Yesterday, I attended a book club meeting centered around a popular Chinese book titled <认知觉醒> Cognitive Awakening. Having delved into the first two chapters, I was particularly struck by the book’s insightful exploration of the triune brain model and its profound connection to human behavior. The author’s clear explanations provided me with a deeper understandingContinueContinue reading “Book Club: Cognitive Awakening”
Monthly Archives: January 2025
Harmony or Control? Examining the Authoritarian Implications of the Third Verse of the Dao De Jing
Verse 3 by Lao Zi: 不尚贤，使民不争；不贵难得之货，使民不为盗；不见可欲，使心不乱。是以圣人之治，虚其心，实其腹，弱其志，强其骨。常使民无知无欲。使夫知者不敢为也。为无为，则无不治。 “Do not exalt the worthy, so that the people will not compete.Do not value rare treasures, so that the people will not steal.Do not display what is desirable, so that the hearts of the people will not be disturbed. Therefore, in the governance of the sage:He empties their minds andContinueContinue reading “Harmony or Control? Examining the Authoritarian Implications of the Third Verse of the Dao De Jing”
Never a Dull Moment: Parental Decoding in 2025
My husband and I like to think of ourselves as pretty hip, but apparently, we are now in dire need of a Gen Z (or is it Gen Alpha) dictionary. This epiphany struck while we were driving with our teenagers in the back seat, tuned into the Free Press podcast discussing “What to Expect inContinueContinue reading “Never a Dull Moment: Parental Decoding in 2025”
Monday Gratitude: The Gift of Life and Infinite Patience
This morning, I find myself reflecting on the profound sense of awe that comes with bringing a new life into this world. There’s nothing quite like the experience of nurturing a child within the womb—a tiny, unseen miracle growing day by day. The first flutter of movement, the rhythmic beat of a heart I cannotContinueContinue reading “Monday Gratitude: The Gift of Life and Infinite Patience”
Book Club: The Remarkable Life of the Skin
Over the holidays, I finished reading The Remarkable Life of the Skin: An Intimate Journey Across Our Largest Organ, by Dr. Monty Lyman. Learned a lot about the anatomy of the skin, skin diseases, ageing, and psychology. Notes on skin ageing: “Collagen is commonly included in skin creams but the molecule is too big toContinueContinue reading “Book Club: The Remarkable Life of the Skin”
Book Club: Lessons from the Hive – A Reflection on Honey Bee Democracy and Humanity’s Collective Future
A few years ago, I picked up Honey Bee Democracy by Thomas Seeley and was struck by how fascinating the book was. Who would have guessed that creatures with such tiny brains could practice a collective decision-making process so graceful, so consensus-driven, and so ultimately democratic? As I read, I found myself returning to oneContinueContinue reading “Book Club: Lessons from the Hive – A Reflection on Honey Bee Democracy and Humanity’s Collective Future”
Bryan Johnson Fan Post – Don’t Die
I’ve been an avid daydreamer about living forever. The idea of defying aging, staying youthful, and extending life has intrigued me since my first biology class. But while I’ve spent hours fantasizing about the possibilities, I haven’t done much to turn those dreams into reality. Bryan Johnson, on the other hand, isn’t just dreaming. He’sContinueContinue reading “Bryan Johnson Fan Post – Don’t Die”
The Harmony of Opposites: The Way of Balance
Verse 2 by Lao Zi: 天下皆知美之为美，斯恶已。皆知善之为善，斯不善已。故有无相生，难易相成，长短相较，高下相倾，音声相和，前后相随。是以圣人处无为之事，行不言之教；万物作焉而不辞，生而不有。为而不恃，功成而弗居。夫唯弗居，是以不去。 “When the world recognizes beauty as beauty, ugliness arises.When the world recognizes good as good, evil arises. Thus, being and non-being produce each other;Difficult and easy complete each other;Long and short contrast with each other;High and low lean on each other;Sound and silence harmonize with each other;Front and back followContinueContinue reading “The Harmony of Opposites: The Way of Balance”
How to Lose 10 lbs in 2025: The Atomic Habits Way
Ah, New Year’s resolutions—the magical time when we confidently declare, “New Year, New Me!” while still polishing off the last of the holiday cookies. If manifesting weight loss worked, I’d already be 10 pounds lighter just from thinking about it between bites of pie. But alas, 2025 is here, and it turns out the onlyContinueContinue reading “How to Lose 10 lbs in 2025: The Atomic Habits Way”
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