🥀 On Living, Dying & Writing to the Future
A mix of letters, poetry, and snapshots of life (letter 244)
Sawadee ka friend! 👋
Greetings from Chiang Rai, Thailand 🇹🇭
Or as they say Sawadee bee mai ka for happy new year. The new year celebations haven’t ended over on this side of the globe, they’re still going strong. Today my school celebrates Children’s day. In Thailand it’s known as Wan Dek (วันเด็ก) and it’s celebrated on the second Saturday of January each year. It is a special day dedicated to honor children recognizing their importance in the country's future and encouraging them to realize their full potential. The day is widely celebrated with fun activities, educational opportunities, and family-oriented events.
Goody goody gumdrops, I’m excited to experience this for myself :) I appreciate this holiday of celebrating the youth. I have so much to learn from them.
Anywho,
this week been the most fun week of classes EVER. I dove head first with teaching my Thai students how to write a letter. Of the ~100 or so that I taught, only two had ever written a letter before, so it made my heart so full to know that I’m bringing this seemingly archaic practice back to life one Thai teenie bopper at a time.
I loved the lesson so much that I decided to dedicate most of this letter to it.
Oh and I also have been thinking about my imminent death someday so later on is my poem titled “ 🥀 On Living and Dying”.
Now, let’s dive into letter 244 from a learn-it-all. Enjoy!
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❓Question to think about
How do I write a letter to my future self?
🖊️Writing
(Optional) Run a fun errand and buy Jasmine-smelling, golden, shiny fancy paper from a nice Thai man who is now my new best friend after buying 200 sheets of this paper.
Write the date, time, location, feeling/ mood
Address who you’re writing to. Imagine what you would want to read from that person. I wrote to Jen in 2030. I’ll be 33 year old when I revisit this letter.
Use some prompts as a template to make the thinking easier.
Some ideas:I hope you are healthy and happy. Have you achieved ____
Are you still curious about____?
Are you working as a ? Or maybe now you’re working as a ______ instead?
One place I want to visit is. One moment I want you to remember is ______.
One piece of advice I have for you is ______
Sign off with love from your past self
(Optional) record a video in case you lose the letter. I made an example video for my students here.
Set a reminder in your digital calendar in 2030 to remember to open revisit this.
🎥 Recording
📜🖋 Poetry Corner
🥀 On Living and Dying
Inspired by my grandpa Dziadzia who would’ve turned 96 yesterday if he was still alive and of my dog Burgee that I miss both dearly.
You and me, we are of the few mammals— if not the only living beings with foresight to know and understand our imminent death someday in the future. A limping blind and deaf Portuguese waterdog named Burgee, my second brother, knows life is hard as he squats to go potty and falls over. But he does not know this is near his end. He lives on for the love of his family. It is a blessing and a curse to know there is an ending, some resolution, to be afforded the choice to play offense in life rather than defense with the time we are granted. The omniscient God numbers the very hairs on my head and knows every squirrel that dies in the road. and yet I wondering: why was it their time? But so many live in the status quo flying the plane of their life on autopilot. Living, but without liveliness. Acting under the assumption that a new day tomorrow is guaranteed. I don’t want to live like this I never knew when my phone call with Dziadzia was my last. What I want is a balance— to be able to live knowing YOLO I only live once. And also to strive for a long life where I don’t dance on the border of death too many times. I want to live and be lively, so that when I die because I know I will someday, I will be full With a smile on my face. because I used my time, rather than getting used by it. I can never get more years, but I can get more life in my years.
🎧Listening
“Best Day Of My Life” by Tom Odell
The piano in this song is simple yet beautiful.
I think today is the best day of my life
Gonna rent a bicycle and ride around the city
Around the city from nine 'til fiveI think today is the best day of my life
Fuck thinking about the future all the time
If I'm alone, I'm alone, and I don't mindMovie stars in black and white pictures (mm-mm)
Warm beer and Valium mixtures (mm-mm)
Am I in a dream?
Crazy as it seemsI think today is the best day of my life
Saw a billboard, it said something like
Everything, everything is gonna be alright
🔍Word to define
Omniscient: (adj.) knowing everything
Ex: the story is told by an omniscient narrator.
🌟Quote to inspire
“When people die, it’s just a reminder that you’re gonna die too. In the meantime, you should start doing the things that are important to you now. This is it. This is your life. Look around, here it is.” —Mike Posner
📸Photo of the Week
Some random shots from my frist week back teaching this year :)
🙏Shoutouts
to my students for showing up to class to write letters with me :) and Aommy for sharing some stellar music to listen to and Friend for the jokes and Book for his passion and Glao for writing on both sides of the paper and Aon for her block of what to say. You are all brilliant in your own ways.
I appreciate you reading this!
If ideas resonated, I’d love you to press the heart button, leave a comment, reply to this email, or reach me at vermetjl@gmail.com.
Keep on learning 😁
K̄ha bhuṇ ka 🌺 🌺
Jen
PS - in case you missed last week’s letter on being 😄 As Pleased as Punch in Pai
PPS- if you’d like to read my favorite letters, the best way to encourage my work is to buy my book on Amazon here.
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