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Making the best of where we are

plus the importance of paying your debts and how to travel well

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Welcome to Curious G — a weekly email about personal growth and lifestyle design.

Let’s get curious 👇

Lifestyle Design: Making the best of where we are

Weekly Write-up: Always pay your debts

What I’m learning: How to travel well

Lifestyle Design

In October, I was feeling anxious. My company was restructuring, and I wanted out.

It seemed like an opportunity to force the issue.

I looked at my options and found ghostwriting. I like writing, perhaps that could be my escape.

I bought an expensive course to learn how to do it. Then, I found someone willing to let me create a free email course for them (Thanks Matt!). It was a good experience and we made something cool (check it out here).

But, I realized I don't enjoy writing for others as much as I do for myself.

At the same time, I was experimenting with trip planning and even got a paying client. Maybe that was the way to go?

I was confused. I thought, "I just spent all this money on a course, and now I'm pivoting. What a waste."

I shared these feelings with my life coach and realized I was thinking about it too narrowly.

I was judging the course's value solely on whether I pursued ghostwriting, ignoring all the transferable skills I'd learned: building landing pages, writing email subject lines, using AI for writing, positioning products, and selling myself from scratch.

I was stuck in the past, trying to decide if I'd made the right choice, instead of focusing on how to make the most of where I am now.

This experience also highlighted a weakness of mine: acknowledging my own progress. Progress can be a source of pride and excitement, and that's valuable energy. If I can get better at recognizing my progress, I'll be able to harness that energy more productively.

Weekly Write-up

I miss Tyrion Lannister.

For those who are unfamiliar, Tyrion is a fictional character in Game of Thrones known for his wit and intellect. He often repeated his family's motto: "A Lannister always pays his debts."

The saying is a reflection of their wealth, but there's more to it.

One of my principles is to give without expecting anything in return. I'm not always great at it, but that's why it's a principle —something to strive for.

The flip side is receiving. We all know people who never repay others. It's an awful quality, demonstrating unreliability and a willingness to exploit kindness.

I don't want to be that person. I want to always pay my debts, literally and figuratively.

Keeping your word will take you far. But more than that, by reciprocating kindness, we create a cycle of giving that benefits everyone.

Sure, sometimes an exchange doesn't go as promised. That's different. Aside from that, I believe in paying my debts.

Content Recommendation

“The reason so many travelers become frustrated while visiting world-famous destinations is that they are still playing by the rules of home, which “reward” you for following set routines and protocols. Thus, on the road, you should never forget that you are uniquely in control of your own agenda. If the line for Lenin’s tomb outside the Kremlin is too long, you have the right to buy a couple bottles of beer, plant yourself at the edge of Red Square, and happily watch the rest of Moscow swirl around you."

— Rolf Potts

Renowned as one of the best books on travel, Vagabonding has been on my list for some time. I’m glad I was finally able to read it. If you want to get the most out of your travels, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better perspective than Rolf’s.

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