This week has been a lot! Emotionally last Sunday election result shocked everyone in the office. Monday most of people dressed on black. I was shocked and concerned by my work load going forward. Others worried if they’ll lose jobs. Most importantly, people is worried about the next 10-20 years for the country.
I’ve lived through this 2 times before, in the Philippines and Indonesia. Those two episodes, the election outcome had disappointed people, yet people survived, and people adjusted. It is definitely the case that elections are getting more polarized, most unpredictable, the channel of communication less visible, and people talk less about it among friends given polarization. Yet, I have came back to the other side, and find a silver lining of all this. Maybe it will be an opportunity to meaningfully contribute, even little, to make this country better.
Each country has its issues and it’s too easy to blame the politics, the media, the bullies. Yet, the majority of people living there care about their basic needs, their prospects, the future of their children, and mostly hard working in their own way. When I think about them, I feel the energy, to continue working toward a better future, with ways that are under my control, and learn to deal with the noises.
So, on this Friday, while physically I feel exhausted (peak training week!), emotionally I am in a good place, excited for what to come.
Next week is school break. I will probably work from home some days and go to office others.
Favorites moments this week
Raining season has arrived and I enjoyed few runs in the rain, so refreshing!
Sunrise is getting earlier. This is the view at 5:40am. Gorgeous.
I’ve met with two delegations from nordic countries this week and impressed by their business culture, long term vision and partnership. Sweden has the oldest company in the world, over 600 years.
We are a family of cats and when I find cute/funny cat videos, I share it with the whole family and we enjoyed quite a few this week. It’s so nice to have a common hobby.
My reading project is going well. I am so into it that I was reading it 5:20am on Monday.
Learning about others’ misery lowers my threshold for contentment. I got a text from a close friend who lives in Riyadh that they got 7 attack at the airport in one day and now the airport is closed. Gosh!!! I can’t believe this is still happening. Then I learned that in West Gaza where a friend is having a project, education related, that kids go to school 2 days a week in a good week. Witnessing these made me want to slap myself when bothering by minor things.
Today I have a few meetings, then I’ll make potsticker, aduki buns, and bagel. Oh… and a massage after a long stretching session.
The situation in Gaza is so horrible, yes, it is a slap in the face to be grateful for the stability around us! I heard an interview on the radio yesterday that seemed to speak to what you are talking about, the man said that the people there are seen as displaced, needing help, somehow less than. Not as full people with their own hopes and dreams. I’m not saying it well, but I love that you and your work do see the full people and understand what they are going through rather than just thinking of them as less complicated, less worthy somehow.
My understanding is that your election was preliminary, right? Hopefully the right candidate will win in the next round. But if not, you are again wise, there is work to be done to make the country a better place. It’s just easier if the right people are making policy.
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Gosh, I have no idea about your election – going to go look it up right now. Thanks for putting it on my radar!
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Elections seem very hard to predict these days. So I don’t have confidence that the election predictions will be accurate. But things are more polarized globally and populism is shifting. I did not realize there were election in Brazil. But a lot of our Bloomberg chats are focused on the situation in France.
Our bad days are definitely a walk in the park compared to people in other parts of the world!!
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So the US isn’t the only country to be shocked and worried about election results (I definitely felt like dressing in black after our last presidential election). Again, I like your perspective.
Enjoy your weekend!
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You’re right that we can’t control everything happening around us, but we can choose how we respond and where we focus our energy. Finding ways, however small, to contribute to a better future is such a positive way to approach things.
I hope your peak training week for New York is going well! A good training cycle can give us a real sense of strength and confidence, which certainly helps when we’re juggling everything else life throws at us.
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