Finally, relaxing into my travels in London

Thoughts from my vipassana retreat, one of the best documentaries on Netflix, and more

Hi friend!

In London this week catching up with new and old friends. The weather has been, as predicted, very wet.

My travel behavior has changed dramatically in the past year. I would spend hours planning every minute detail and plot it in my calendar. What the weather is each day, which sights to see, where to eat, and even what specific subway lines to take and when to ride it. I've learned that there is only so much I can plan before Mother Earth decides to intervene with torrential downpour or Sister Fate throws closures and broken electronics my way.

Now, I try to limit myself to a few things a day at most and leaving the rest for organic exploration and rest. If I want recommendations for things to do, I ask the locals. If I need to find directions, it's so much easier to ask people in the subway. By putting myself out there and asking for help, which I tried to avoid entirely before, I open up for people to connect with me. There is an opportunity within everyone. I even started chatting with a homeless man after asking for directions. The worse that can happen is "no."

And after traveling through dense cities and desolate neighborhoods, I have come to realize that I am a city boy at heart. As hippie or nomadic as I may be at times, a city home is calling my name for later this year.

The video this week is my first reaction after my last retreat. I share some thoughts on the Vipassana center and meditation technique.

One of the Best Netflix Documentaries I've Watched

Netflix recently launched a mini docuseries, When They See Us, that accounts the case of the Central Park Jogger. Five minority teens were wrongly accused of raping a jogger in Central Park, New York in 1989. This show has 9.1 on IMDB and 95% on Rotten Tomatoes. I give it all the accolades.

It comes at a time when we need visibility more than ever of the racial injustice in America. The contents of the show will shake you, including Donald Trump's role in this show (which is historically accurate).

After you watch this piece, check out Oprah's Super Soul Sunday with the cast and the exonerated five. Great follow-up and discussion about the filming, process, and impact.

Battling Yelp

When I used to have a Yelp business listing for my cupcake shop in San Diego, I was BERATED every day by Yelp sales agent asking if I wanted ads because of my reviews. This is a fascinating piece on how a small business owner went head-to-head with Yelp by incentivizing 1-star reviews of his pizza restaurant. Hint: They absolutely hated it.

A Neurosurgeon on Life & Death

Rarely does a book bring me to read, but my recent read of When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi left me in tears. The book accounts Paul's life as a neurosurgeon resident, on the brink of graduation, diagnosed with an aggressive form of lung cancer. Each page is written beautifully, and I guarantee you're going to finish the book with all the feels.

As always, thanks for reading!

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Have a beautiful day!

Metta (loving-kindness),
Steven

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