Wow, long time no talk! I just checked to see when was the last time I written anything here and it was last year back in 2022. Time flies and it's been a crazy ride, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I'm writing to you because it's my last two weeks of university before we go on winter break, and I need the strength to continue on TT
It's funny because the reason why I came in here to share some thoughts is because of your GQ [MY ESSENTIAL] video, and I wanted to answer your question that you wrote in your notebook. I also carry around notebooks and sketchbooks, which I've been trying to sketch more because I'm an illustration student and want to get things off my mind through thoughtless sketching. Here are some sketches I was able to do during the school term in between breaks and because the weather was so lovely to spend time outside! I live in an area of the United States where we don't get snow, so our winters are still on the warmer side. But I noticed that the leaves are starting to change colors!
I also wanted to recommend some books that you can add to your library whenever you get the chance! I noticed that you really enjoy philosophy books, I even started reading The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron because of your recommendation! Some books that I've read recently have been:
The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
One of my clients at work recommended this book to me when we were talking about spirituality. Ruiz explains Toltec beliefs to his reader, depicting us as magicians casting spells on others through our speech and intentions. We can create white magic and black magic, which I thought was an interesting way of visualizing the world and our we interact with others! The book is straight forward and it carries into my daily life now since I have read it myself.
The Myth of Sisyphus by Albert Camus
I first heard about Camus through my Ethics class in my first year of university. We got to talk about the idea of absurdity, once we as the actors of our lives watch the stage collapse around us. What else is there to this life? One of my favorite quotes from the book is: "One must imagine Sisyphus happy." Relating the story about how SIsyphus was punished by the gods to push a bolder up a mountain only for it to go back down again for the rest of eternity, lots of people may look at it with pessimism and give up on life entirely. But Camus reminds us that we can change our perspective and look at every challenge as an opportunity to learn and grow, as we don't allow ourselves to become our rock!
The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
This is the book I'm currently reading, and I was introduced to this book because my favorite rapper Kendrick Lamar uses quotes from Tolle in his Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers EP, which I love and listen to all the time. So far, Tolle talks about living life in the present moment, making lots of connections to Buddhism (which is what I am!). I like how this book makes me realize that we need to take the steps towards our own self healing and to live a more fulfilling life, which is what I try to strive for as much as I can. We only live this life once, so we should make the most of it!
Before I leave (and don't know when I'll be back to share more haha), I want to answer the question you wrote in your notebook: "Could humans live without hope?"
We definitely couldn't because we're always searching for meaning and for purpose in our lives. For me as an aspiring illustration/artist, I have to be hopeful that the art I create resonates with myself and my audience, and that the message will reach those it needs to reach. If I had no hope and constantly looking for the silver lining in everything I do, then my own self sabotage and pessimism will take over my entire being and I become a shell of a person, which is what Camus talks about in his book. Without hope, there's no value in living as human beings and we lack connection and our purpose to trek the earth we walk on. If there are any other questions that you reflect on, please share them with us! Maybe I'll even share my own quotes I write in my own journal entries and share my thoughts again.
Thank you so much for being such an amazing influence in my life, not just as a member of THE BOYZ, but as Lee Juyeon. Your existence is meaningful and again, I can see what Cha Seungwon sees when he talks about you having a bright light. I also get the same type of comments myself, which sometimes it's hard to believe myself, but it becomes another reason for me to be motivated to wake up another day and live all over again.
I love you so much and please take care of yourself during this next comeback!
From 엘리자베스 | Elizabeth | byemambo ♡