First reminder: I'm doing this for myself. Everything I do, has to be what the real me wants. Not what others expect or thought of - e.g. their perception of me. What is perceived is in their heads. What I experience, on the other hand, is in my control, in my hands. I can put together my best impression, my best self, but it only truly shows when I'm happy inside.
Learnt: Praise can be flattering.
Second reminder: The sunset is beautiful from every angle- whether viewing it from a poor rural village or a luxurious cruise ship, it is still the same sun. Worthy. Bright. Brilliant. Life-giving.
Learnt: Suffering can be reduced by doing a good deed. For my sanity, I need to channel my empathy in the most productive way.
Third reminder: Pleasure and joy can be experienced with initial discomfort and later growth. This comes from knowing my limits and pushing my boundaries, but also being honest with myself about what I like and what I don't like.
Learnt: Simplicity bodes well for a fruitful and happy life. What I see as mundane, they see as pure joy, pure living. Part of it is because simplicity requires you to be disciplined- you form a stable routine without overindulgence or excesses, and in that, the mind is routinely purified as the longing for "more" ceased. In one word, contentment.
