Dear friend,
It hasn't been an easy week. I hope you've been taking good care of yourself.
Please remember that it's ok to cancel meetings, move things around, and set healthy boundaries in honor of your needs.
It's too easy to abandon ourselves, especially when things get tough.
1. 🏘 The Intergenerational Village Dream
"What is something I do that makes you feel loved?" I asked my parents on a weekly call. My mom immediately replies, "Your hugs every day!" My dad says, "Anytime I get to spend time with you."
That day, my parents shared vulnerably that the older they get, the more lonely and insecure they feel when I'm physically far away. My dad had just slipped in our hallway. He was fine, but it was scary. If I was nearby, I could help if something ever happened.
Our conversation had me thinking—what do I ultimately want in life?
After reaching financial success and independence, what am I going to do with that money?
My parents gave me more than anyone could ever give me in this lifetime. I want to help them have a retirement beyond their wildest dreams, not out of obligation, but as a gift freely given. I want them to feel more healthy, happy, and loved than ever before.
On top of wanting to be physically near my parents and spend as much quality time with them as possible, I also want them to have a community of close friends. I know firsthand how necessary that is for a fulfilling life.
The ultimate dream is to build an intergenerational village where my family, friends, and friends' families can all live in separate homes clustered together.
I will have to take care of my parents as they get older. In a village, we won't need to be solo caretakers. With a whole community and multiple generations in one place, we can lean on each other to live our best lives. We can share our lessons and the fruits of our labor to help other people build more villages worldwide.
There are many things I want to create in this lifetime. This is one project I will never regret working on.
2. 💬 Question of the Week (in 7 languages)
English:
What was your childhood home like?
Simplified Chinese:
你小时候的家是什么样子？
Nǐ xiǎoshíhou de jiā shì shénme yàngzi?
Traditional Chinese:
你小時候的家是什麼樣子？
Nǐ xiǎoshíhou de jiā shì shénme yàngzi?
Vietnamese:
Ngôi nhà lúc nhỏ của ____ như thế nào?
Spanish:
¿Cómo era la casa de su infancia? (Formal)
¿Cómo era la casa de tu infancia? (Informal)
Korean:
어렸을 때 살던 집은 어땠어요?
eoryeosseul ttae saldeon jibeun eottaesseoyo?
Filipino/Tagalog:
Paano po ninyo mailalarawan ang inyong tahanan noong bata kayo?
Much love,
Joseph