Festival Lights to Hockey Heights, Plus Ancient Wisdom, Mind Games & Tech Tools

Author

Ravi Toor
November 01, 2024

Greetings, Tribe!

Welcome to this week's deep dive into the art of living between cultures, celebrating traditions, and pushing boundaries. Let's illuminate some paths.

1. Festival Reflections: Diwali & Bandi Chhor Divas

What I'm tracking: Two festivals, one weekend, countless bridges built. As diyas light up windows from Surrey to Scarborough, something remarkable is happening in our community.

Key moments:

  • Diwali (Oct 31): Symbolizes the triumph of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance. A time for reflection, renewal, and connection with loved ones

  • Bandi Chhor Divas (Nov 1): Commemorates the release of Guru Hargobind Ji and 52 princes from Gwalior Fort. Emphasizes the Sikh principles of freedom and justice.

Maa's Wisdom: "Beta, a diya's flame always points skyward, no matter how you place it." 

Why it matters: These festivals aren't just surviving in Canada - they're thriving, evolving, and building bridges between communities. When my colleagues ask about the significance of diyas, it opens doors to deeper conversations about freedom and justice.

Action item: Take the time to reflect on this day. Celebrate with your loved ones. If you are by yourself, Pick that phone and make the call!

2. Breaking Barriers: Arshdeep Bains' NHL Milestone

What I'm celebrating: Surrey's own Arshdeep Bains just scored his first NHL goal (Oct 27, 2024) with the Vancouver Canucks.

The journey:

  • From Surrey's local rinks to Rogers Arena

  • Undrafted ➡️ Vancouver Canucks (March 2022)

  • First NHL goal (Oct 26, 2024) against Pittsburgh Penguins

Why it matters: This isn't just about hockey - it's about representation in spaces where we were once invisible. Every "Bains" jersey in the crowd is a statement of belonging.

Watch this Epic goal Here

3. The Marshmallow Test: Sweet Lessons in Self-Control

All visuals by AI

Imagine a 4-year-old sitting alone in a room with a marshmallow, promised two if they can resist eating it for 15 minutes. Sounds simple, right? Yet this scenario, cooked up by psychologist Walter Mischel in the 1960s, has been serving up mind-blowing insights about human behaviour for decades.

Here's the juicy part: The kids who held out for that second marshmallow ended up with better SAT scores, lower BMIs, and even healthier relationships years down the line.

But here's where it gets really interesting: Only 30% of kids made it the full 15 minutes. (Feeling better about your last impulse purchase yet?)

  • The successful kids weren't just sitting there in agony. They sang, covered their eyes, and even pretended the marshmallow was a cloud. Distraction was their superpower.

  • Some kids who initially resisted eventually caved. Turns out, willpower is more of a sprint than a marathon.

So, what's the takeaway for us grown-ups still wrestling with our metaphorical marshmallows? Career-wise, it's choosing skill-building over quick wins. Financially, it's saving instead of splurging. Health-wise, it's lacing up for a run instead of Netflix and chilling.

This week's sweet challenge: Identify your "marshmallow" - that temptation you face daily. Can you resist it for a bigger payoff? Document your journey and share it with #TruthTribeMarshmallow.

4. Stoic Wisdom for Modern Challenges

All visuals by AI

I am a huge fan of stoic philosophy. In our fast-paced world, ancient Stoic philosophy offers timeless guidance. Here are three key principles to transform your daily life:

"The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts." - Marcus Aurelius

Action: Start each day with a 2-minute reflection on your mindset.

"We suffer more often in imagination than in reality." - Seneca

Practice: When anxious, ask yourself: "What's the worst that could happen?" and "How likely is that?"

"It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters." - Epictetus

Exercise: Before reacting to a setback, pause and consider multiple perspectives.

Daily Stoic Challenge: This week, choose one principle to focus on. Observe how it influences your decisions and mindset. Share your experience with #StoicTruthTribe.

5. Notion AI: Your Digital Productivity Sidekick

Ever wished for a digital assistant to tackle your to-do list while you sip chai? Meet Notion AI, your new productivity superhero.

🧠 Key Superpowers:

  • Built-in AI: Ask questions, generate content, and find information across your workspace

  • Versatile Workspace: Create wikis, manage projects, set goals, and build websites

  • Customizable: Build your perfect workspace with 100+ content types

  • Collaboration: Share, suggest, and comment with your team

  • Integration: Connect with tools like Slack and Google Drive

Why You'll Love It: Whether you're crafting client proposals or planning family events, Notion adapts to your workflow, making sense of your digital chaos

This Week's Challenge: Use Notion to plan your next project or event. Create a wiki, set up a project board, and use AI to generate task lists and content outlines.

Closing Thoughts

Remember this: You're not just living between cultures. You're creating a new one. Your culture. A culture of infinite possibilities.

Stay fierce. Stay curious. And always, always keep your flame burning bright.

Your Truth Tribe Host

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