When the weather turns colder and it’s all grey outside, I love to take time to reflect on my life.
There's something mystical about autumn that brings a sense of inner calm, as if my body is preparing for hibernation. It's also a shift from spending time outdoors to retreating into my cozy home with a warm cup of tea.
It's the perfect setting to let my thoughts flow and bring them to paper—or in this case, into a Substack post.
This part of the Notes to Myself series is about philosophies and insights that add depth and quality to life, and make it even more worth living.
Find a Philosophy to Live By
Lived philosophies carry a beauty and magic that can hardly be described in words. Take Japanese or Chinese tea ceremonies, for example. They are not just traditions; they are deeply intertwined with Taoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism.
Every movement and gesture carries a deeper meaning. You can feel all that even without knowing what is actually happening. All you need is to experience such a ceremony.
Some companies managed to develop their own philosophies to near perfection. Apple was once an excellent example of that. There was a kind of magic in their products when they followed Steve Jobs’ philosophies to the letter.
Other companies made similar computers, often with better specs, but they felt like boxes without a soul.
Another example is Toyota. Their cars are affordable and may look boring, but within the automotive industry, they are highly respected and admired. It's not just because of their size and profits. To a large extent, it's because of their manufacturing philosophy, known as The Toyota Way.
Having a philosophy to live by can bring a similar magic to your life. It may take time and a lot of experimenting before you find your own way. But once you discover a philosophy that truly fits you, you understand why you do things the way you do them.
You become fully conscious of your actions, and that naturally opens the path towards excellence. In a way, it's about turning your life into your own piece of art, something that reflects the unique human being you are.
Life Happens in Seasons
This is something I have only recently begun to understand. When I was younger, I felt invincible. I hardly ever needed longer periods of rest, and in the few cases I did, I went straight back into productivity mode.
I was output-oriented, enjoyed working, and advanced quickly in my career. Little did I know that the phase of constant productivity wouldn't last forever.
I'm not talking about getting older, having less energy, and other factors that affect how much you can do.
There are times when you can work as hard as you want and still get no results. It's like sowing seeds in late autumn and wondering why nothing grows.
Before I could enter the working world, I needed an education to learn how to grow things. Then I planted seeds like crazy and began to harvest as my career advanced.
After that came the quieter seasons, which brought stillness and time to reflect. At first, I resisted them, but eventually spring came again, full of new energies. I started planting seeds again and trusting the natural flow of life.
Knowing and accepting that life happens in seasons takes away the drama. It also helps to live more consciously and make the most of what every season has to offer.
In ancient times, when humans lived much closer to nature, we all knew about the flow of the seasons. This rhythm is still in us. Living in heated homes with roofs over our heads sometimes makes us forget about this simple truth.
Know What You Are Standing For
The philosophy to live by is about how you live your life. Knowing what you stand for goes one layer deeper. It's about what is really important for you. In its extreme, it is the set of principles you would give your life for.
Take a moment and ask yourself what really matters to you. It helps to imagine yourself on your deathbed, taking your last few breaths. This perspective will strip away superficial things like chasing money for its own sake or caring too much about appearances.
Knowing what you stand for gives your life direction. This knowledge is a powerful force. Knowing what to fight for makes you strong, and even when you get lost, it serves as an inner compass to guide you.
The opposite would be living like a leaf. Such a life will feel like it is happening to you, leaving you at the mercy of wherever the winds may take you.
Of course, even when you know what you are standing for, you may still fall and struggle to get back up. The difference is that people who understand what you embody can help you far better than they could a leaf without direction.
Stay Curious
Today, when I was about to empty half a dozen jars of fermented vegetables into a public trash can, three children walked by with their mother.
One of them, a six-year-old boy, came closer to see what I was pouring out. I showed him and explained that the veggies were the result of my fermentation experiments. His two little sisters grew curious too, came closer, and wanted to join the jar-emptying.
I loved the energy those children brought into the moment. There was this spark in their eyes— the same one we all have when we explore something new that excites us.
It reminded me of my grandfather, when I once showed him that you could give voice commands to a smartphone. He was amazed that such a tiny device could understand you and even give you a correct answer.
And there it was again — that spark of curiosity in his eyes.
He wanted to know how the phone worked, asked all sorts of questions, and even tried out some slang words. On the outside, he was an 82-year-old man. Inside, he was back in his childlike energy—fully alive in that moment.
Whenever life feels dull, I know that I need to try something new. It does not take much to bring this spark back. All you need is to approach things with a childlike lightness and let your curiosity flow.
Before you go…
Most of you are reading this series in your mailbox. While this is perfectly fine, it gives me little to no idea whether you enjoyed what you read and how I could improve
You guessed it—I am asking you to hit this red “Leave a comment” button so that you land on the website. Even if you don't find any words to share, clicking the like button there gives me a signal to keep posting more things like this series.
Staying curious…🙏🏻✨💥
I remained a while staring at your "notes", smiling. They appeared at a moment when I needed them the most. I already knew what I stand for, what my core principles are, but fighting for them, at this phase, to create the reality I want to live by... sometimes brings intensity and doubt.
Your idea to imagine ourselves in our last moments was brilliant, and this is the reason for my smile after I was done reading. Because by doing what you suggested, I confirmed that I'm on the right path.
And, yes, whatever the age, 5 years or 82, as long as we are curious, we stay alive.
The "notes to myself" are not only for yourself. They become "notes to all of us". And they are precious.