Here is your Seven-Bullet Monday
1. A quote I am pondering:
“We must all wage an intense, lifelong battle against the constant downward pull. If we relax, the bugs and weeds of negativity will move into the garden, removing everything of value.” - Jim Rhon.
Here, Jim Rhon challenges us with a metaphor of tending and weeding our garden of thoughts and habits so that we don’t slide back. Another way I like to think about it is swimming upstream. We must keep swimming against the current because if we stop, we will drift back downstream to something lesser than we are now.
2. A question I am asking myself:
How can I live more in the now?
I often see myself overthinking past events or overly concerned with the future. Per Eckhart Tolle, I need mindfulness to live in the now, be in the present moment, appreciate my surroundings and sensations, and not let the past or future rob me of my present peace and joy.
3. A book I am reading:
A Thousand Brains: A New Theory of Intelligence – Jeff Hawkins
In this book, the creator of the PalmPilot, Hawkins, discusses how the billions of cells in our brain work together to form intelligence, ranging from basic senses to complex thinking abilities. The thousand-brain theory comes from how our brain cells communicate with one another and develop frames of understanding and recognition. From this logic, he also talks about the shortcomings of AI, emphasising that machines can’t match the depth of human intelligence yet.
4. What I learnt this week
Driverless cars still have a long, long way to go.
Some of the early and most bullish leaders in the driverless car space now see the development of fully autonomous vehicles as a more distant goal. Part of the delay is due to the industry’s slow development and the technological limitations of deep learning systems in handling real-world complexities on the road, like construction, animals, weather and left turns.
5. The highlight of my week
Attending an Earth, Wind & Fire and Lionel Ritchie concert
Leanne and I saw this combo concert this week with the funky disco music of Earth, Wind & Fire (and yes, we saw them in “September” 😊) contrasting nicely with the smooth melodies of Lionel Ritchie mixed in with a bit of pop, too. For the younger generation, Lionel is Nicole Ritchie’s dad, and he can sing a bit. As part of the older crowd, we loved singing along with the rest of the packed-out arena to songs like “Hello” and “Dancing on the Ceiling”. I also think it’s great that these 70+-year-old singers are still touring and delighting audiences worldwide.
6. Hugh-tips
Think about getting advice from a certified independent financial advisor.
It would be worth talking to a certified financial planner if you don’t have a comprehensive personal financial plan. Yes, you can get free advice from your local bank advisor, but you need to be wary because, typically, they are only selling you the bank’s products, which can be expensive. An independent financial advisor is typically paid by the hour or through a fixed fee, which helps ensure the advice is independent of any particular offering in the market. They can also help you structure your investments most effectively, particularly for future taxation and beneficiaries.
7. My challenge for you for this week
Photography challenge
Take a unique photo each day and share it with a loved one or friends. It’s a fun way to use your imagination and notice little details around you, and by sharing and receiving photos, you get to see different points of view.
Have an awesome week
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