points from my reflections for clarity.

• Systems like money, work, and social norms are human inventions. A “zoomed-out” perspective, seeing life beyond these constructs, can prevent getting lost in trivial matters.

• Referencing Daniel Priestley’s ideas, we have made the transition from older economic models (Agricultural, Industrial) to a fast-evolving Digital Age. Understanding this rapid shift, rather than fearing it, can bring peace, especially when you focus on controlling your own choices and reactions.

• Rationalise life’s ups and downs by viewing them as meant to happen. This mindset helps me personally accept both good and bad luck and stay grounded in hope.

For a quick dopamine hit…

I’m a bit of a screen addict.

I constantly find myself staring at a screen, but like many of my habits, I aim to transform this into something beneficial, not just for myself, but for others too.

So, here are this week’s interesting discoveries I came across online that I think is worth your time:

Anya Hindmarch – The Bespoke Collection
It might be because I’m spending the second half of the year traveling (and telling everyone, including my phone), but I recently discovered this incredible brand. If you’re new here, you might not know I’m a huge fashion advocate, I even went to uni for it before I dropped out, which is a story for another time. Because I’ve got an eye for quality and creativity, rest assured that if I’m sharing a brand, it’s a bloody good one.

MoMA Design Store – Kitchen & Dining Collection
Mark my words: when I become a “rich man,” I’m going to fill my home with pieces of art. By “art,” I mean everyday objects that are gorgeous enough for people to want to visit my place just to see them. This collection captures exactly that vibe.

Base Hardware – OMI DEV KIT 2
Aside from my many personalities (one for each paragraph I write), let’s add another to the list: I’m an AI nerd. More specifically, I’m into automation… anything that streamlines my life and makes it more efficient. Instead of saving up for a personal assistant, I’m starting small by buying this necklace, watching a few videos, and then building and connecting everything so I don’t miss a beat. With a quick voice command, this little device can record my words, add notes to a list or a Notion doc, or do literally anything else I can program. Once it arrives, I’ll fill you in with the full story. For now, just know I’m excited about the possibilities.

DJI – Osmo Pocket 3
I’m finally going to start vlogging. For the past three or four months, I’ve wanted to start a YouTube channel where I film everything. These love letters will then dive deeper into what’s shown on video; the story behind the scenes, the “why” of it all. The problem is, I’m terrible at remembering to film on my phone, and it’s also not the best device for content creation. I need my phone for everyday use, and managing files gets messy. So, I got this dedicated little tool for filming my content. Get ready for some fun and possibly chaotic, footage soon!