WHRS! #2
From HYBE’s 2022 letter to Shareholders:
Of course, traveling on a path untrodden will inevitably lead to some trials and errors. However, HYBE is ready to leap forward with amazing plans for our next great step forward, and we are ready to put those plans into action.
My intentions for this year are not really that different from the last. If anything, I am just doubling down on them. I have been able to identify strategies that work towards the realisation of certain goals and those that do not. It’s still a process of trial and error. Service to others was one of the areas I said I was going to work on, and on that front, I was able to contribute to causes and projects I like. Unfortunately, I didn’t volunteer time as I thought I would, but it’s something I hope to do this year. First, I need to figure out how many hours I can commit and to which organization. If you have any suggestions regarding organizations, please don’t hesitate to send them my way. As I write this, I think I can afford to dedicate two hours every other weekend to start. As for relationships/friendships, I formed new ones, maintained old ones, and incinerated one. It isn’t really about the number of friends you have that count but the quality thereof that really matters. Studies have shown that good friendships improve your mental and physical health. Toxic ones do the exact opposite. It’s not that complicated. It can be hard to let a friendship or relationship go (I’ll use these terms interchangeably), but you have to ask yourself: Do I enjoy the continuous unhappiness that this person is causing me? As one gets older, forming relationships becomes harder because we’re not as open as we were as teenagers. We have so many commitments now, and often can't afford the time to meet or get to know new people and the potential drama or joy they could bring. Friendships, like plants, need to be watered and looked after. This involves reaching out to check up on them when they cross your mind. Life can get so busy that you might end up not talking for days or even weeks, but I highly recommend that the moment you think of them, just shoot them a message because you might forget. 🐕🦺
It’s always heartwarming when you reach out to a friend you haven’t spoken to in a while and effortlessly pick up right where you left off. In a matter of seconds, you both revert to your usual goofy selves. I’d say that friends reserve a special place in their hearts for each other, where a silent, invisible conversation is happening between them even though they haven’t literally spoken. They are both sending each other lots of love and light. When they finally reach out, the joy is palpable when they hear each other’s voices. During their conversation, they catch up on their individual life journeys while their souls secretly offers prayers and blessings for one another, and when the call ends, they are flooded with gratitude, thankful to the universe for having brought them into each other’s lives. This year, I am only strengthening the friendships I already have. I am often absent-minded and sometimes – more like always – forget to wish friends a happy birthday or things like that. Since I don’t celebrate my own, I assumed others felt the same about their birthdays. Forgive me, y’all; I can be daft like that. I am baffled every time someone calls me to apologize because they forgot my birthday. I would say to myself, ‘But does this person know I still have 60 or so more birthdays, and that it's not that big of a deal?’ How do I know I have 60 more years to live? I don’t know – just guessing. It’s not even about the length of life, it’s more what do I want to do with it. Since the grim reaper has cut short the lives of certain friends of mine, I have reconsidered my position and want to be more intentional, not just about friends’ birthdays but also about other things that they care about. Friends deserve to be pampered. Life is hard, and it is comforting for them to know that they have journey or trench-mates who have got their backs. 🧣
I often don’t know what to gift friends. They are so different and unique in their own ways – some don’t even like gifts, at least not physical ones. Gifting is an art that I suppose I need to learn. How do you folks figure out what to give? On a side note: the only gift I want from my friends is that they keep themselves alive and healthy, and also flourish while at it. I’m not asking for too much, right? On the matter of health, the days when you’re not in the mood for that walk, run, or yoga class are usually the best days – that is, if you can will yourself out the door. If you manage to, your body will release feel-good chemicals that carry several messages, including a ‘thank you’ to your brain and soul. It will also send another message: ‘Hey, it wasn’t so bad after all. If you could do that, you can now tackle that hard thing you’ve been dreading.’ On the days when you’re not in the mood, I’d suggest that you do the barest minimum. If you walk 1km on a good day, just try to leave the house with the thought that you’d walk 200m and then return home. You’ll notice that once your legs hit the road, you might end up doing 1km. We will never have good days every day, at least that’s what I’ve discovered in my life. The good days are kind of easy. You show up, all jolly and giggly. The not-so-good days are a different beast altogether. Your brain has an ‘excuse department’ that ships compelling and well-designed products. And when I say compelling, it’s because some of the excuses are quite valid. Rest and recovery, however, are not excuses; they are vital requirements. So, don’t over-exert yourself to the point of injury. You just need the wisdom to know the difference between your brain trying to hinder you and when it’s actually looking out for you. I personally exercise four times a week and rest for three days – Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. I included Saturdays because I didn’t want to go two consecutive days – Saturday and Sunday – without a walk or run. On Mondays, you want to hit the ground running. To end today’s sermon, I’d say, do the barest minimum when you’re not in the mood. A single step is better than no step at all. As usual, sending you all love and light. 🌙
Thanks for reading. If there's anything you'd like to chat about, or if you have any questions, feel free to shoot me an email. I'd love to hear from you. :) 🍿