🐥The Paradox of Now #7

Does Death Drink Hot Drinks?

Hi people!

I see you regular folk out there supporting me and I really do appreciate you more than you realise.

In the spirit of honesty (as always), I’ll admit that new subscriber rates are slowing down. If you enjoy this newsletter and can think of just one person who might like it too, feel free to send it their way using the referral link at the end of the newsletter.

They get a great read, you get a free gift, and I get to keep making the best content for you.

Win-win-win.

Thanks, as always!

Also… did anyone spot the difference in last week’s newsletter?

Yep, Haiku was facing the wrong way. 

What does it mean? Some deep, hidden message? A cryptic clue?

Nope. I just put him the other way around and didn’t realise.

Now let me give you some clues on what’s to come:

• The man behind one of my regrettable tattoos

• Death’s drink of choice

• A hot take on desiccated coconut

🥚Eggstra News🥚

Your weekly dose of some fascinating and fun finds:

• Alain de Botton – A must-listen. Wise, insightful, and human. I played this episode twice - it’s that good.

• Writers – A simple yet powerful page for word lovers. My go-to for inspiration.

• Mike Boyd – Learns new skills and tracks his progress. A huge inspiration - one of my tattoos is because of this video!

The Paradox of Now

Supporting great creators like these, also help to massively support me and help me to produce the best content I can for you.

20 seconds of your time could make the world of difference for me 😁

Thank you.

Looking for unbiased, fact-based news? Join 1440 today.

Join over 4 million Americans who start their day with 1440 – your daily digest for unbiased, fact-centric news. From politics to sports, we cover it all by analyzing over 100 sources. Our concise, 5-minute read lands in your inbox each morning at no cost. Experience news without the noise; let 1440 help you make up your own mind. Sign up now and invite your friends and family to be part of the informed.

Subscribe to 1440 today.

Message me on socials if you’d like to feature in this section. 🙂

The Provisional Life

At the beginning of every journal, I write a quote or a line that resonates with me -something that becomes my guiding light for the pages that follow.

In my most recent journal, I opened with this quote:

Now that I've filled those pages and closed that chapter, it feels right to reflect on what those words have meant to me.

Ironically, I encountered this same concept in Oliver Burkman's "4000 Weeks" after I'd already chosen it for my journal.

Perhaps coincidence is closer to planned happenstance than we realise.

This quote hits so hard every time I read it. It contains a truth so potent, so profound, that it needs almost no explanation.

But I thought I would share my take on it anyway.

336 Months (ish) of Wisdom

Life is now. Not later. Not "when."

"When I get a house, I'll be happy." "When I land that job, I'll finally start living." We chase and we chase and we chase... and then we fall into our graves already dug for us without even noticing.

Pursuit matters in this life—I'm not denying that. But chase something like how you chased a butterfly or pigeon as a child for the first time.

With pure elation and blissful naivety.

Equally essential are moments of presence and of absolute nothingness.

Those moments when you stare so intently into the centre of a daisy, enamoured by nature's effortless display of the Fibonacci Sequence spiralling outward.

The traffic roaring along the motorway just beyond the park fades to nothing but distant white noise.

A reminder that mathematics and chaos can coexist in the same moment.

When you savour the taste of an orange, even as you remove a seed from what was promised to be "seedless."

Capture and remember those feelings of what it's like to feel alive and grateful for the simplest of things.

Like that perfect childhood moment of a cold jug of squash with ice waiting on the kitchen table after hours of playing football in the park—when nothing had ever tasted so good or felt so necessary.

Snap out of the nostalgia and into a reality check.

There is no idyllic future waiting for us. The future is now. In the present.

Whether we like it or not, we're designed to be progressive, forward-looking creatures.

It's how we got here—descendants of generations of forward-striving people. Generations who fought hardships that are genuinely incomprehensible to those living now.

We're the cream of the crop.

Because of tiresome and valiant efforts of those who came before us.

Our ancestors have ingrained this into our own DNA in order for us to survive.

But this blessing is also our burden: we must fight against always moving forward and learn to find pleasure in the stillness of the life we're living right now.

This is no prelude. This is no warm-up.

Whatever you believe happens after death is your business. But this is your one go-around as the person you are right now.

These are your allotted 920 approximate months on this planet.

Your happiness and your being exist right here and right now.

This is not a practice run. This is it.

It's scary. Of course it's scary.

But there's beauty in this realism. There's something about staring death in the face that's thrilling, that makes us feel truly alive.

And I don't think enough people acknowledge death and its inevitability.

I ask that you do not fear death.

Fearing an inevitability such as this is irrational.

Instead, fear leading a provisional life.

Let that fear be your fuel in the initial instance. Igniting your journey, propelling you towards what truly matters.

And like a rocket shedding its boosters, release it when it has served its purpose.

Walk past death as if he's a friendly stranger in the street. Tip your cap to him. Acknowledge his existence.

Let death watch you from a distance—like a proud parent at the sidelines of a game, leaning against the rail, a polystyrene cup of coffee in hand.

Two sugars.

Silent, observant, making note of every move, yet never interfering.

When the game is finished, he'll be waiting for you proudly. With a sincere smile on his face and with open arms.

But only if you play the game of life properly.

Haiku’s Haiku 🐥

Would you like Haiku to explore new scenery, or should we wait for the blossom to bloom, the river to clear, and the sun to shine?

Share your thoughts—we're always open to suggestions to enhance your reading experience!

Palm Tree Euphoria 🌴

I bought some desiccated coconut last week because I was feeling fancy.

I left Aldi with just this one item.

That's all I have to say really.

Until my brain does its usual thing where it refuses to shut up…

You never hear the word "desiccated" describe anything else.

Just coconut.

Why are coconuts granted this exclusive linguistic privilege?

Are other foods not worthy of desiccation?

It got me thinking:

Send me your favourite answers on social media or reply to this email. First person to guess my favourite gets a shout-out next newsletter.

It’s basically like getting a big shiny sticker in front of all your classmates, cellotape and all.

COME ON! WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

And whilst your at it go check out my socials if you’d be so kind.

See you dashing ducks over there! 🐥 

• LinkedIn - Scott Mayo

• Instagram - The Paradox of Now

• X/Twitter - Scott Mayo: The Paradox of Now