So much to “chew on” here, Hoang! Love all your links, recommendations and excellent food stories. I can also relate to having everything to be thankful for yet yearning for lives and experiences I’ve never had. Even at my advanced age, I can’t always say I’m satisfied with the moment I’m in.
Since you mentioned a Holocaust memoir you liked, here’s one more recent one I recommend called “Lily’s Promise,” a memoir told by a 90-something-year-old woman with the help, encouragement and social media skills of her teenage great grandson. I listened to it as an audio book and found it moving and inspiring.
This a wonderful article Hoang. I really enjoyed the way you explored your feelings about being vaguely dissatisfied with your life, and I agree that we all feel like this from time to time. Or maybe not everyone feels like this? I should only speak for myself I suppose. When you get older you also worry that time has run out for you to magically reinvent yourself. This is complemented by other days when I feel profoundly grateful for everything I have.
I also loved Jane Pek’s book. It was funny and thought provoking.
Thanks Marg! In general, I don't think that this feeling has to do with age...I think everyone feels it. The "waiting for the shoe to drop" feeling for me probably has something to do with seeing how others around me be so pessimistic sometimes and it can get to you. But then there are people who say 'you only have one life, so make it your best' which sounds totally cliché, like a self-help book concept that's been touted for years! there's also others who believe in multiple lives, i.e. reincarnation. I tend to lean towards the latter. Anyhoo, there's no 'right' answer to this, I'm just babbling...
So much to “chew on” here, Hoang! Love all your links, recommendations and excellent food stories. I can also relate to having everything to be thankful for yet yearning for lives and experiences I’ve never had. Even at my advanced age, I can’t always say I’m satisfied with the moment I’m in.
Since you mentioned a Holocaust memoir you liked, here’s one more recent one I recommend called “Lily’s Promise,” a memoir told by a 90-something-year-old woman with the help, encouragement and social media skills of her teenage great grandson. I listened to it as an audio book and found it moving and inspiring.
Wow awesome, I’ll check it out! Also cool because my daughter’s name is Lily 😀
This a wonderful article Hoang. I really enjoyed the way you explored your feelings about being vaguely dissatisfied with your life, and I agree that we all feel like this from time to time. Or maybe not everyone feels like this? I should only speak for myself I suppose. When you get older you also worry that time has run out for you to magically reinvent yourself. This is complemented by other days when I feel profoundly grateful for everything I have.
I also loved Jane Pek’s book. It was funny and thought provoking.
Thanks Marg! In general, I don't think that this feeling has to do with age...I think everyone feels it. The "waiting for the shoe to drop" feeling for me probably has something to do with seeing how others around me be so pessimistic sometimes and it can get to you. But then there are people who say 'you only have one life, so make it your best' which sounds totally cliché, like a self-help book concept that's been touted for years! there's also others who believe in multiple lives, i.e. reincarnation. I tend to lean towards the latter. Anyhoo, there's no 'right' answer to this, I'm just babbling...