Hueguh by Hueguh

HUEGUH

A C O L L E C T I O N O F C R E AT I V E W R I T I N G This issue is a collection of creative writing on various topics by various people from around the world in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

ISSUE 01

This magazine is dedicated to everyone who is doing their part in the fight against COVID-19; healthcare personnel on the front lines, infrastructure personnel, grocery store clerks, delivery couriers and you.

TA B L E O F CONTENTS EDITOR’S LETTER

ART IN FAILURE

WENT

IDK BRUH

THE HOME SPA

WHY I JOURNAL EVERYDAY

LIVING A GREAT LIFE

I DON’T DIVE

POLLO GUISADO

ADAMO

21’ST CENTURY RITUALS

HANDS-ON LORIER NEPTUNE

SNOQUALMIE FALLS

LESS

THE BEAUTY OF VINTAGE BICYCLES

A NICE WATCH TELLS THE SAME TIME. BUT NOT THE SAME STORY

MINIMALISM: THE NEW WAY OF LIFE?

WHY I STILL WENT TO VENICE

‘65 MUSTANG SUNRISE

MINIMALISM IN CHILDHOOD

THINGS I WAS WRONG ABOUT

HUNGER FOR PERSPECTIVE

MOGUL FIELD LIKE FJORDS

HANDS-ON LORIER NEPTUNE

TA B L E O F CONTENTS A NICE WATCH TELLS THE SAME TIME. BUT NOT THE SAME STORY

FEEL

I BREAK SPINES AND OTHER JOYS OF READING

REVISITING THE VALUE OF SOCIAL MEDIA IN A PANDEMIC WORLD

WHY I STILL WENT TO VENICE

MINIMALISM IN CHILDHOOD

HUNGER FOR PERSPECTIVE

I WONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T RISK MY LIFE FOR THE SAKE OF A STARTUP!

VALUES AND ETHICS

NATURE ALLURE

Cover Art:

Angelo Vilar @ajvilar

Editor:

Eric Tamayo

Contributors:

Lemuel Sap

Afiq Supir

Matthew Morris

Adam Molina

Matthew Tran

Jenifer Tamayo

Kaif Razvi

Christian Torres

Aaron Burbank

Conner Mackowiak

William Bowers

Francisco Flores

Noah Bauserman

Perte J.

Sebastian Ruebenach

Ryan Conkin

Luuk Smits

Mailo Kirmes

Kyle Johnston

Kenny Camey

Dr. Natalija Peric

Ji Kim

Dr. Mathias Schacaht

Nathan Ho

Christopher Adair

Panayiotis Karageorgopoulos

IJ Maximo Al Ashik James Saculles

Had plans to visit these two recently, but... social distancing. Love you Mama and Papa.

L E T TER FROM THE EDITO R RESILIENCE IN CREATIVITY

little more tolerable, despite all the frustration from InDesign. I hope that this collection of writing will provide you with some entertainment as we all practice social distancing to not only protect ourselves but to give healthcare the time it needs to respond to this virus.

At the time of writing this I like most am under a mandatory shelter-from-home order. Once busy streets are now bare and quiet as most of the world is at home watching humanity take on the COVID-19 pandemic. During this time it is easy to feel isolated as all social interaction must now occur at a distance.

Finally, before all you formatting nerds throw your computer at the wall, my trial period for InDesign has expired and I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t plan on renewing. Thank you to all who submitted an article, everyone who provided InDesign technical support and the homie Angelo(@ ajvilar) for hooking it up with the amazing cover art. It has been awe inspiring seeing this community come together to create a creative body of work despite the current circumstances. I hope you enjoy reading the first and only issue of the Hueguh magazine.

In an attempt to provide an experience in which we all could partake in from afar, I asked for people to submit creative writing pieces to assemble into this magazine. I gave people free reign to write about whatever they pleased, so long as a picture accompanied their piece... magazines are always prettier with pictures. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be honest, one of the main reasons I asked people to contribute was to keep myself accountable to learn InDesign. However, I could not foresee the excitement I had when reading each new article as they hit my inbox. This magazine had me constantly refreshing my browser in anticipation and made what would otherwise be unbaringly dry days feel new and exciting. It has made my time in quarantine a

- Eric

A R T I N FA I LU R E by Lemuel S ap

French sculptor Auguste Rodin would say to the poet Ranier Maria Rilke, “Bon courage.” In English, it means “good courage” or “have courage.” It sounds cliché, but Rodin offered that advice for a reason. Being an artist requires courage, not only to face negative opinions or possible financial insecurity, but to accept failure. Having courage means removing progress from its pedestal and continuing to create when it feels like you’re getting nowhere. I’m not advocating total abandonment of selfimprovement. Instead I’m advocating for a different view of failure, where it’s not a plague to be avoided at all cost, but an integral part of betterment. It means taking risks and making some—possibly many—shitty works before hitting the mark. In art, with all its ambiguity and unknowns, failure is the only way forward. This shift in thinking turned things around for me, and painting didn’t feel like the hell it used to be.

Luc Tuymans, one of the most influential painters working today, said, “The first three hours of painting are like hell.” A rather odd statement from someone who paints for a living—and is damn good at it too. Nevertheless, that quote resonated with me. Painting did feel like hell, except it lasted throughout the entire process from start to finish. It wasn’t that I disliked the physical act of painting. It was that I was repeatedly failing. Failure and success, when creating art, is ambiguous, because art is ambiguous. Art functions in different ways, some of which contradict one another. It can be didactic, but it can be confounding; it can be beautiful, but it can also be utterly repulsive; it can show remarkable craftsmanship, yet there are works that reject the artist’s hand. It follows that there is no universal standard by which all artwork can be judged. In creating art, the meaning of failure and success is for the individual to decide. This ambiguity complicates the creative process.

Art’s ambiguity, despite being the cause of my frustration, is paradoxically where its power lies. If this year has shown us anything, it’s that existence can be confusing. Things happen unpredictably, and people respond in surprising ways, for better or worse. We try our best to control life, but ultimately are helpless in the face of it—”Like teardrops in the rain,” to quote Roy Batty from Blade Runner. This state of reality is why art can be a deeply engaging and rich experience. Art has a way of grasping the unknown, of expressing what we don’t quite understand about our experiences. In the face of an uncertain world, art grounds us by channeling the creative spirit that is a uniquely human trait. It’s also really fun (if you’re not agonizing over progress), and we could all probably use some fun.

Starting a painting is frightening, because there is no certainty it will succeed. As the painting develops, the fear dissipates as my vision becomes more realized on the canvas, but there comes a point where the way forward isn’t obvious anymore. There is this sense that the work is incomplete, that something isn’t quite working, but I don’t know how to achieve resolution. The work remains in a state of notquite-hitting-the mark—a failure. Everyone’s experience with creating will differ, but the feeling of confusion is something that I think most creators have in common. As inheritors of Modernity, progress is deeply ingrained in our collective consciousness. There is an expectation that each successive work an artist creates must be better than the one preceding, mapping out a steady trajectory of progress. It would be difficult to deny the benefit of such belief because of the improvements that it produces, but this fixation on progress— coupled with the inescapable reality of failure— can do more harm than good. You feel pressure to progress, but your art seems to fail constantly. This erodes confidence, and without confidence in yourself and your work, creating feels pointless.

To those who lost access to their studios, social distancing doesn’t equal the end of your work. I’m willing to bet all my toilet paper that you have paper and a pencil/pen at home. You can use your phone to take photos of whatever is available around the apartment. There are wonderful resources on the web, like art books and articles. Artists have generously posted coloring pages online that you can print and color. Some museums even offer virtual tours of their exhibits! If there ever was a good time to create art and to engage, it would be now. 11

W ENT b y M a t t h ew M o r r i s Harsh. That’s the best way to describe the weather that morning. Fog that seeps into the horizon and a wind at their face in almost every direction they looked. It was not ideal, wanting to stay in the warmth of the truck as bad as they needed to show up to the fishery with a boat full of cod. The 12-foot Sea-Ranger was packed with gear, and the tide was just high enough for the boat to be heaved over the sand dunes and into the water. There was no more familiar smell than that of an outboard engine’s morning exhaust. The first wave lapped against the bow and they were heading down the creek and to the bay. Three hours ago, the gas station coffee was the only semi-warm memory of waking up. It had been an unusually slow winter catch and with the spring fast approaching they knew the recreational competition was on its way. As the boat heaved out past the breakers and into the channel, ropes were joined to nets with weathered and frozen hands. Thoughts of years past flooded the mind, when fish were plentiful and money was as fluid as the inlet. Newcomers had recently arrived in the bay, obvious out-of-towners in search for the same lucky tide. Some hang around while others keep moving up the coast. The regulars still show up, many switch tactics while the more superstitious change who they pray to. This day was different, if it weren’t for the rust-covered Sea-Ranger, the bay would have been as cold, vast, and empty as outer space. There was no other driving force to spur a day of dragging nets than desperation. As morning rolled on, few fish were brought over the hull. Gulls could be seen overhead periodically, mostly in flight for the tidal creeks on the eastern bayshore. What was once a commercial fisherman’s paradise was now a shot in the dark - and for two men who so desperately needed the income, they were running out of bullets. Being out on the water all day in weather that fierce was a task that no other boat in the bay was up for. For the two men, they went. 12

IDK BRUH b y M a t t h e w Tr a n What I have found in these times of distress are outlets of things I used to love doing before the responsibilities of life got in the way. Activities that include reading books, going on hikes, trying new recipes at home, and catching up with my old friends from home that included a virtual happy hour. We were able to catch up while they “worked from home,” played trivia games, made jokes, and laughed for hours on end. With the future being very much in doubt, it’s nice to see that some things are very much not.

The past few days certainly haven’t been the easiest because I am a dancing queen, young and sweet, stuck in quarantine... Lol just kidding. I’m an Optometry student that has spent the last few months studying for a national boards exam that has been delayed due to the recent pandemic. Countless hours and months of studying that has amounted to uncertainty of when “life” can restart again. With school being cancelled and the eyecare clinic closed to patient care, I find myself sitting at home for the majority of the day, working on projects that will eventually be presented, and studying for tests that will eventually be taken.

Life can be stressful at times. This is one of those times. But, what can we do to relieve that stress? Lean on our loved ones and comfort one another. That, and eat endless amounts of Hot Cheetos that’s supposed to be for our apocalypse stash. So my recommendation to whoever has made it this far is, find productive outlets that will keep you sane. If you look at this whole thing from a larger perspective, you’re living in a time when history is being made. Where, in 2030 (God, I hope it’s better than 2020), you can talk about what you experienced during this time in your life. But what the hell do I know? I’m just a dude trying to be an eye doctor, looking at life through a different lens.

The year of 2020 was supposed to be a “Visionary” year (which reminds me: remember to get your eyes checked at least once every two years if not every year, cause... health y’now?). A new decade where we were able to erase whatever happened the last ten years and focus on the next ten being the best we can be. Instead, we’ve had monumental figures pass on, a pandemic that has led to nation-wide panics, and a surge of “What the eff do we do now and can it be 2021 already?” Uneasiness brings out the best and worst in people. Two sides of the same coin, where desperation is in a tug of war with generosity. But, despite the hardships, there are still positive messages being voiced all around the world. Messages that tell each other we’re all in this together, which is comforting to say the least. 15

THE HOME S PA b y K a i f R a z vi @k a i p p _

First up, Cleansing. Cleansing is an indispensable procedure. I don’t usually make a homemade cleanser; I just feel that you’re better off using your daily cleanser. Select a cleanser that is suited for your skin type, if you have oily skin, use an oil-free cleanser. For Dry skin, use a mild foaming cleanser. If you want to use a cleanser from the kitchen, I’d recommend you just whip out raw Honey, dampen your face and massage the Honey on your face for about a minute or two and rinse it off. This suits all skin types. Next, is exfoliating; exfoliation is like the holy grail in my routine. The results are instant, and it leaves your skin smoother and fresh by removing the layer of dead skin cells clogging the skin. For exfoliation, I usually use a mixture of Honey, ground coffee, and a few drops of olive oil. Scrub your face with this mixture for a few minutes and then wash it off with water. Don’t scrub too hard though; you are removing skin CELLS, not a scratch on your car. If you have oily skin, id try to stay away from olive oil and maybe switch it up with a teaspoon of sugar or ground almonds.

From trying to figure out how to access your next online class to struggling on getting that report done because your cat won’t get off your keyboard, being quarantined at home sure does come with its own set of stress. Nevertheless, this is the perfect opportunity for you to wind down and maybe finally get that facial you promised yourself at the beginning of the year. One of the best ways to get your facial done is at home, that way you don’t have to worry about shelling out some big bucks or getting an appointment at your nearest spa- if your reading this like in March 2020, you’re not even supposed to be calling the spa. So, I’ve decided to share with you guys a step by step home facial using essential elements laying in your kitchen cupboards. That half-cut lemon laying in your fridge may just come in handy now. Oh, and a quick disclaimer: I am no skin expert, just a college student who’s managed to hide the night before finals stress from showing on my face. When I made up this little routine, I came up with mixtures that hopefully work on most skin types in general.

will help release stress and will boost the effectiveness of the facial. If you experience any discomfort from the ingredients you use, rinse it off and cleanse your face immediately.

This wouldn’t be a facial without a face mask, and there isn’t much a good face mask can’t cure. They’re just as amazing at taking the stress out of a crappy day. But before we get to lathering up your face with the mask, we have to get those pores opened and calm your skin down after exfoliating. Many tend to skip this but trust me; it helps make the mask way more effective. Take a bowl of very hot water. Place a towel over your head and lean over the pot so that the towel creates a tent to hold the steam. Lean over the bowl to steam your face. Do not lean too close as the vapors can be quite hot. Do this for about 5 minutes to help open up your pores. There are a bunch of different face masks you could experiment with which have various benefits. My favorite is Honey, lemon juice and yogurt. I sometimes switch the yogurt with a mashed banana if my skins feeling dry. If you want to go the extra mile, a teaspoon of green tea leaves, brown sugar, cream and drops of water make an excellent mask for UV protection and premature aging. Once you’ve mixed the ingredients, spread it around your face and let it sit for 15-20 minutes before washing it off with lukewarm water.

Skincare is a great way to boost confidence. Nevertheless, the stresses and hormones of our daily lives are bound to show themselves on our face once in a while, let these breakouts run their course and from the words of Hueguh, “Chances are the people that really matter in life won’t notice and don’t care.”

Now that your face has soaked up all the goodness that the face mask had to offer. It is time to seal your pores to keep any dirt or toxins from settling in your skin. This is where a toner comes in. Toners help remove any residual dirt while sealing your pores. I usually just use rose water as a toner, dampen a cotton ball with rose water and just spread the ‘toner.’ Allow it to dry naturally. Alternatively, a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar and water can also be used as a toner. Finally, moisturise, moisturize, and moisturiseeeee. You’re at home spa facialthat just made a mess of your bathroom would be incomplete, again for moisturizing I’d recommend just to use your regular daily moisturizer or coconut oil. And you’re done! Before you leave, there are some tips and precautions I’d like to leave you with to make the most out of your home spa. Keep everything you need ready before you start your facial so that you do not miss any steps and can efficiently complete the treatment. Create a calm atmosphere for yourself. This 19

ONE OF THE MANY PIECES O F A DVICE I S HOU L D HAVE FO L LOW ED Y E A R S AGO W H Y I J O U R N A L E V E RY DAY by Aaron Burbank I won ’ t tel l y o u to s ta r t j o ur n al i n g to d a y . I ’ l l j us t s a y th a t wh e n i t fe el s r i gh t to y o u, p i ck up th a t p e n or p e n ci l , or op e n a n e w p a g e on y o ur n o te s ap p , a n d wor k th ro u gh y o ur th o u gh ts .

it was with that pretext that I needed to begin journaling. As I mentioned, we often think that we know what we feel, and in a sense we do. Of course, we know when we’re happy, or sad, or angry, or scared. However, I think that most people would agree that we rarely sit with our thoughts, and only our thoughts. With so many distractions and concerns vying for our attention, we rarely get to just sit and process things. Sure, one could just sit and think, but for me it is far easier to get distracted or take away from my thoughts when I’m just sitting and thinking. With a journal, you have as much time as it takes you to write your thoughts down. It forces you to set aside time and simply be with your thoughts.

I should say right up front that I am no pro when it comes to journaling, or writing for that matter, and that this isn’t some highly organised bullet journalling tutorial, or an ode to all the merits of keeping a dream journal. For this type of information there are countless resources from people far more qualified than I. My approach to journaling is not particularly sophisticated or complex, but helps me to identify and confront the things that occur in my life. Therefore, this is my encouragement to others to consider journaling themselves.

Setting aside the emotional, mental reasons to journal, there is also the romantic aspect of it. As I have been fortunate enough to travel to various destinations internationally, my notebook has traveled with me. Throughout the course of my travels, my notebooks have slowly been filled with stories from my travels, photos and sketches of the places I’ve been. I can hear the die-hard techies now “you can keep the photos on your phone, and access them later, whenever you want.” True, but after the first week of showing friends and family photos from your trip, they join the endless well of photos on your phone camera roll. I take photos all the time on my trips, whether on my phone or my mirrorless camera. But I find myself revisiting old notebooks far more than digging through my old hard drives. And there is definitely something to

Life is full of events which can evoke sadness, elation, fright, confusion, among other things. Writing can help us process these experiences and work through them. Of course, different people process their experiences in different way, and I’m no psychiatrist. To be frank, when it was first recommended to me that I consider journaling about my anxiety, it sounded tedious and frivolous. I knew what I felt, I thought, and wondered what I could gain from putting them down in ink. Then I moved abroad for what started out as a year. I no longer had my familiar support network, the people I could vent to, or discuss things with. My family and friends all lived half way around the world, and as I settled into my single-room apartment in London, I had to deal with issues for myself. And 20

be said about sitting down at a café in a new city and sketching the sights. Plus you get to feel a bit like Ernest Hemingway sitting pensively with a coffee or a glass of wine, and writing down your thoughts.

my frustrations. Some days its a travel story, or a sketchbook, or photo album. The bottom line is to find the system that works best for you. Don’t be scared to try a system out and scrap it if it doesn’t work for you.

It doesn’t take much to start journaling. You can use something as simple as a composition book or a spiral bound academic notebook, or as fancy as a Montblanc notebook. Hell, you can keep your journal in your phone’s notes section. I keep it relatively simple when it comes to what I journal with. A soft-cover Moleskine notebook and a ballpoint pen (the one above is an Everyday Grafton Pen, using Parker refills). I typically prefer dotted or grid pages, but lined or blank will work as well. As I mentioned to the top of the article, there are journaling “guidelines,” but I stick to whatever feels right. Some days it’s a place for me to rant

I won’t tell you to start journaling today. I’ll just say that when it feels right to you, pick up that pen or pencil, or open a new page on your notes app, and work through your thoughts. Keep happy, folks.

S NOQUALMIE FA L L S b y Wil l i am B owers @wi l l b wr s

photographer, I was instantly fascinated by the variety of plants and greenery that isn’t easily seen in my home state. With our cameras in hand we slowly crept down the tree lined path snapping hundreds of photos along the way. At the bottom of the hill we were sad to find out that the lower portion of the falls happened to be closed on that particular day, but we were able to spend some quality time together down by the river banks before we made our long journey back to the downtown Seattle area. Needless to say, our half-day trip to Snoqualmie falls was well worth the lengthy ride it took to get there and back. What normally would have been a brisk hike down to the banks of the river turned into a much longer adventure that produced some of my favorite images and important memories from the week-long trip to the Pacific Northwest. Experiences like this are why I love photography and I can’t wait to experience more days just like it in the future. The charm of Snoqualmie Falls and its surrounding area created wonderful memories that I will cherish for years to come.

Despite traveling to many beautiful destinations in recent years, the trendy nature of “chasing waterfalls” on Instagram and packed crowds surrounding scenic tourist areas was never something I was very interested in. During a recent trip to Seattle in October of 2019, a friend of mine recommended a visit to nearby Snoqualmie Falls about 30 miles outside of the city. Not knowing what to expect I packed my camera gear and some snacks and decided to go into the day with an open mind. The morning started off with what was easily the most entertaining Lyft driver my girlfriend and I had met all week. Purple outer-space themed fabric lined the entire interior of the car, neon lights illuminated the door panels and club-style electronic dance music was being played at a volume that very quickly substituted the need for my morning coffee. After about a 45 minute long ride with our energetic driver who was not surprisingly also a club promoter, we had arrived at our foggy destination. Admittedly the pure scale of the roaring waterfalls and the distinct split down the middle that they are famous for left me in awe. After taking a few quick photos from the top observation area, we decided to adventure down the small trail nearby. As an Arizona-based 24

Less by Noah Bauserman I am lazy. It’s something that I will admit to. Cleanliness does not come naturally to me. I have discovered that the more I declutter my room, the easier it is to clean my room.

“Less is more” this statement has been the most mainstream phrase of minimalism for quite some time. The deeper you think about it, the more you will likely realize just how true this statement is. Society has taught us that richness comes from things. When in reality, richness comes from our heart. The average household holds three-hundred thousand things! How many of those things truly brings you joy? I think you will be surprised when you answer that question. we have so many purposeless items in our house. Maybe it’s time that you start putting intent in your purchases.

The benefits of minimalism are clear. I encourage you to try minimalism. Some of the best advice I can give is to read Marie Kondo’s book. Watching some Matt D’Avella will also help. And of course for great minimalist inspiration; watch Hueguh on YouTube. I hope this helps encourage you to open your mind to less.

Our lives are already complex, do you really want to come home to a house full of just stuff? I think that this is why I gravitate towards simple designs. When you have less, your life becomes more simple. Yes, you might have fewer options and that’s okay! When your house is decluttered, your house is peaceful. Your house is your sanctum. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a nice, calm, and peaceful sanctum?

THE BEAUTY O F V I N TA G E BICYCLES by Sebastian Ruebenach @t h e c l a s s y c y c l i s t

You don’t have to be overly afraid of breaking or scratching the tiniest piece of carbon fiber because other than carbon, steel can be repaired to a certain degree and a few nicks and scratches are part of the look.

There simply is something special about the combination of steel, oil, leather and a lot of power. However, I might disappoint you. Because with this kind of vintage vehicle there is no 5.0 L V8 with 350 break horsepower to get you going, but instead you have to put in the work yourself… with your legs. I’m talking about vintage steel bicycles.

The saddle isn’t very ergonomic or comfortable but instead just a thick piece of leather stretched over a few steel rods. The chain is thick and strong and will probably hold up forever, provided You take appropriate care of it.If You get Your hands on a good one, you even have to learn a new way of shifting. Just like manual shifting in a car, there are downtube shifters on bikes. They sometimes are not even indexed, so you have to pull the lever on the downtube till You feel and hear the gearchange.

Visiting bigger cities like Munich, Berlin, Hamburg, London, Vienna etc. I always thought of them as student bikes, because a lot of them were ridden by university students. But that’s not everything there is. When I rode my last commuter bike to its very end, I had to get a new one. Instead of buying a new commuter, I got myself a beautiful vintage bicycle by Flandria, made in the 1970’s.

In a world of consumerism and upgrades and newest tech everywhere and every year, there is just something about having some vintage piece that was made to last. Just like You don’t buy a vintage Ferrari for extraordinary comfort, superb reliability and higher speed over modern supercars, you don’t buy a vintage steel bike for the same reasons.

I cannot explain why, but I always liked their simple and classic geometry, the classic round drops on the handlebars and the old leather saddles. Only once I got to own one, I looked deeper into the topic of those vintage bikes and found how beautiful they can be, how long they can last and how expensive they can become, what legends of the cycling world have ridden on those bikes and performed amazing acts of endurance and strength to climb some of the highest mountains in Europe and cover ridiculous distances.

You buy it because You value the pure craftsmanship that went into making this historic piece. You buy it for the amazing vintage looks, the vintage geometry. After all, you buy it for the sake of it being vintage and it looking beautiful. No matter the industry You work in, no matter the community or hobby You are interested in, there will always be someone interested in vintage cars, vintage motorcycles or vintage watches.

Even if You don’t get Your hands on a bike ridden by a legend, but just an ordinary one like mine, You still have something historical. You can only imagine all the places this bike has already been, all the countries it has seen, all the roads it has been ridden on. But, well, some don’t want them.

With this short article I hoped to raise more awareness for the beauty and the value vintage steel bikes can provide outside of the average cycling community.

I get it, modern carbon road bikes are faster, lighter, more ergonomic and still to a big part handmade But you cannot beat the pure craftsmanship that went into a handmade and hand welded bicycle, manufactured in the midst of the past century.

I cannot ride mine every day, but I can admire its beauty on my wall every day. Stay safe and stay healthy everyone. Sincerely, Sebastian Ruebenach

You don’t have to charge Your electronic gear shifter before going out for a ride, there are still wires running down Your frame. 30

social media is bigger than ever, the marketing industry is doing overtime for fast fashion sales and quantity seems to go over quality, minimalism goes the other way. Peace in your house, peace in your work, peace in your social life and peace in your mind. Not living to work, but work to live.

MINIMALISM: THE NEW WAY O F LIFE?

This doesn’t mean you can’t consume. Or that you have to trade your new iPhone 11 back for a Nokia 3310. Or that you are only allowed to own two T-shirts. On the contrary, buy and do what makes you happy and what you think is important. But do ask yourself: do I need this? And all the time you spend on your phone on WhatsApp, Instagram, surfing on the web and doing emails, is it worth it?

by Luuk Smits The simplistic watches of Daniel Wellington or the clean sneakers of Common Projects. Minimalism design is hot at the moment. But minimalism is not only applicable to your wardrobe or design in general. It is a way of life which is becoming more popular by the day. Blogs, books and YouTube-channels are multiplying by the minute. Think about Marie Kondo and her Netflix show ‘Tidying Up with Marie Kondo’. Or the ‘Tiny House Movement’, where people live in houses as big as a trailer or container. But what is minimalism exactly?

There are no rules that determine whether you are a good minimalist or not. It’s different for everyone and maybe therefore so interesting.

Eliminate the unnecessary If you google on minimalism there is no singular and concrete definition. The articles you find are mostly about cleaning up or throwing away your belongings. This is too short sided though. Minimalism can maybe be described best as: eliminate the unnecessary. It is about consciousness and focus on the important things in life. Search for minimalism on YouTube and you will find thousands results, with Matt D’Avella as the ultimate minimalism guru. With more than two million subscribers he beats the algorithms. He grew his channel without advertisements or videos that needed to be ten minutes or longer for any revenue. No, he did that with a clear message: minimalism as a way of life. Consumerism This is the exact opposite of a big part of our modern society. Which is mainly about consuming, having the newest product, a big focus on social media and the phenomenon FOMO, Fear Of Missing Out. Now the pressure on 32

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;65 M U S TA N G SUNRISE by Kyl e Johnston @k y l e s p e r g a l l o n

never got up early to watch the sunrise. I was truly lucky in this moment to be pulling up to a gorgeous home with an equally gorgeous machine to photograph. As I peered through the viewfinder and tried to visualize what the final shot would look like I had nearly forgotten the anxiety that has nearly consumed me less than an hour before. Setting up my composition and metering for the early morning sun I snapped a test exposure. The brilliance of colors happening outside of my camera were not translating so well. Our eyes capture a great deal of detail in the highlights and shadows of an image that don’t translate well to digital photographs. All character of this moment would be lost to time. The stillness of the air, the waves softly lapping up to shore, and the few seagulls echoing along the coastline would be lost in an image that had all the qualities of a good photograph but none of the soul. I change the drive mode on my camera to bracket the scene. It would automatically snap off five images. The first being so dark you could barely make out the car and the last so bright that the sun would be lost to a bright white sky. Scenes like this are the actual necessity for HDR, or high dynamic range photos. Not quite the garish color splotched images that went around the web in the early days just before instagram. When done in the right setting, with the right light, you won’t get the same view you saw with your eyes, but you can come close.

It wasn’t until I was nearly an hour and a half into the drive did I realize that I had forgotten my wallet. The fuel gauge on my dads car was reading near empty, I still had another half hour to drive to get to the photoshoot location, and the sun would be coming up in another 40 minutes. I was starting to panic. My friend from the UK had just landed me this gig with a client of his over in the states to shoot a pristine 1965 Shelby Cobra GT350. I had been shooting cars for a while now but only a handful of them were paid gigs as it had started as a hobby for me. I was about to blow this one, my first big job. Stranded with nothing open and no cash or credit cards I thought this was it. In my haste to leave my apartment in NYC just after 3am I had gathered up all my camera equipment but crucially left behind something I had never contemplated forgetting. I had nearly resigned myself to my fate. Somehow I’d have to be rescued from the far end of Long Island later in the day. I pulled into a gas station to consider my options. Everything was still quiet in Montauk, NY at this time with only a smattering of moonlight. The gas station I stopped in was closed, the lights in the mini mart all out except for the dull fluorescent glow of the soda coolers. But I noticed someone moving around inside. I got out of the car and knocked on the door. I had an epiphany just moments before that I might be able to use the digital wallet on my phone to buy gas and get myself to the location in time. The gas station attendant opened and I explained my predicament to him, the pumps had no NFC readers but perhaps the scanner inside would work. Reluctantly he opened up the register and we scanned my card off of my iPhone. I rushed back out to the car to fill the tank and speed off to the very tip of the island to get the shot I had planned so meticulously for. The sun had already begun to break over the horizon. Having grown up on Long Island I always took the shore for granted. I never experienced it at its most tranquil setting. I’ve had the good fortune recently to make my way out to California and see the sunset over the Pacific Ocean. It is truly breathtaking moment. For as much as I love the sea I’m surprised I don’t spend more time around it, or why I 36

THINGS I WA S W RO NG ABOUT b y D r. N a t a l i j a P e r i c p h to gr ap h y D r. M a th i a s S ch a ca h t

of course it is! You can live a happy life anywhere in this world. Don’t attach your happiness to a place or people. Happiness is not defined by the place you live. However, you are the one who defines your own happiness and what is actually necessary for you to feel happy. Because the magnificent life is life on your own terms. And your terms and mine can be completely different. Therefore, you need to define them.

I was recently watching an interview with amazing Seth Godin, one of the most influential authors and entrepreneurs. I was very impressed when he said that every now and then he seeks intentionally things he was wrong about because that is the process that starts flipping your brain into different way of looking at the world. He inspired me to write this blogpost where I will focus more on mindset because working on myself is definitely my No 1. passion (read obsession), and I find it necessary and nonnegotiable in 21. century. Therefore, I felt a need to write about some of my beliefs that definitely didn’t serve me and were wrong for me.

2. Success will make me happy Many people in this world are driven by success. They live for success, they dream about it and it’s nothing wrong about it. The problem is that when they achieve that success the level of happiness and excitement lasts no longer than 24 h, or often very less. You all probably experienced that feeling. I’ve got it, and what now? Tony Robbins has a very wise quote: Success without fulfillment is an ultimate failure! You need to learn to enjoy in the process of this whole life journey. Because if you always wait for that moment of success to come you’ve missed so many days and hours of possibilities to realize the beauty of living in the moment and appreciating it. We humans consider too many things in our life, our food, place to sleep, health, family, partners. When was the last time you were grateful because you can breathe actually? Don’t get blind by the shine of success, rather enjoy in the beautiful light of small moments and gratitude in a daily life..like having a morning coffee in my case :). And then when the bigger things come you will appreciate them even more and feel the fulfillment way longer. Remember to reward the effort you made, not the success.

1. My happiness depends on a place where I live Last year I was holding a lecture at my home university in Belgrade about the pharmacy studies here in Germany and my experience of leaving my home country, family and friends. There were many young people sitting and listening to what I have to say because many of them still don’t know whether they should leave or not, and they are in the process of making decision. What I told them is that they have to define clear reasons why would they want to leave or stay. And not just bringing decision upon bad economic circumstances, doing what majority of young people in Serbia do , or because your family thinks that is the best option for you. You need to have very deep conversation with yourself first and come out with true answers. One of the students had an interesting questioan after, he asked is it possible to be happy in Serbia? My answer was 39

3. Overthinking about a problem will bring a solution

you read a book, play favorite sport or meditate. Then you are in a state where you can receive amazing ideas from higher consciousness.

Like one of my favorite scientist of all time A. Einstein said: No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it. As you probably all know, everything is energy, there is no such a thing like matter. We are all energy vibrating on different frequencies. And so, the frequency of a problem and a solution are on a completely different level. In order to find solution, you have to raise your vibration! By that I mean, first stop overthinking and letting your mind to overwhelm you by negative thoughts. Secondly, start doing something that genuinely makes you excited and relaxed. The best ideas that pop out in our minds don’t happen when you are overly stressed. They simply can’t come because you are on such a low vibration and not aligned with vibration of solution. They do however come usually when you don’t think about your problems, when you shower, when

4. The truth about my mind I was so wrong about what human mind is. What I learned over the years is that your mind is not designed to make you happy, it is made to make you survive. It actually does it by constantly pointing out what can go wrong and where the possible danger can come out. As a consequence of being raised by our society and school we learned everything except of how to be happy. Therefore, we are so well trained to find something negative that we can focus upon every single day. But this is not necessary anymore, because we CAN actually live without being afraid of not surviving today. Luckily evolution brought us to the point where our existence actually in 99% isn’t threatened. However, evolution didn’t bring us new patterns 40

and programs of our mind. This is your task! You have to reprogram your mind and find the patterns that serve you and can make you happy. Because if you let your mind to control you, you are on a very good way to live unfulfilled and unhappy life. Remember: You are not your thoughts! You own them, and you can control them but donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t identify yourself with them because you are so much more than your mind and your thoughts. I hope this post will serve to some of you, if only one person finds it useful then my job is done :). Thank you so much for reading and if you have some doubts or things that you struggle with like I did, feel free to write me, I will be happy to help you. Wishing you a blessed and beautiful day! With gratitude, Dr. Natalija Peric

MOGUL FIELDS L I K E FJ O R D S b y C h r i s to p h e r A d a i r

Skiing is at its most enchanting, in my opinion, when it happens in glades, well-populated with spruce, and generously filled out with bumps. Making buoyant turns around trees — their soft outer branches defining your line, then brushing you comfortingly as you pass — is the best way to spend time in the snow. And obviously, when that snow is dry powder, wafting up from your skis in gentle bursts, even better. I live for that feeling. But I never dream about skiing glades.

summer. By August, my Instagram feed is an elongated white cloud of anticipatory snow shots, I’ve watched Aspen Extreme for the 200th time, and I’m dreaming about skiing almost nightly. By the fall, I’ve ventured out to that season’s TGR and/or Warren Miller premiere, tuned my skis, and made my plans for the season — and the bizarre ski dreams have begun haunting me with the power of a dead criminal with unfinished business.

I dream about skiing more than I dream about anything. It’s been happening since I was a teenager. At some point, I realized I have to heed the urgings of my subconscious and indulge my obvious obsession, or I will go crazy. As a kid without easy access to the mountains, that meant getting creative. So, I watched MSP movies, subscribed to ski magazines, and drove to Oshman’s Sporting Goods to collect the free resort catalogues from the skiing department. I read Breakthrough on the New Skis by Lito Tejada-Flores, practiced plyometrics, and generally did everything I could to place myself in the ski world’s orbit — then I dreamt about skiing even more.

As I’ve been able to spend more time in the mountains, the dreams have only become more frequent, and generally, more frustrating. Even in the fun ski dreams something weird happens. I’m skiing on ice skates, or nothing at all, somehow. My gear is usually bad. A lot of times I’m at a nearly defunct mountain I’ve never seen or heard of, where the snow is terrible. Once, I skied straight into a library. I’m never able to get into my boots easily, and when I do, the lifts stop spinning. It’s the skiing equivalent of not being able to run in your dreams, but way more irritating. I suspect I’m not the only person who has what might accurately be called ski nightmares, ones that get worse the longer you wait to clip in and make your first turns of the year. Or maybe I’m just that weird, I don’t know. What I do know is, even at an icy, crowded

The dreams are a year-round phenomenon, though they crop up most frequently in late 44

space in my subconscious. The dreams remind me to pay attention to the thing that I’ve loved since I was a kid, gawking at ski magazines and doing lunges around my room. Almost nightly, I’m reminded to keep myself near the mountains, even if that just means reading books, watching movies, or flipping through the glossy pages of a resort catalogue. Hopefully I’ll dream about skiing again tonight.

Killington, my first run of this season erased an entire year’s worth of annoying ski dreams. If I can experience the ethereal feeling of floating over a knuckle, then immediately connecting a series of nearly weightless turns, setting my edges down on a trail — at a ski area, in a state — I’d never before explored, do I honestly need to have good ski dreams? Of course not. I can deal with bad ski dreams because I know, at some point this season, I’m going to find a powder stash in a semi-open glade. Tree groves wiall animate, ushering me through their negative spaces; snow will fall upward, exploding softly; and my skis will drift through moguls, like Viking ships navigating fjords. Nothing is more dreamlike than that.

-Chris Adair

Lately I’ve learned to embrace the weird ski dreams. Short of being a nuisance, they actually serve an important purpose. Every time I wake up after being trapped in a ski shop (terrifying — I’ve been in more bizarre ski shops in my dreams than can possibly exist on Earth), or stuck in snow that was actually just mud (not a good time), I think about why skiing occupies so much

Most people tend to sacrifice a lot in eve r y aspect in their life. Without knowing what are they should focusing on in achieving their ultimate goals. Only certain people know how to live the life ultimately. There is no right or wrong in living your life. But there is a guideline in how to live the life to the fullest. Some people cannot change the way they live because they already comfort with the life that they are living in right now. But some other people they always keep looking for the secrets of life. They believe that we are not only living for the sake to survive, but we are living to be the great version of our self. Here are the guideline that you can follow in how to living a great life.

LIVING A GR E AT LIFE b y: A f i q S u p i r “ B u t s om e o th er p e op l e th e y al wa y s k e ep l o ok i n g for th e s e cr e ts o f l i fe. Th e y b el i e ve th a t we a r e n o t on l y l i vi n g for th e s a k e to s ur vi ve, b u t we a r e l i vi n g to b e th e gr e a t ver s i on o f o ur s el f ”

1. Always live in a present moment. “The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.” - Buddha By living in a present moment, it means letting go of the past and not waiting for the future. It means living your life consciously, aware 46

your own self.

that each moment you breathe is a gift. It is so important because there is no point in worrying about the past and also being anxious about the future. It gives answer for your future and justifies your learning from your past. We always keep worrying of anything that does not really exist and unrealistic thinking of bad things that could happen in the future. Calming your mind and emotions can help you to reduce the confusion and uncontrolled emotions. Be mindful and focus your attention on what is happening in the present moment. 2.

You might find many different answers of spiritual meaning. But it can be mean as, expanding the mind beyond limitations, thoughts and limited viewpoints about life and the Universe. It can also mean the process of making the mind free from fears and worries. Meditation is one of the answers for you to be in a great spiritual state. Through a meditation, you are purposely healing your inner self, past life awareness, mental clarity and relaxation. In order for you to be in a great spiritual state, first you have to release any grudges you have been holding. In order for you to be in a great spiritual state, first you have to release any grudges you have been holding. Letting go is the obvious antidote to holding on to the pain of resentment.

Always be grateful.

Always be grateful. Be thankfully and appreciate anything that you have today. Be mindful in every little thing that you have achieved in your life right now. This is really important to living a great life. Thank to God for giving you another day to breathe and to live. From Harvard Health Publishing, in positive psychology research, gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity and build strong relationships. There are so many things to be grateful for. It all starts with appreciating every good thing in life and there is nothing too small for you to be thankful for. 3.

Have a great spiritual state.

Improve yourself daily.

Always inspire yourself to be a good person every day. Wake up early can improves our productivity and quality of life. In fact, leaders like Richard Branson, Tim Cook and Michelle Obama rave about early wake ups. Positive affirmation can help you to create a belief in your mind that you are positive persons and you can achieve anything in your life. Read a little bit every day. The more you read, the more you expose yourself to knowledge. Experts said, stress can be reducing by 20 minutes of reading daily. Improve your skills in everything that you are doing. Growing up will make you feel better and motivate you to do greater.

Love yourself.

Love yourself means to accept yourself as you are and love yourself as much as you could like no one does. It also means, you have selfrespect, a positive self-image and unconditional self-acceptance. You need to create a loving relationship with yourself in order to achieve a great life. What you need to do is, recognize your needs. We used to prioritize the needs of others like family, friends, partners and colleague instead of our own needs. Through a self-love, you will find what your needs and make it a priority in your life. What is the most important thing is, does everything that is feel right for you. You do not need to wait for approval from others. By loving yourself, you will know what is and is not good for you. Next, you will develop into the person you strive to be. Then you will feel the freedom of being true to 47

I don’t dive. I’m actually terrified of the ocean. But the ocean is one of my favorite places to be. The sea has always been a source of power and legendary stories. Sailors spoke of the Kraken, historians wondered about the city of Atlantis, and science is still just beginning to understand just how big of a role the oceans play in our day-to-day lives. They’re a symbol of strength and can be terribly destructive, something we’re reminded of every time there’s a hurricane or tsunami. But there’s more to it.

I DON’T DIVE by Adam Molina

I ’m a c tu al l y terri fi e d of th e o ce an . B u t th e o ce an i s on e of m y fa vori te p l a ces to b e.

As any great guru says, it’s also the source of tranquility. It’s a symbol of peace and life. It isn’t just a destructive and all powerful God. Like so many things, it’s both. While one sailor is experiencing rough seas in Australia, another is enjoying the breeze in the Caribbean fishing off the side of a boat with a beer in hand. In modern everyday life, it’s hard to keep both perspectives 48

watches so many decades after they were first introduced. Dive watches are the ocean. Like us, they were made for the water. While it might seem ridiculous to put so much meaning into a piece of jewelry, it’s also something that we can’t help but do. Telling stories and assigning meaning to “things” is what we’re good at and nothing inspires awe like the ocean. It’s nice to get a little piece of that sensation every time I check the time or turn the bezel. I do plan to take some diving classes and do some exploring on my own. But until then my well-worn scuffed up watch will bide its time, living on my wrist and helping me enjoy the mundane. Every time I time my laundry or make a cup of coffee, I get a gentle reminder that there’s still so much to see and do.

in your mind. You’re either experiencing rough seas or you’re not. But that’s not entirely true. Just like the ocean, there’s truth in both perspectives. Being reminded of this every once in a while is a good thing and helps you stay grounded. Fear and tranquility are the same, life and death are one, and the ocean is both destructive and caring. Besides, a little mystery goes a long way when you’re sitting at a desk typing into a spreadsheet. There isn’t much exploring left to do in the physical world, but oceans offer the imagination an out. The cosmos might be the next great frontier, but the ocean is our own unknown. So how is this about a watch when it sounds more like a bad ode to the ocean? Because the dive watch symbolizes all of this. There’s a reason why people are still obsessed with dive 49

P O L LO GU I S A D O DE ALICE b y J e n i f e r Ta m a y o

Is there a dish that brings you back to a special memory? This is that dish for me. When I eat it, I can see my grandma in her apron, I can see her using the same wooden mortar and pestle that her brother made for her, I can smell the garlic as she starts to make the sofrito, and I can hear the sizzle of the chicken browning from her perfectly patinaed cast iron dutch oven. Most importantly, I can still taste the love that my grandma put into her dishes. The love that made me truly appreciate everything about cookingâ&#x20AC;ŚI hope you enjoy.

M E THO D

I NG R EDI ENTS Pollo Guisado • 1/2 Cup Sofrito • 1 Packet of Sazón • 4 Whole Chicken Legs • 4 Cups Chicken Stock • 1/4 Cup of Olives with Pimento • 2 Tbs of Capers • 6 Small Peeled Potatoes • Olive Oil Sofrito • 1/2 a Green Bellpepper • 1/2 a Yellow Onion • 1 Handful of Cilantro • 6-8 Cloves of Garlic

1. Prepare your sofrito, if you have a food processor, just add all the sofrito ingredients in and blitz. I use a pestle and mortar. If you use the latter, give the sofrito a head start and chop the onion, bellpepper and cilantro to a small dice. Place your garlic into the mortarthe garlic with a pinch of salt. Mash to a paste then add the other ingredients in doses till you have one homogenous mixture. 2. Take a medium sized pot and place on medium-high heat with 2 tablespoons of olive oil. 3. Once the oil starts to shimmer place your chicken legs skin side down and fry until golden brown. 4. Remove the chiken and add in the Sofrito, Sazon, Olives and Capers. Saute for a couple of minutes to blend the flavors. 5. Place the chicken back in the pot and cover with chicken stock. Add water if needed. Bring everything to a simmer and simmer for about 30 minutes or until a meat thermometer reads 165F 6. Remove the chicken once more then add in your peeled potatoes, cook until soft. 7. Add the chicken back in to heat through, then serve.

A DA MO WHERE? 29-25 Tindalo St, Dumaguete, Philippines C O N TA C T +63 916 552 1626 SOCIAL @adamo_dumaguete

Curiosity Cured the Duck

Despite ducks being a common sight in the Philippines, they’re rare to find on the menu. “I think it’s the gamey flavor [of duck] that turns Filipinos’ palates off,” Edison said. “It’s just so gamey for them.” According to him, he’s never seen a restaurant in Dumaguete regularly serve duck. He said a one-month-old duck would sell from Php150 to Php200, depending on where you are, where the duck was raised, how far the duck travelled. Because ingredients in the city can get outrageous with pricing, he sources them outside of the city. In a small farm in Siaton, he also directly involves himself in the production of the grains, the meat, the eggs, and the vegetables that stock Adamo’s pantry. Upon adopting the farm, Edison also adopts its challenges. His breeders, for example, have a hard time getting rid of their quails. The tiny birds come to a certain age when they stop laying eggs, losing their main economic value. To help solve the quandary, Edison is finding ways to include quail into Adamo’s menu.

b y C h r i s t i a n R e n z To r r e s Sometimes on the weekend, game hunters come to the restaurant Adamo with a sling full of ducks hanging by their feet. They come in with the intention for the owner and chef Edison Manuel to prepare the game for a special occasion in a week’s time, usually a dinner with friends. Wild ducks, Edison said, are less sinewy from their active lifestyle compared to ducks that live domesticated lives, so they’re more ideal to cure. After dressing a bird, Edison rubs the body with a hefty concoction of herbs and spices: salt, parsley, garlic, pepper, anything he can get fresh and in handfuls. Game meat can smell quite pungent, he said, so the balm he applies sucks the stink out of the meat. He hangs the bird by the neck as it cures in the chiller for about a week. The result is a richer, more concentrated flavor. “When you age it, it becomes sweet,” he said. Curing meat proves tough in the Philippines, with cultivating consistent temperature a challenge where hot humid days and typhoons strike days between them.

The tiny bird proves to be a challenge. Despite being smaller than two cupped hands, quail takes a long time to cook. When overcooked, the muscular bird becomes hard to chew. It has a delicate flavor—too much spice and aromatics can overpower the meat; not enough can spoil the whole dish bland. Edison has tried roasting quail whole and picked it apart for canapes, but 55

no dish balances the satisfaction of art meeting efficient commerce yet, so the experimentation continues for the chef and the quail. Along with discovering ways of making unorthodox ingredients like duck and quail more familiar to a Filipino audience, Adamo also finds ways to elevate ordinary ingredients into the menu. There’s a play on chicken halanghalang: a spicy stew with a coconut broth, seared cabbage, and local free-range chicken. In Dumaguete, the typical flight path of chicken from farm to table is chicken tinola, chicken inasal, or chicken inato. But Edison, along with some establishments in Dumaguete, they divert from the expected, delivering dishes like hot and spicy pinaupong manok at Zaq’s and roasted native chicken in Lab-as. “That’s why we’ve been having a hard time with new poultry dishes in Dumaguete kay the population grew up with chicken inasal,” he said. But instead of being discouraged by the limited selection, Edison sees it as a basis to build something new. “Applying the techniques that you’ve worked with for how many years putting it into something common, like the native chicken sa market,…putting it out there like it’s something new to Filipinos.” He said he’s inspired by the revelation of Filipino food in the United States happening at the present. According to him, people of different backgrounds and cultures in the States are interested to try Filipino food because of the Filipinos and Filipino-Americans who bring our cuisine to their cities, informed by the traditions we have, the techniques they’ve acquired, and the ingredients they have. “As a young cook, you’d always be interested in foreign cuisines ‘cause you haven’t been [cooking those cuisines] for the most of your life. That’s human nature: you’re interested in something you don’t have.” For the last seven to eight years as a chef, he always returns to the flavors he grew up with. “It’s actually sharing something that you’ve been working on for how many years na with the foreign cuisines and making something out of Filipino dishes for them to stand out. It’s not how expensive your ingredients are. The luxury of a dish is hidden behind the hands that make them.”

2 1 ST CENTU RY R ITUA LS

We have always been told that the smallest details make the biggest difference over time. Those that are trusted with little matters will eventually be trusted with more significant affairs, whether in the personal or professional aspects of life. Knowing that small steps here and there add up over time, I firmly believe that the installation of small rituals in oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s life can provide not only a tangible benefit, but intangible calmness and centering.

by Conner Mackowi ak @5 0M a c ko

Years ago I attended a private high school that required, among other grooming standards, that all male students would be clean shaven at all times. This was around the time that beards were rising in popularity, and I wanted to have a little bit of scruff for when the weekends came around. Over time I learned that my facial hair would grow at such a rate that if I shaved on Sunday evenings, by Friday night I would jjjuuusssttt be able to skate by my schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s appearance standards, while still having enough scruff to feel good about how I looked. And so, every Sunday night I would shave. I did 58

“Italian Cooking,” playlist for an old-school barbershop feel. Every time I shave, I’ll do three full passes, starting on the right side of my face, relaterhing, starting on the left side, re-lathering, then starting from the bottom of my neck. As I begin starting on the right side of my face, mentally I tell myself to, “do the right thing,” in the coming week. Whether in my personal life, professional life, or even making a decision like whether or not to exercise, I try to remember to just do what I know I should. As I start on the left side, mentally I’ll tell myself to “do something different,” in the coming week. Maybe it’s writing something new for work, or finally starting a blog, I aim to try something new that will lead to a better future. Lastly, once I start my neck, I focus on “paying attention to details.” Oftentimes I struggle with small, attentionto-detail mistakes, as many do. This subtle reminder pushes me to double check any work I do throughout the week. After splashing off my face with some cold water, it’s time to throw on some aftershave. During the warmer months I’m a big fan of Duke Cannon’s Cooling After Shave Balm. In the colder months I’ll opt for a bourbon-scented Winter Reserve aftershave made by my preferred Louisville barbershop, Derby City Chop Shop. Small rituals - a morning cup of coffee, an audiobook on the drive to work, an evening workout, etc. - are the things that center us throughout our busy lives, and anchor us to what really matters. By paying attention to the smallest details we give seemingly meaningless tasks a renewed sense of importance. Through personal rituals, we remind ourselves of our own purpose.

it so much that, eventually, it became a habit that I would continue through college. Post-grad, it became something that I would center my Sunday’s around, making it the last task of the day to act as a time of reflection and mental preparation for the week ahead. In my mind, it gave me a “fresh-faced” start to the workweek. My shaving routine isn’t anything out of the ordinary, but the reflection I do while shaving is what separates this as sacred time. During a Sunday night shower, I’ll wash my face with Duke Cannon Working Man’s Face Wash - this not only cleans my skin, but also softens up my whiskers when combined with the warm water and steam. I’ll then grab a fresh Derby razor blade and insert it into my Baxter of California safety razor. Currently, I’m a fan of the badger hair brush and Almond Shave Soap by Col. Ichabod Conk. While lathering up, I’ll either put on some soft music on Spotify or a podcast. I recommend Spotify’s 59

HANDS-ON LO R I E R NEPTUNE by Francisco Flores

I n 201 9, th e re is no s ho r ta ge of m icro b ra nd s of fe ring th e ir own re nditio n of a dive wa tch . I s th is b ud get dive r fro m Lo rie r wo r th y of yo ur $ 4 00 dol l a rs? Let ’s find o ut…

THE BRAND

THE DIAL & HANDS

Lorier is a New York-based microbrand created by husband and wife duo Lorenzo and Lauren Ortega. Their aim was to create affordable, vintage-inspired timepieces refined enough to be worn to a formal dinner and durable enough to be worn on your most rigorous adventures. This review will focus on the second iteration of the Neptune which features a larger dial, thicker lume application, and a more pronounced plexiglass crystal.

The dial of the Neptune is black and features thickly applied Superluminova indices. The numerals are represented by large dots, except for the 12, three, six, and nine positions which are triangles. The Lorier logo at the 12 o’clock position, depth rating at the 6 o’clock position, and minute track are cleanly printed in a gilt tone. These characteristics combine to form a legible and well-balanced dial. The hands are another highlight for me. They pay homage to vintage Omega Seamaster references as seen by the arrowhead hour hand. Lume-filled and brushed, the handset keeps with the vintage theme of the watch. I really enjoy the way the brushing on the hands plays with the light. This makes them easily distinguishable against the black dial.

THE SPECS Case: 316L stainless steel Crystal: Superdome plexiglass Case Diameter: 39mm Case Thickness: 12mm (15.3mm including crystal) Lug-to-lug: 48mm Bracelet Width: 20mm tapering to 16mm at the clasp Lume: Swiss Superluminova BGW9 Movement: Seiko NH35A Water Resistance: 200m ~ 660ft Price: $399

C R Y S TA L & C A S E For

someone with modestly sized wrists like myself (6.25”), case dimensions are very important when buying a watch. They can make an otherwise perfectly designed watch a no-go in my book. The Neptune features a simple, yet elegant case shape that measures 39mm in diameter and

and water bath to loosen it up. This seemed to help, however, I still found the bezel to require a decent amount of force to turn. On the flip side, there is zero play once the bezel is set to the desired position.

48mm lug-to-lug. These dimensions may be perfect for those with smaller wrists, however, the overall thickness of 15.3mm may be a bit too thick for some. I found the thickness to take some getting used to, but I appreciate that Lorier stuck to their vintage-inspired vision and used superdomed plexiglass.

MOVEMENT & CROWN

The plexiglass on the Neptune offers a unique look that not even a domed sapphire crystal could achieve. Although prone to scratches, plexiglass is more impact resistant and looks great above all else. It really is something you have to see in person to truly admire. The superdome distorts the dial beautifully and adds to the nautical feel of the diver, reminding me of a droplet of water. Neptune features an almost entirely brushed case, with the exception of a polished chamfer separating the top of the case from the sides. I really enjoy the visual interest and contrast this chamfer provides, especially when it catches reflections from the light. The brushing is uniform, and I found no visible imperfections.

The Neptune features the Seiko NH35A movement which is widely used by many microbrands. This automatic hand-winding and hacking Seiko movement is a workhorse and will be easily serviceable in the future. I did not closely monitor the movement’s accuracy, but it is rated between -20 ~ +60 seconds per day. In real day to day usage, I found the movement to perform much better. The crown is one of my favorite features of the Neptune. It is an oversized crown with no crown guards that pays homage to vintage Rolex Submariner “big crown” references. After some time with the watch, I must say it is one of the easiest and most pleasurable crowns I’ve ever operated. Unscrewing and pulling out the crown is a breeze

The thin unidirectional bezel and aluminum insert also add to the vintage charm of the Neptune. It features a coin edge which looks great and offers a decent amount of grip. Upon first receiving the Neptune I found the bezel extremely difficult to turn. After contacting Lorier directly, they advised the use of a soap

which makes setting the time quick and easy. I really enjoy how smoothly the crown winds and screws into the case.

B R ACEL E T

CO NCLUS IO N

The Neptune comes fitted with a flat-link style bracelet that tapers from 20mm to 16mm. It feels very sturdy and high quality for a watch with the use of solid end links and screw pins. The screw links made sizing the bracelet extremely easy, using the provided sizing tool. The engraved clasp utilizes a simple double push-button system and has two microadjustment holes. I appreciate the uniform brushing and seamless transition from the case to the bracelet. Oftentimes, budget watches tend to use different

I think Lorier hit a home run with their second generation Neptune. At just under $400 it feels like a bargain for the amount of watch you’re receiving. The Neptune offers a great balance of vintage aesthetic and modern specifications.

A FE W G R I P ES

Although Lorier produced an excellent bracelet for the Neptune, I wish there were more microadjustment holes. I found it difficult to find the perfect fit on my wrist, especially on warmer days when my wrist had expanded. brushing on the case and bracelet, so I was impressed with the uniform finishing of the Neptune.

With the rising prices of the Seiko SKX line due to its discontinuation, the Lorier Neptune may be worth a look if you’re in the market for a unique, modestly-sized dive watch. At this price point, I think you’d be hard-pressed to find another watch with this much character and value.

Although there is a lot to like about the Neptune, no watch is perfect. I may be nitpicking, but I did have a few gripes. Coming from wearing slimmer watches, the Neptune definitely felt thick and a bit heavy on my wrist. I found myself constantly worrying about hitting it against a table or doorframe. However, I got used to the added heft fairly quickly. The acrylic crystal, although fun to look at, scratches very easily. As someone who tries to keep my belongings in pristine condition, learning to live with plexiglass was a challenge. I was constantly worrying about scratches until I discovered a little product called Polywatch. This was a total lifesaver and once I realized how easy it was to polish out scratches, I found myself worrying less and less. I now quite enjoy the process of polishing the plexiglass, not unlike waxing my car or shining my favorite pair of boots.

A N I C E W ATC H TELLS THE SAME T I M E . . . B U T N OT T H E S A M E S TO RY by Perte J. Growing up, I loved watches. From an early age I recognized the practicality of wearing a watch. You can tell time AND the date?! Neat! I knew that having the power of knowing exactly what time it was had to be mine. So, for my 10th birthday, my parents decided to buy me a digital Casio AMW700B-1AV. It was a watch specifically designed to calculate the best times to fish. Not that I go fishing often or at all, but keep in mind I’m a child and was amazed a watch could even do that. I’m sure most people have had a similar beginning to mine. You might’ve even had the same watch!

Without hesitation I frantically slammed my envelope of cash onto the table shouting, “I want that one!”. Everyone turned to look at my excited face, but I didn’t care. I finally did it. I got the watch. As I’m leaving the store, a wave of emotion hits me. I’m looking down at my wrist thinking: “Who am I to have this?” Again, I reminisce about the simple, Casio days. Sure, it wasn’t the peak of craftsmanship. I’m pretty sure most watch snobs would scoff at the idea of calling my Casio “technologically innovative”. However, I come from a simple upbringing. That watched fit who I was. Who have I become to own something like an automatic, Swiss watch from a well-recognized brand? Who knew a watch purchase could lead to imposter syndrome.

As I continued to grow older and information becoming readily available with the Internet, I found my lust for understanding watches grew. I learned of the great Swiss houses of watch craftsmanship and the fundamental pieces that helped change the world. I read the stories of the amazing men and women who went off to do equally amazing things with their amazing watches. It was safe to say I was hooked even more with that abyss getting deeper and deeper.

During this time, my brother invited me to go to the local pool with him. My brother, very much like me, is a self-realized collector who got me into the hobby. We are each other’s support system when we make poor financial decisions buying watches. As we walk into the pool area, I put my watch in the glove compartment of the car. My brother looked at me perplexed asking “why aren’t you talking the Oris with you?”. I told him I didn’t want to scratch it or break it accidentally because “I don’t feel like I deserve it.” He looked at me smiling with his arms crossed revealing his blue Omega Seamaster from under his shirt sleeve saying:

Not too long after, I found myself in a career that allowed me the privilege of owning some of these pieces. Granted, not Rolex Submariner prices, but something that most people would deem expensive given that it’s “just a watch”. I took the day off work, drove into the city with my brother, and found myself looking through a glass case. Then, I saw the piece I wanted. After years of holding off and months of research, there it sat. An Oris Divers Sixty-Five with the blue dial and rubber strap, staring back at me.

“I thought you bought it for a reason” 66

remember the story of how you got it and what it took to get there. It’s engrained in that object and it’s the fiber that holds it together. It wasn’t until I deeply reflected that I realized my brother was right. I bought the watch for a reason. It was to celebrate a time in my life. It was meant to be my companion in life much like Buzz Aldrin and his Omega Speedmaster or Elizabeth Taylor and her Piaget. No, I wouldn’t become a worldrenowned actress or explorer of space, but whatever I was going to be, my Oris was going to be there for me.

A diver has a job to do. To explore the deep sea where no man or woman go unprepared. That is the mission and calling for these professionals. The dive watch was created out of a need. To allow these divers to do their job. Get them below the depth and get them back home. That’s it. Yet, there I was, babying this watch. Acting as if this watch will somehow, by a miracle, outlive me without any scratches or dents. In an age where minimalism is a spiritual pilgrimage and Marie Kondo’s “Sparking Joy” is getting a Netflix series, we have learned to cut out those indulgences. It feels weird owning things that are “too nice”. Especially if you weren’t born into riches. Things that others consider overpriced and not worth the money. I remember buying that Oris and being over the moon until my mother said, “why would someone pay that much money for a watch?”

Life will give us all scars of various degrees. Our tools should be evidence of the fact we made it even further. We kept pushing on. The scratches on the case or the scuff of the bezel isn’t damage. Rather, it’s a relic of where we’ve been. It’s a reminder of where we have yet to go. So, in closing, please please PLEASE: “Wear it. Live it. Use it. Enjoy it.”

Why? Because in a weird way it tied me to something. That timepiece held the sentimental value of a moment in a uniquely exorbitant way. Was it too much for making a simple statement? Of course, but we all share an instance of having a similar connection to something. You 67

W H Y I S T I L L W E N T TO V E N I C E W HEN IT B ECA ME A COVID-19 H OT S P OT By: Ryan Elizabeth Conkin getting shut down with us in it. And decided that despite the risks, Venice needed our help. The main driver of the city’s economy is tourism and they make the majority of their income for the year during carnival. With the last three days of the festival canceled, we felt an obligation to go and put as much of our money into the local economy as we could.

This year is my last year of law school and that means my last spring break ever. My girlfriend and I decided we wanted to make a big trip out of it; one last hurrah before I start my professional career. In October of 2019, we booked a trip to Italy. At the end of February 2020, we would spend a week in Bologna, Italy’s food capital, take a day trip to Venice to see carnival, and ride a Vespa over to Modena to see the best restaurant in the world.

We bought sanitary masks and took bottles of hand sanitizer. We were fully prepared to flee from crowds of tourists and stay isolated by ourselves. I will be the first to admit that I was a little afraid to get on that train. I’m immunecompromised; I’m part of the most at-risk population. But I will also be the first to admit that after we go off the train, every worry I had disappeared. Venice was quite, yes, far from the parades of lights and costumes we were expecting when we booked the trip. Even so, it was peaceful. We were often the only people walking through passageways. We wandered through deserted Piazzas and passed shuttered museums. The busiest place we encountered was a local sandwich shop, where local workers stood around drinking wine and eating sandwiches of soppressata and mortadella. The fog over the city that day matched the mood perfectly. People were spooked, but still carrying on.

Reading this now, you might know that at the end of February 2020, Italy became the epicenter of the COVID-19 outbreak in Europe. When we left the states, Italy had 3 cases of the virus and they were nowhere near where we were going. We landed in Italy on February 22nd without a care in the world. By February 23rd, Italy had nearly 200 cases all centered in the north, very close to where we were. They began locking down towns and the atmosphere around us began to change. On February 23rd it was also announced that, after two cases had been discovered in the city, Venice’s world-famous carnival festival was being canceled. My girlfriend and I were devastated, for a few reasons. We had been looking forward to seeing the festival. We were scheduled to take the train over on February 25th to see the last day of the parades and festivities. However, I was devastated for another reason. I was going to use this day trip to propose to my girlfriend somewhere in the maze of canals and bridges.

The day was incredible and I will forever be grateful that we got on that train. We wandered the streets and got super lost, something I’m told is a right of passage in Venice. We tried our best to stay away from tourist shops and restaurants; opting instead to walk a little farther to the local shops where our dollars could make a difference. We spoke in broken Italian and had fun trying to communicate with locals who spoke little English. We found local artisans and bought art and more masks, but handmade and full of color this time; more typical of what you would see around

After the festival was canceled, we debated whether we should still go. Whether to cancel our train tickets, to forgo seeing the city of water, and possibly never see Venice before it is forever altered by climate change. We did the calculus. We talked to everyone we could to get advice. Discussed the odds of the city 68

Venice during another year. I proposed to my girlfriend on a beautiful bridge over a canal right as the sun started to burn through the fog. She said yes.

MINIMALISM IN CHILDHOOD by Mailo Kirmes as I mentioned earlier, my style of clothing has changed, the brands that I’m interested in has as well. For example, I’m much more interested in high quality brands – which of course is not good for my bank – like Bellroy, which mainly produces wallets and Bags. I generally think the brands we buy define us in some way and so it is with minimalism and minimalist brands. Being a minimalist for me comes with a lot of benefits both subjective and objective ones. For example, I now spend much less money on things I don’t need which helps me to invest in less things that are higher quality just like my Microsoft Surface Go which I use daily. An Additional noticeable advantage is that I’m much more focused because there are less things on my desk that can distract me. That’s especially important for me because I have ADHD which is often the cause for me not doing what I must do like my homework. Another benefit is that I’m much better at making decisions: I don’t have to worry about what I am going to wear this day because my shirts look all the same. If I want to buy something I think if I really need this or if it will be thrown away anyways.

When I was a child my mother, which is a really organized person, always said, “when you grow older, you’ll be like me.” And here I am. Hey, I’m Mailo, 16 years old from Germany, and I’m a minimalist. I think I began becoming a minimalist four years ago when I started to declutter. I remember one day when I woke up and then just cleaning up my room, which was a miracle for my parents, because I was the messiest child on this planet up to this day. I ended up bringing five trash bags out of my room. And since then my room was always the cleanest in the house. Then two years later I began to minimalize everything else in my life: I’ve thrown away most of my toys, I took less pens to school and I also started redesigning my room so that every piece of furniture was white. Last year I gave most of my clothing to my brother and since then I just own two pairs of jeans, 10 dark gray T-Shirts, some sweaters and one pair of sneakers. Four months ago, I decided to go minimal in school as well, so I sold my Laptop and invested in a Surface Go which I now use to take notes in class and I hope that I can digitalize all my school books with the beginning of the next year.

As I digitalized my life more and more my phone became a bigger part of my life as well and so did digital minimalism. I am an android guy in every possible way. I use an android device for the wide range of customizability that you have for whole system and especially my homescreen, which looks super minimal and follows the surface of my desk: just what I need. That theme also stretches over the process of deciding which app I use. When an app is not designed in a modern material looking way its likely to get deleted off my phone quickly. But of course, a minimal looking surface is not digital minimalism. I only use 30% of my available storage because most of my photos, files and data is stored in a cloud. Furthermore, I only have about 60 apps installed which compared

With becoming a minimalist, a lot has changed in my life. The first thing was the reaction from my friends and family: Obviously my parents were very happy, that I finally started cleaning up behind myself. Most of my friends were, and are still to this day, very interested in my new way of life because most of them never really heard of minimalism as a way to design your own life. But they saw my new lifestyle somewhat critical, because they just weren’t used to it. The next big thing that changed was my way to see the world. Because I decluttered, I was much freer in my mind, so I looked at things more openly and I became more tolerant to other people and how they live. And Because, 70

to some of my friends is an astonishingly little number. All the things I mentioned help me as a teenager to find my place in this world, because I for myself know what and where I am with minimalism as guidance in my life. And I hope I was able to help you as well.

HUNGER FOR PERSPECTIVE by Kenny Camey

This is where I truly got to see the differences in people’s thoughts on life and the world itself. From those I worked with on the left and right of me to those around us who called this place home. Beginning to see how individuals would do anything for their freedom, the power to speak their mind, and to feed their appetite towards knowledge. It allowed me to experience the sadness and struggle of those who have fought their whole lives in order to simply express themselves in whichever manner they please! I’ve gotten to sit, work with, and listen to fellow marines who come from Brady bunch families. To those who lived on the streets after foster care. During my journey and search of perspective I’ve came to find one thought that has stuck with me. perspective in life cannot be ran into, it must be searched for with passion. We are all searching for a reason in this world and with that comes the perspective and path we choose to take in order to find it. So take the time to listen to those around you, see the world as a blank canvas for a new perspective everyday, and above all respect each other and those around you. You may never know, the perspective you are looking for might be right in front of you.

During my time in school, I was well known for expressing my mind and for being uninhibited; I took my description with pride. I was fully aware no thing or individual would persuade my thoughts, opinions, or character. I chose to always see things from a bigger picture than what was presented in front of me so that my thoughts and perspectives would be established on their own. As time in school went on it became more and more strenuous for me to find individuals with the same mindset of staying sincere to who they are no matter what those around them thought or said. I became vex with the fact that the majority isn’t this way. After going through certain events in school, my curiosity began to wonder why I have such a simplistic way of seeing the world. Why is the thought that there possibly could be nothing after death or that the world is different to every person who lives on it? Thoughts like these always fascinated me and drove my passion for understanding people’s perspectives and aspirations about life! As I grew older, my hunger for other perspectives didn’t end. I began to think of ways that I could gain the perspectives I had such a big appetite for, so I decided to join the military. A little over a year later, at the age of 20, I was on a plane to the Middle East.

and people can disagree on what their most important values are. However, if one’s firm value has them act in a certain way that is ethically wrong, others have a moral obligation to point out the negativity and the inappropriateness. “Others” in this situation are internal employees. If the values found in the organization’s mission statement are contradictory to what I believe to be my values, then before signing the contract for employment, I will question if this is the right place and the right job. Even if money is a factor that cannot be ignored, working 50 hours a week will not be enough to sacrifice my values.

VA LU E S A N D ETHICS by Ji Hyung Kim With so many things happening in the world every day, sometimes it is easy for us to forget, if not, neglect, the values that we truly stand upon. But if we dedicate a moment of self-reflection to determine what forces affect behaviors, feelings, and actions, we can realize types of values that shape the core foundations of our ethics and morality. Values play a vital role in one’s selfsustainment and self-consciousness and can be triggered in various situations and environments. One of the places where values are often tested is in the work environment. In this quick reflection, I will provide an answer to what I might do in a work environment if my values are tested. I will ask hypothetical questions to determine how I will go about in preparing for the worst situation, and what kind of determination I need when signing a contract for employment with a company. Will I be concerned about my ability to raise my voice in those situations? Will I be able to affront the company in those situations? These are the questions that will be answered throughout the essay.

This leads to the following question, how will I go about managing a situation where I have to confront the company’s values? This is a situation that no one will want to face. Facing this situation may even be considered a crisis, as it will disrupt the “normal”. I will first assess the level in which I can tolerate the differences in values. If it is something that I don’t agree with but isn’t considered wrong by any ethical standards, then I will let it go. For example, if a manager tells me to come in on a Saturday to work on an account deal that is closing real soon, I will understand and give up some family time (one of my values) to meet the company’s needs. However, if what is being asked is testing my values and going against my work ethic and what I believe to be moral standards of society, then I will not assent. I will confront them in the following manner.

The first thing I will do before working for an organization is to know the values that they stand upon. This may be found in their value propositions or their mission statements and will form the overarching structure that employees will need to adhere to when working for an organization. But organizations are run by people, and people too, have different personal values. This is a good place to realize what values I have, and to which extent I can let other’s values have an impact on my productivity. For example, a manager that has a completely different value on work ethic may try to micromanage and force employees to stay behind, even when their work hours are completed. This may contradict the values of the organization, which may be team culture and work-life balance. Values are subjective,

I will state why I decline and for what reasons I cannot assent. I will provide a rational argument as to why what is being asked of me is ethically wrong, and something that the company shouldn’t tolerate. The emphasis will be placed on the company, not on my individual beliefs. To act this way, I will need to know the company’s value proposition inside out. I will also need to know the senior leaders’ values and what beliefs they stand firmly on in the work environment. For example, if a manager tells me to meet one of the clients on the weekend to treat them for an expensive dinner with a “personalized” gift to win their heart, I will confront the manager that this is ethically wrong as it would be considered as bribery and get the company in a legal dispute. If I must, I will notify the senior leaders about the problem and the level in which the 76

manager is disrupting the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s integrity and reputation. If in this case, the senior leaders donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t pay attention to what I bring up to be an urgent matter, I may rethink my position in the company and start refining my resume for a career transition. A situation like the above may be a little extreme. Hopefully, it wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t happen in real life. However, there are a lot of things that we cannot account for in life, and our ethics and values are tested almost every day in varying degrees. Like how all crisis communication should be, I will prepare for the worst kinds of scenarios to become resilient and morally strong in times of conflict and dilemma.

& counselors about my mental health, then improve academics. Progress takes time, this is my marathon. Relax. Breathe. Go. ...

Fe el by Nathan Ho

Time has passed since I reflect on the thoughts above, and progress was made. But then again I feel nothing has changed, as if change is an allusive figure I want to embody and that is as far as it goes. Be it with my mental or physical health or the goals I have with school and career, I cannot find my drive nor passion to chase. This is a constant fight of my own definition of progress, isn’t little progress is still progress? I even recalled running and progress needs time. I am aware of these thoughts, but I still revert to why change is so hard. Why can’t I be a better student? It is this lingering feeling of stagnation, once more.

2019: a new beginning and a new setting. Opportunities to meet new people, rekindle my joy for learning and progression, be more social, and, really, to improve me. A year has gone by, but what did I accomplish? I met people but did not develop strong relationships, joined clubs but no community. I enjoyed my rigorous classes, but performance was sub par. Time flew fast, every week mattered. Time management and study methods needed revision. But a complete turn over in a year is tremendous to fulfill.

Why is change so hard? Why can’t I do better? There is so much angist and bombartment, it What is wrong with me? That was my chance to is me living in the past and fearing the future become a confident and competent student. Yet with my own expectations. And expectations I am the same person, same old mistakes. do not equal goals. It was last quarter I finally took the leap to seek counseling and really put What to do when feeling lost or stagnant? action to what I needed so badly--vocalize my Maybe feeling lost and stagnant is a sign that thoughts and get the support I needed for so you’ve changed more than you thought and now long. Saving face, suppressing me, running. you need to find out who that person is again. I never realized how much pain and last of feeling could be damaging to all aspects of life. Shoes on, earbuds in, keys held tight. 1,2,3, Speaking with Jacob and being in a safe space, beginning workout. Deep breathes in and out I learned to be vulnerable and cry. A simple the nose. Thumb, thumb as my foot strikes the idea--feel, feel it. What is this telling me? What ground one after the other. Eyes focus on the is anger? What is sadness? What is happiness? horizon. Time 17`20``, mile 2, pace 8`51``. My legs Where do these emotions reside on my body? radiate the impact, lungs fully extended, sweat Of course, how could I have done well in class drip across my face. I keep going in silence or make meaningful connections when I wasn’t with heavy breathing and music to keep me authentic to myself. Sitting down and reflecting company. Workout complete. upon this blurb with everything going on is hard, really hard. But the act of writing and letting Running takes me outside, puts me in motions, my thoughts flow is my practice. This gives inflicts pain. I am battling myself, pushing one me a different perspective to tell Nathan that feet after the other--simple idea, but another time is needed for this healing process. And story in practice. I keep going, why? To reach with everything else I have striving to improve some endpoint, to prove a point, to remember. in. Academics, health, thinking. Maybe another After each run my legs strengthen, my lungs year is needed, ok what can I do to get the more more elastic, my pace decreases a hundredth out of that time. Stop looking at the past, live in of a second. This Nathan is pushing himself the present, admire the small details, and soon to become physically and mentally stronger. enough you will see change. I have potential to improve not just in running but academics. I didn’t need to push to become this perfect student, rather I need to take baby steps. Find my joy--running, reach out to friends 79

I BREAK SPINES AND OT H E R J OY S O F R E A D I N G by Pana yiotis Karageorgopoul os

through his life and work, while highlighting the less obvious stories and routes. It focuses on his early working life playing coffee houses barely mentioning his seminal albums of the 60s and 70s, instead he chooses to talk about what inspired him, what he was reading, and what it was like to visit Woody Guthrie. Dylan does talks about the albums ‘New Mornings’ and ‘Oh, Mercy’, but he manages it without an arrogant air, but with excitement and in detail – especially with his work in with Daniel Lanois on ‘Oh, Mercy’. Chronicles, is not the most challenging of works to read but it is rewarding, and gifts the reader with music recommendations and an insight into one of the most recognisable men in music.

In our often hectic lives we scarcely find time to read, we are constantly inundated with notifications, updates, and worst of all, a barrage of breaking news. Quite literally these days: news which is breaking us all. In this uncertain time however, there is great pleasure to be found by reconnecting with what is essential in our lives. Obviously, there are many ways in which we can do this, by spending time with our loved ones (even through facetime), by gardening and reorganising our homes, or by looking after ourselves with daily home workouts. However, this is also a time where many of us will have the ability to get reading the books we always wanted to. This is where I would like to begin, by recommending some books that I have recently read, and give some tips on what I like to do: to give myself the best chance to read without disruption and to not fall out of the habit of reading that I have worked hard to keep in place.

3. The Flowers of Evil (Le Fleur de Mal) by Charles Baudelaire: This anthology of poems by Baudelaire, does not have to be read cover to cover to get a sense of the beauty in which the French poet writes. Its poems offer a deep sensitivity to human nature and skilfully wind themselves through themes ranging from love to death. There is a reason why Baudelaire’s legacy lives on and you can truly loose yourself amongst his work discovering your own connections and thoughts on the page. ‘Meditation’ though only a short poem is one which attempts to find clarity and peace, despite the temptations and despair of daily life.

My Recommendations: 1. 21 Lessons for the 21st Century by Yuval Noah Harari: A book which aims to teach us the most valuable lessons that Oxford professor Yuval Noah Harari has for the future of mankind. Written following his books Sapiens: A brief history of Human Kind and Homo Deus: A brief history of tomorrow, 21 Lessons, takes a different route, by summarising his predictions for the world in the next century, making this an indispensable guide for what the future could bring. Ranging in subjects from bioengineering and AI, through to the jobs of the future and meditation, the wide material covered by Harari, equally makes you think about the future, while gently guiding you through his predictions, without ever making you feel hopeless, which in these times is a rarity. 2.

The Environment of Reading: There are many factors which can affect how you read. Some of which may seem obvious however there may also be some that you haven’t tried before, either because you didn’t have the time or because they felt overly complicated or self-indulgent. My first piece of advice to you would be to schedule your time. Especially if you find yourself self-isolated and working from home: try your best to schedule your day. This gives you the best chance at feeling accomplished, not getting bored, achieving all of your work, and sets to dedicate to reading

Chronicles Volume One by Bob Dylan:

I didn’t come to Dylan’s autobiography as a huge Dylan fan, but after reading it, I could understand and appreciate his work a whole lot more. It is easy to see why Dylan won a Nobel Prize for literature as his narrative takes you

Whether it’s an hour in the morning, half an hour here and another half there, or some 82

time before bed that you decide to dedicate to reading, finding the time to read is only half the battle. Next create somewhere comfortable and relaxing to read. Whether this be in the cool breeze of springtime, on a balcony, a cosy reading nook in the corner of an apartment, or simply in bed. There are no specific rules. However, what if where you have found has distraction? Well if you’re anything like me, then hopefully sticking on a pair of headphones can really help. Whether you are listening to a soothing old favourite, or a brand new album that you hope to get lost in (which for me is the new Sufjan Stevens album, Aporia) any music providing it isn’t itself to distracting - is a brilliant tool at your disposal. If you struggle to listen to music while you read though, or you have to look after kids there are still some options – reading in bed early in the morning or late at night is helpful and could give you some time alone (as would reading in the bath!) But if it’s totally unavoidable: try creating a calming environment for you all to read. consider building a pillow fort with them, or just cosy up on sofas, and maybe light some incense or candles. Definitely put your phone down during this time though as you are setting them an example! Ultimately, no matter, what you are reading, or where, just taking the time out of our hectic days to dedicate to reading a book is something I believe we can each do to improve our mental wellbeing, structure our days, and can entertain us without the mindless scrolling of our phones.

REVISITING THE VA LU E O F S O C I A L MEDIA IN A PA N D EM I C WO R L D by IJ Maximo ultimately, social media influences our ability to translate our understanding and insights to our attitudes and behaviour.

The past weeks have been utterly terrible. Global paralysis is like no other. The streets are washed out and the seemingly quiet individuals are overturned by wary groups. In this time of crisis, a number of medical, social, and economic challenges become apparent. Being responsible and conforming to the mandates of the system will hopefully flatten the curve.

The way we live in a community is impacted by social media. A culture of connectedness and dependence has emerged as a result of the basic social conventions that has crossed from the physical world to the digital world. We are blindly boxed up in a comfort zone which prevents us from seeing the effects of this culture.

Social distancing. Frequent hand washing. Community quarantine. These are what we usually see and hear on the news in default. The COVID-19 pandemic has helped train our eyes and ears to filter out relevant information. We see and hear what we want to see and hear.

The underlying issue is that because of the culture we have created, we have become too hesitant to face challenges and too cautious to take risks. In this time of crisis, the real victims are those trapped in a complacent mindset. Persistence is needed to start taking on challenges and making calculated risks.

The first decade of the new millennium saw the emergence and growth of another eraâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; the Digital and Information Age. It brought the global world at our fingertips and expanded our lean connections to boundless networks. Social media was, and still remains, the ultimate tool for commerce and communication.

The impact of social media does not stop there. We are confronted with another question of how to deal with the money received day after day. Being blessed with unlimited cash flow may not be the case for many people, that is why being financially informed can help in managing funds.

This technological tool is unstoppable. We are presented with obvious benefits of convenience and accessibility. Users can easily purchase goods and services, pay bills, monitor investments, and foster better relationships among peers. They can even perform the most exciting task of stalking love interests. Likewise, it can also be utilised to gather as much information about target companies with hopes of impressing the hiring manager.

Quite often, hard-hit low-income families have irrational beliefs and attitudes towards money. Framing information in a way that is engaging enough to access interests can become a means to influence these beliefs and attitudes. Entertainment may serve a purpose of presenting information of real value. With subtle persuasion techniques, social media can use the positive emotions of entertainment to send messages about proper financial management.

The utility of social media imposes its intrinsic value. It certainly affects the environment, society, and economy in so many ways. And 84

In turn, this may help reduce anxiety as a result of uncontrollable circumstances.

For the meantime, to stay healthy and put social media to good use, be responsible. Be mindful of social distancing and frequent hand washing. Hopefully, the community quarantine will control and eradicate the COVID-19 pandemic.

Finally, the intrinsic value of shifting mindsets can be a breeding ground for social media to have a positive impact on the socioeconomic status. It is impossible to have immediate influence over perception and insights. But in the process, transformation from seeking attention and validation from others, to paying more attention to oneself and validating what has been achieved is much desired. Putting matters in thoughtful consideration, users still look forward to the role social media plays in the Digital and Information Age. Its value may get lost in the culture it has created; but relevant skills, perfect timing, and right mindset can leverage this technology.

I WONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T RISK MY LIFE FOR THE SAKE OF S TA R T U P ! by A l Wal i d A s hik

P h o to b y R O O M o n U n s p l a s h

people in the party and guess what I named this party Seminar, workshop.

According to Forbes research, out of 10 there is only 1 startup that survives. Let’s write it in a scary way,

People get entertained listening the upper class lifestyle of one successful entrepreneur and they love it. They think simply they’ll achieve whatever they have in mind. They get motivated by the speaker and so quickly fire their boss (read it, quit their job) and start jumping on the idea they had and hit the marketplace and face the bitter reality that nobody is interested in their startup idea and this is the process raise the startup failure chart high always.

9 startups fail out of every 10. Aren’t you scared? or you are the one who is thinking you’ve a great great idea that nobody has in this planet so yours will not fail in this competitive world! I’m sorry to warn you but when it seems that nobody has the idea you’re having that means nobody ever thinks about it’s a problem and it gets more scary when you’ve to point out to people that they have a problem and you & only you have the solution. Sorry fellas! People don’t buy this way. If nobody currently is thinking that they have a problem in the first place and you have a solution, they won’t trade off their hard working money. So if you’re the only one who is having the solution for anything that means you’re the one thinking it’s as a problem and this leads to worse that you have to sell the problem first and later the solution.

Warren Buffet, the king of Berkshire Hathaway advised it best Take the calculated risk. If you can not measure what you’re betting on your life for the sake of startup then you shouldn’t start a startup. Taking risk that you know is one thing and jumping into a river full of alligator is another. It’s not necessary that you have to take risk now. You can do always anything beside your job. Even if you don’t like your job, do not quit it until you get another or until your startup generates the revenue you can depend on. Risking everything is a very critical thing when you have family.

It would be a long long journey which you’re thinking as success but researcher found, out of 10 only one solution people things they wanna try. Knowing this brutal truth, personally I couldn’t think that I would risk my current income flow(simply salary) to pursue a dream that has only 1-10% possibilities that it will work. It’s not a nightmare. It’s a scariest and brutal truth. After all if things not go as planned then not only I have to suffer, My family will have to suffer with me too and nobody wants that. In this full world of motivational speaker you can not make you stop taking the risk. All those speakers say whatever comes in their mind. They are now entertainer in parties. We become fantasized listening the speech from so called motivational speaker. Don’t be tricked by listening those speakers. They are good at public speaking. They will make you believe that you can fly but reality is harder than flying.

Yeah. You shouldn’t try startup by quitting your job. You can try your startup beside your full time job. Work 9–5 in your office and come home. Forget the party and start working 2–3 hours on your startup. A startup doesn’t need tons of time to get the first sale. You need just few times from your life. So you can easily do it and once you see that your startup needs more time from you and it generates good profit only then you should quit.

Few years ago people used to invite singer or dancer to come in their party and entertain people but now things have been changed. Now people invite motivational speaker to entertain

Take your startup as a part time job where you are the only employee and you are also your boss. Come home from office and try what you have learned in your whole career. Usually in

Warren buffet also said another wonderful line, Do not try to measure the depth of water by your both legs.

office you can not make a decision. There is top management people always takes decision. But in your startup you are the boss. Make the decision. Take the step and see if it works. If it works happiness and if not take it as a wisdom. Remember, Learning from failure is better than winning an award. Photo by Jefferson Santos on Unsplash

N AT U R E A L LU R E b y J a me s S a c ul l e s

take a gaze above there are more unseen wonders than what glitters beyond the night skies take a minute to see there are more valued treasures than what shines buried under take a step to realize how we got more how we got all we have to live This is no more than a voice of written words giving a reminder for the biggest gifts given to us. In these times, we have yet to see how this environment can provide a massive impact on our day-to-days. Countless reports released indicate that the earth suffers from manâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s heedless activities, and by natural catastrophes it begs for our dire help. Thankfully, we have seen and heard about organizations and individuals who heard its cry and responded positively, and now, we have to continue doing our resolves, or taking a step further. We are innately attracted to nature, the raw beauty of this world, and many even spend just to travel or to have getaways. Maybe this calls that we recognize its significance to usâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;in its soil we mark our footprints, in its leaves we take our chance to breathe, in its waters we cleanse and drink, in its fruits we enjoy variety, and in its horizons we anticipate dusk and dawn. Couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just be more naturally powerful. 91

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