Conscious Living Letters #4

Reconnected, back to routine and then on holiday again!

Oct 02, 2024

Dear Conscious Readers,

It’s been a month since I returned from my long-awaited getaway with my girlfriends in Bali. I have so much to share, but it still feels overwhelming to put it all into words.

The overwhelming anxiousness of leaving my young children for two weeks is behind me! The worst I imagined didn’t happen, and the best I hoped for came true—and more. This experience has renewed my faith in life and made me braver in following my heart.

After my return, I consciously spent as much time as I could with my children to reconnect. Their mother is back, fully recharged, and I found that they have also grown and expanded in my absence.

Since then, we’ve settled back into our routine and even had the chance to explore the Black Forest twice, catching the tail end of summer. The Blackforest has many trails made for children, which includes stations along the path with puzzles to solve, or stories to follow, or both. They proved to be a good motivation to keep the kids going. Since the one-time failed attempt, my children have increasingly enjoyed these mini-adventures. My almost-three daughter is also building her stamina to keep up with us!

A Gnome’s Pub in Blackforest - one of the stations for the kids on the trail.

As you read this, we’re away on our family trip—our holiday together for the year. Am I even allowed to take another vacation so soon? Apparently, I am!

Now, onto the things worth sharing from the past month:

For conscious living

Connection

I recently wrote about how connecting with my friends and loved ones and the universe has shaped my life over the past decade. Connection is essential in everyday life, too; it forms the foundation of all relationships, even with strangers. When we seek to connect, we gain a deeper understanding of others, leading to more meaningful interactions. To deepen my connections with those around me, I’m focusing on a few key practices—slowing down, being present, and engaging one-on-one.

Mortality

Mortality has been on my mind since before the trip, and I feel it shaping into a longer essay here. This term has always been at the back of my mind—Memento Mori—remember that you have to die.

During our reunion trip in Bali, I brought up this subject with my friends. Our discussion took a practical turn—very typical of our Chinese upbringing—as we talked about where we want to be buried or cremated, the importance of having a will, and whether we’ve sorted out online passwords and banking matters for after we’re gone. Well, I was thinking more along the philosophical line of mortality, but these things are, of course, important, too. As

Ann Richardson

once said, knowing when we are going to die can be useful, especially in practical terms.

For Writing

Can We Learn How to Write? by

Anne Boyd

This title pulled me in immediately, being someone who is learning to write on her own. I believe that we all have our unique voices, and only we can find them for ourselves. However, I also believe in improving one’s craft, be it learning from others or through sheer practice.

I used to be a food blogger, and comparing my first food photograph to my most latest one highlights how much I’ve improved by simply taking more photos and seeking inspiration from other food bloggers. As we’ve all heard from our favorite writers—if you want to write well, read and read a lot. And, of course, keep writing.

Sharing

Courage without fear by

Zefan

Reading this transported me back to my longest and highest trek ever—the Annapurna Circuit (approximately 230 km, which took us 19 days). This trek crosses the highest walkable pass in the world, Thorung-La Pass, at 5,416 meters. It remains one of the most challenging yet rewarding endeavors I’ve ever undertaken. Someday, I hope to write about this life-changing experience. In the meantime, check out Zefan’s reflection on her hike in Nepal and her thoughts on bravery.

But first, sleep. Lucy and Ricky were onto something by

Jenna Park

I enjoy reading Jenna’s newsletter; it feels like I am back to the old days of blogging. In some ways, Substack feels like blogging, but sometimes, the monetization part of it screams louder.

When Jenna wrote about her efforts to reclaim sleep, it reminded me of my sleepless nights after my eldest was born. It struck me then how much I have taken sleep for granted and how much of our life and crucial it is to our well-being. I then shared how couples in Germany typically sleep on the same bed with separate mattresses—an ingenious and practical way that the Germans come up with that promotes both sleep wellness and intimacy!

A short story: Living Alone by

Hajee Sun

Recently, I discovered Hajee, and I thoroughly enjoyed her fictional short story. As an Asian, I have a soft spot for older people, and this story invites us into the mind and adventures of Grandma Ailin. I couldn’t help but feel nostalgic about my Ah Ma while reading. Though she lived many years alone after her husband passed away (he was much older than she). This story resonates deeply with me, as it offers a glimpse into Asian culture and the expectations that accompany it.

In case you’ve missed these in the past month: