Le Weekly #11 – Boiled Potatoes 🥔
One quote, one word, one story, one neigh from Philosophical Horse and one question.
Greetings everyone. Happy Monday!
Take a moment to reflect on each snippet. Comment your thoughts below.
Le Quote 🗣
An excerpt from “How to Live with Life”, a 1960s compilation by The Reader’s Digest:
“There you sit,” Harry Lauder, the Scottish singer and comedian, used to taunt his audience merrily, “—been side by side for two hours, and not one of you spoke to the fellow in the next seat!” And a few there were who, under that warmhearted influence, did not turn and speak to the stranger beside them. It’s as easy as that. A word, a smile, and the stranger at your elbow may become an interesting friend. All through life we deny ourselves stimulating fellowship because we are too proud or too afraid to unbend.
— Donald Culross Peattie
Le Word 💬
bend (noun). a curve in a road, river, path, or racing circuit.
Le Shoutout 🧣
Written in July 2023
This morning, there was a spec of dirt on my table when I arrived at Vida. I fetched a napkin, wiped the spec of dirt away, put my bag down and jumped in the line to order.
A guy in the line in front of me had watched all this happen. I had entered Vida a few seconds before him, but he got to the line first. He realised I would have been in front of him had I not wiped the dirt away. But, because of said dirt, I was behind.
He gestured for me to stand in front of him. I declined and gestured for our positions to remain the same.
He smiled, accepted, gestured his thanks, and turned back around. While ordering his coffee, he turned around once more to ask what coffee I wanted.
“Double Americano, please sir.”
He paid for it.
Five minutes earlier, I had contemplated whether I should even buy a coffee that morning. Finances were tight. After some light deliberation, I decided to go to the coffee shop (instead of making coffee at home) because of the potential human interactions a coffee shop usually unlocks.
The double Americano arrived. I took a sip of the scalding liquid and reflected on what had just happened. Thanks to Ahlil, my cup had been filled. Literally.
It reinforced my belief that small actions and decisions have enormous ramifications on everyone around us. My decision to go to Vida was small. My decision to wipe the dirt off the table was small. Ahlil’s decision to offer me his place in the line was small. My decision to decline his offer was small. Ahlil’s decision to buy my coffee was small. However, the cumulative impact of these small decisions was large. We smiled at each other as we enjoyed the bubble of human connection, and then disappeared on our individual paths forever.
There are a few morals of this story.
1. If there is dirt on your table, don’t worry; just wipe it.
2. Life’s timing can produce enormous significance in a matter of seconds. This significance cannot be fabricated; it can only happen. To unlock it, you need to be in the world, so be in the world.
3. Be nice to strangers; you never know how enormously your small actions will impact or be perceived by others. As always, the Golden Rule comes first.
Shoutout Ahlil. Thanks for the coffee.
Le Story ✍️
The other day, I went to my mom’s house for dinner. Before dinner, we went for a quick walk around the park. Before the walk, she put some potatoes in the oven to cook while we were out. After the walk, before dinner, she pulled the potatoes out of the oven. We were expecting crispy potatoes, but the potatoes hadn’t crisped like usual. Sure, they were cooked, but they were not crispy.
My mom apologised for the lack of crispness. I suggested we simply pretend the potatoes were boiled.
So, we ate dinner, and the boiled potatoes were very delicious.
Le Neigh from Philosophical Horse 🐴
“Neigh” – Philosophical Horse.
Le Question 🤔
What can you boiledpotato (verb) in your life right now?
Have a great Monday, everyone!
Previous Newsletters:
(Remember to send this to someone who you think would enjoy Le Weekly)
#10 – Back Shampoo 🧼
#09 – Muscular Swallows 🐦
#08 – Long Wood 🪵
#07 – Impactful Leaf 🍃
#06 – Vulnerable Ankles 🦵
#05 – Sea Sea TV 📸
#04 – Treadmill Queue 💦
#03 – Lemonade 🍋
#02 – Meat Factory 🥩
#01 – Woolworths Maternitywear 👚
My favourite weekly so far👏🏽
inspiring as ever