Dear JereMaya

Questions Worth Asking:

• What will we be doing the exact moment when crisis, terrible news, disaster, or imminent death finds us?
• Will you let fear, misery, and hopelessness dominate your mind for "What If?" doomsday scenarios?
• What can we be doing or experiencing in our lives that could be considered "human" or "sensible?"
• How would you like to spend your final moments and with who?

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Music: "I'll be with you" by Moments
Cover art by Irasutoya

Much of my research and reasoning about the crisis in Ukraine is sourced from Professor Mearsheimer's lecture at the University of Chicago and this explanation from RealLifeLore.

Questions Worth Asking:

• Who is to blame for the crisis in Ukraine? Hint: It's not all because of Putin.
• What are the core stake interests of Russia and how does NATO's relationship with Ukraine threaten those factors?
• Who is suffering from this crisis?
• What can we do to help those in need?

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Music: "The Long Road Home" by Moments and "Look to the Sky" by Alice in Winter
Cover Art: Mike Louie

Questions Worth Asking:

• Have you considered online dating? Do you think there is a chance you can find (or be found by) the Love of Your Life online?
• If you're up for online dating, what information and photos are there about you from a Google search? Make sure it looks good!
• What are you willing to do to woo this potential interest? Are those sacrifices / gestures worthwhile and meaningful? Or simply expensive yet shallow?
• Should you use a meal coupon card for a first-time date? hah! 

— 

Music:  

“Solemnly” by Acreage, “Days Ahead” by Aeroplanes, “Risk Rewards” by Lone Canyon, “Phases” by Nu Alkemi, and “Remember” by Gold Coast 

Podcast Cover Art by Irasutoya 

Questions Worth Asking:

• What do you want to be known for?
• What are things about yourself that you cannot change? 
• What are things about yourself that you CAN change?
• Does your physical appearance inform people as to who you are? Is this the perception you want people to have of you?
• How do you make people feel when you are around them?
• How do you think people talk about you when you're not around?
• What are your personal values?
• What are you passionate about?
• If you are struggling with any of these questions today, can you think of a time when you were confident in answering them? If so, cling to those moments and build up from there.

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Music: “Pace” by EVOE, “Internal Clock” by Stephen Keech, “Rise Again” by EVOE, “White Sand” by Four Trees, “In the Middle” by Four Trees, “Oathkeeper” by Four Trees, and a Yet-To-Be-Named-Song by Maya Louie 

Artwork by Irasutoya

Questions Worth Asking:

• How do you identify as a Chinese American (or if you're not Chinese or American, how do you define your ethnicity and nationality)?
• If you were competing in the Olympics and lived most of your life in America, would you compete for the USA or your ancestors' home country?
• Can you identify with America's history (or if you're not in America, the history of the country you live in)? Does this country's history have a direct influence on who you are today?
• What does loyalty mean to you and can you be critical of someone/your country while being loyal?
• What is your family's history? What major moments happened that changed the trajectory of your family's success/failures?
• Do you have a sense of patriotic duty? And if not, should you?

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Music: “Prism Spark” by Cody Martin, “Mountain Air” by Reveille, “Dance of the Dying Swan” by Enoch Yang, and “A New Perspective” by Ryan Smart
Cover Art by Irasutoya

Questions Worth Asking:

• When someone asks you, "Who are you, and what do you do?", how would you respond? How do you explain who you are beyond expressing your name?
• When you are working, what do you love about your career? What do you not like about your career? And what drives you bonkers about this career? Answer these questions at least once a year and see if these factors have changed over time, especially as you grow and build up your skills and knowledge.
• What values and lifestyle are you pursuing and can you pursue a career that aligns with those values and lifestyle?
• If you are good at something, does it mean you should pursue it as a career? 
• Likewise, if you are passionate about something, does it mean you should pursue it as a career?
• Have you seen Kindergarten Cop yet?

Music: "New Beginning" by EVOE, "Memories of Forever" by Markus Huber, "Distant" by EVOE, and "Empyre" by Cody Martin
Cover Art: Irasutoya

Questions Worth Asking:

• When you meet or live with the Love of Your Life, what particular things are you willing to sacrifice for his/her benefit?
• While you reflect on certain sacrifices or compromises on your part, have you considered what your partner has already given up to make your life better? Name two to three to yourself and appreciate the effort and express to him/her how much you respect him/her for such thoughtfulness.
• When you are with someone, does he/she make you laugh frequently? If so, that's "keeper" material!

Music: "Arcadia" by Cody Martin, "In the Movies" by Bellodrone, and "Beginnings" by Tide Electric
Episode Art by Irasutoya

Big thank you to my wife who captured this precious moment (click to see photo) when the twins and I finished the last book of Harry Potter. 

Questions Worth Asking:

• What stories have you read / seen/ heard that make you reflect on your childhood?
• Regarding these stories that make you think about your past and knowing what you know now, what would you have done differently?
• When you think about your biggest regrets, does that experience drive or influence who you are today? If not, should it?

Music: "1900" by Lincoln Davis, "Magic" by Four Trees, and "Belief" by Lincoln Davis
Cover Art by Irasutoya

Questions Worth Asking:

• Why do people pursue New Year's Resolutions?
• Why do New Year's Resolutions often fail?
• Why is it important to have an Objective?
• Why is it important to have Key Results?
• What is an OKR that I should pursue this year?

Additional Resource: Mike's 2022 Marathon Training Plan

Music: "Our Imperfect Place" by Adrian Walther, "Orbital Anomaly" by Cody Martin, "The Here & Now" by Memory Theory.
Cover Art by Irasutoya

Questions Worth Asking:

• What was the good, the bad, and the ugly for you this year?
• Even if you have a job you find worthwhile, would a 3-hour commute be worth it? What's your limit when it comes to commute time?
• When people are hurting, are you actively helping them with empathy? Or do you not have any energy or love within yourself to love others?
• Are you on good terms with those closest to you? If not, have you considered making amends or being gracious (especially in light of so many folks losing their lives due to a pandemic)?

Music: "Reflections" from Hill and "Reflections" from Wild Wonder
Cover Art by Irasutoya