"By observing others, we can learn more about ourselves than we can by looking in a mirror. We see our own faults and virtues reflected in the actions of those around us, and this helps us to grow and improve." — Dalai Lama

This quote sums up nicely the second main component about getting the most out of this newsletter. First and foremost yes, we must keep in mind the responsibility we have in discussing the lives we choose to focus on, as discussed in part 1. The second responsibility we have, as I will outline in this article, is to ourselves.

One central theme I hope to capture in this newsletter is that life is difficult and also beautiful. Part of the difficulty we have comes from the fact that as humans we are social animals. We are born into a family, a community, a state, a country. Each level of granularity comes with a bevy of thought patterns. At perhaps the broadest level western nations tend to be more individualistic where as eastern nations tend to focus more on collectivism. Within those regions certain countries may focus on different national messaging, which again has an influence on each of us as people. All the way down to the family level, we are offered patterns as to how we should conduct our lives.

“Do this job, don’t do that job”. Education is essential to be successful, or perhaps its a piece of paper worth less than the roll next to the toilet. “Religion is a centerpiece of life”, “Religion is for unsophisticated fools”. I don’t necessarily endorse or condemn any of these ideas, I just offer that there is an uncountable number of influences that each of us sorts through over the course of our lives trying to make sense of it! And they don’t all have to be as serious as the examples I offered, they could be as harmless and fun as what bands we love or what traditions seem simple but mean the world to us.

I’d like to suggest that by reading our newsletter every week you have something to learn from everyone. Maybe a few weeks from now you’ll read an obituary about someone that spent their life dedicated to a hobby you loved as a kid, and it reignites your passion for it - inspiring you to pick it up again. Or maybe instead we feature someone that had a hard life and opportunities to correct it but never did, and that gives you the resolve to break some of your own bad habits.

The lives of others are complete examples once they’ve died. Their tomorrows are done, their time is up. So - how do we measure it, how do you measure it? Do you feel they dedicated too much time to their career or not enough? Would you want to put more emphasis on your family and friends, a life of solitude, or somewhere in between? By examining lives start to finish you give yourself the opportunity to truly live the life your truest self was meant to live. And that is your responsibility.

Tanner James