Describe one of your favorite moments.
Waking up in the morning is a blessing, and to see the first light of day is so wonderful. No matter what the night held, and no matter what the rest of the day holds, that moment is special, because it allows me to feel that I have an opportunity to live.
In our fast-paced world, the idea of doing less almost seems counterintuitive. Yet, is there hidden value in embracing minimalism in our daily routines? This intriguing thought came to mind while I listened to an episode of the Happiness Lab podcast, which delved into the surprising benefits of doing nothing or intentionally doing less.
The podcast highlighted how reducing our workload can lead to enhanced well-being and productivity, a concept that resonated deeply with me. It brought to mind a TED Talk by Niro Sivanathan, which, although in a different context, echoed a similar sentiment. Sivanathan discussed how in communication, the strength of our arguments can be diluted by unnecessary additions. Much like a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, the power of our arguments is judged by the average of all points presented. When strong arguments are mixed with weaker ones, it’s the average that’s remembered, not the peak strength.
This idea, paralleling the podcast’s message, suggests a broader principle: in many areas of our lives, from personal well-being to effective communication, less can indeed be more. Focusing on the essentials, cutting out the superfluous, can lead to stronger impacts and clearer outcomes.
I had known about time zones since I was in primary school, but it was my trip to Japan in October 2023 that finally crystalised it for me. As we were 7 hours ahead in Japan, I would be halfway through the workday by the time my family would start preparing for the toils of the day back home in Namibia, and it would be 15:00 Japanese time until people would report for the 8:00 morning shift in Namibia.
Another thing I knew of in passing was the name Nippon, and the reference to Japan as the land of the rising sun. I learnt from my Japanese friends that the Japanese originally thought they were the most eastern country, and thus were first to see the sunrise daily. Of course, they later learnt of countries like New Zealand, which are further east.
During this time of the year, this difference in timezones globally also comes into play, as various parts of the world usher in the new year at different intervals, but at the same time. It feels a bit like different races of the same length and time, slated to start at various hours of the day. You see the others go, but you know you are in your race and therefore you do not stress abouth those that went ahead.
Just as the rising sun brings renewed hope and offers us an opportunity to rise and do some good work, so does the dawn of the new year. By now, the entire globe has celebrated the dawn of 2024, so it is safe to say: “Happy New Year, make your 24 hours count!”
Are you a good judge of character?
I have been proven wrong so many times, mostly for good. Now I simply believe that we’re good people, and only change when I’m consistently proven wrong.
What cities do you want to visit?
I was there once, but would definitely like to return to this city in South Africa.
Ok, yes, it’s not a city in the real sense that you’re thinking, but it does answer the prompt, right? Plus, it’s a fun place to be.
Random Walks 