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Aloha fellow learn-it-all 👋

Greetings from New York, New York!

Twas a rainy day yesterday while walking to the Public Library.

I’ve been thinking about how people decide where they live. I used to base this decision on where my family was, my university’s campus, or where I was employed. Now that remote work is becoming more normalized, it’s wild the kinds of optionality that knowledge workers have today.

Now, let’s dive into letter 175 from a learn-it-all. Enjoy!

❓Question to think about

How do we get shaped by our environment?

🖊️Writing

A part of me became awakened when I momentarily locked eyes with an octopus in Indonesia.

A few months ago, my SCUBA buddy and I ventured on a spontaneous day trip of dives in Nusa Penida, Bali. It wasn’t until my dive master pointed out where the cephalopod went that I could notice it. I was mouth-breathing out of a scuba tank at about 70 feet deep (~21 meters) and could not believe my eyes. Right in front of me was a creature with black rippling skin of delicate patterns and iridescent spots.

The octopus looked like it was panicking with its fast rate breath. I didn’t blame it for thinking I was a predator. It slithered across the sea floor with grace on its eight tentacles to the other side of the coral reef. I thought I lost my little new friend. Until I swam around to see them completely in a different getup and set of colors.

As it began to shapeshift, the dark hue of its skin morphed into a kaleidoscope of colors, with vibrant blues and greens. Its once-smooth skin transformed into a lumpy, bumpy texture that mimicked the rocky seabed.

It was a mesmerizing display of the art that nature is. This is a testament to its mastery of survival and sensational communication in the mysterious ocean.

I did not expect this. How could I? It was such a delightful surprise that made me want to shout in joy even though I couldn't. Instead, I stayed silent.

Then a magical moment. By looking into the eyes of this creature morphing into its background, I began to start to feel like I was the octopus. I felt giddy and seen.

The octopus showed what seemed to be an unbelievable ability to shapeshift and adapt to its surroundings, but it wasn't as unique as I'd thought/

What does this have to do with where we live?

Well, last night I went to bed at midnight. I put my eye mask on and was thankful to get some shuteye despite my brain feeling wired. I woke up with the sun streaming in. My watch was dead so I had no idea what time it was.

Instead of panicking in this state of disorientation, I journaled, made some tea, and washed my face. After my abbreviated morning routine, I looked at my phone in the kitchen to see what time it was.

6:47 AM.

What?

My body refused to sleep longer.

And then I realized I wasn't actually that surprised.

New York City is beating with energy. Like the sweat droplets that streamed into my eyes in the 104-degree hot room where I regretfully decided to do high-interval training before seeing black-and-white pixels and almost fainting. It is not only a city that never sleeps but a city that is hard to sleep in.

Like motivational speaker Jim Rohn says, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with." In other words, you are a byproduct of what your surrounds you. The type of person that we each become is inevitably susceptible to the environment we are in.

As I reflect on where I’ve lived in my life, I see how I became a superior mimic like an octopus:

When I grew up in Michigan under a roof with my parents, siblings, water dog, cats, teddy bear hamsters, and a fish tank full of guppies, I became used to all the chaotic extracurricular calendars.
Living with an extroverted roommate in Scott Hall in Oxford, Ohio, I became more outgoing and joined different clubs.
Living with an introverted roommate in Hamilton Hall in Oxford, Ohio, I became more quiet and spent less time in my dorm room.
Living with a host mom who knew five languages in Luxembourg, I became curious.
Living in a village in Kadavu, Fiji, I became appreciative of the community and mindful of what enough means.
Living alone in Amsterdam, I became lonely.
Living with my parents after college, I became less independent.
Living on the road, I became resourceful.
Living with board game-obsessed roommates in Chicago, I became excited about Linkee and Scattergories.
Living in Hawaii, I became more in touch with my feelings, how to be patient, channel presence, and rest.
Living with my Ironman brother, I became someone who signed up for two swimming races and a triathlon days before the event.
Living in New York City, I became someone who struggled to sleep more than 6 hours.

I am like that of an octopus who shapeshifts to my environment. It’s not my fault. It’s natural. We can’t help but admit that where we are in the world we turn into an output of that environment.

What is your environment turning you into?

📜🖋 Poetry Corner

My Role Model: A Ginkgo

love

all these

fan-like leaves

on green ginkgo trees.

When I grow up I want to be

Wise, full of wonder

distinct like

ginkgo

tree

too

Poem structure: A Fib

Poem Context

In sixth grade, my favorite project was with my biology teacher Mr. Fultz. Ten year old me love love LOVED collecting leaves from trees, drying them out in tomb-sized textbooks, and gluing them into my first scrapbook to study all the facts about them. The ginkgo leaf was the most unique of all the leaves in the scrapbook so I liked that page the most. (Added bonus: It was easiest to remember come exam time too).

📖 Reading

Ooops I did it again…

I hopped into a time machine to last year when I was in New York City, which prompted my reflection on the stark contrasts of lifestyles between Honolulu and New York City.

Here’s the TL;DR from 9/28/22

Three lessons:

I’ve learned to appreciate slowing down in Honolulu. How busyness is not the essence of my life. I don’t want to rush to my death.
Be careful with the environment you choose to live in. It shapes you into the person you are.
Life cannot always be clearly defined as this or that. We live in the grey. Challenge yourself to be okay with that. Be Type-C.

If interested you can read it fully: 🏙 Letter 126: Life from Coast to Coast: Honolulu vs. New York City

🔍Word to define

Ginkgo: a deciduous Chinese tree related to the conifers, with fan-shaped leaves and yellow flowers. It has a number of primitive features and is similar to some Jurassic fossils. Also called maidenhair tree.

Fun facts: These trees can live more than 3000 years and first appeared over 290 million years ago in China.

🌟Quote to inspire

“Attention is the beginning of devotion.” - Mary Oliver, Poet and lifelong spiritual seeker

📸 Photo of the Week

I had the pleasure of going to one of ‘s Podcast Mixers to meet and hear stories of how people landed their jobs. It was energizing to hear about everyone’s favorite jobs and to meet so many enthusiastic folks who think similar to me with intriguing stories to share.

🙏Shoutouts

To David Friedman who wrote the funny quick-read DON’T FORGET TO SCREAM book about his commute and wrote it while on his own commute into Manhattan each day on the train
To my new friend Rachel who launched her first Substack at and wrote about burning boxes: “My identity is a spectrum; I don’t fit in a box.” Ditto!
To my other new friend Jacey who has a mindful podcast called Recalibrate. On this episode she speaks on values-based living.

I appreciate you reading this!

If ideas resonate, I’d love you to press the heart button, leave a comment, reply to this email, or reach me at vermetjl@gmail.com. If you forget who I am, I welcome you to my online home.

Never stop learning 😁

Mahalo 🌺

Jen

PS - in case you missed last week’s letter: 💭 Reflecting on August: My Personal Documentarian Insights

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