i lied.

last week, i posted a video with my brother saying i’d be heading to brazil in two weeks.

well, it’s only been a week, and i’m already here, lmao.

ok, so i didn’t technically lie since i filmed that video a week before posting it, but still.

the flight to brazil was brutal.

you see, my sleep schedule last week was a complete mess. i’ve been falling asleep between 4 and 6 am. usually, i sleep from 11 pm - 7 am, but flying from la to texas and staying up late on calls with friends in la (gotta love that 2-hour time difference) has completely destroyed my internal clock.

my flight to brazil left at around 8 pm and landed at 5 am. i really tried to sleep during that 9-hour flight, but i wasn’t getting tired. to make matters worse, brazil hit me with a two-hour time jump, so it was actually 7 am when we landed.

i remember feeling stressed that i might have just ruined my sleep schedule for my entire stay in brazil.

i crashed for a quick nap from 8 am to 11 am, hopped on a one-hour connecting flight, forced myself to stay awake for the rest of the day, passed out at 10 pm…and miraculously woke up at 7 am the next morning.

yo.

im insane.

i’m actually low-key proud of myself for pulling that off.

takeaways:

• don’t go to sleep at 5 am

• sleep is kind of important

• i need sleep to operate

from the garden 🌷

here’s what a few of you said about what’s a compliment someone gave you that stuck with you?

wow. i sometimes forget how impactful it can be to give someone a compliment. even the simple ones tend to stick with us and help us form a more positive self-image.

i’m currently trying to expand my music taste so here’s a question for next week:

what’s a song that brings you back to a specific moment in your life?

if you want your response featured on this newsletter’s next issue fill out this form!

community spotlight 💬

hey erina,

most of us would love to stop comparing ourselves to others, but it’s usually easier said than done.

back in high school, i was in an incredibly competitive environment. most of my friends were high achievers and constantly brought up their grades on tests and assignments.

as a result, i pushed myself to uncomfortable lengths to achieve perfect grades to feel like i belonged in those conversations. it got so bad that my self-worth got attached to my grades.

i also struggled with comparing my skills as a viola player to younger students and prodigies.

i’d watch a youtube video of a 7-year-old flawlessly playing a piece i was still working on and think poorly of myself.

here are a few things that have helped me get out of this comparison mindset:

remove yourself from the environment. it’s hard not to compare when everyone around you is doing it. stepping away from those groups can help ease that external pressure.

remember that your path is your own. your circumstances, background, and timing are completely different from anyone else’s. sure, that 7-year-old is better than you at the viola, but he also started playing when he was four and practiced 40 hours every day.

reframe others’ successes as inspiration. instead of feeling discouraged by what someone else achieved, try seeing it as proof that it’s possible. their success doesn’t take away from yours. feel proud for them and hopeful for yourself.

i’ll be honest. i still catch myself comparing myself to others at times. however, i’ve made a lot of progress, and that progress is something to be proud of.

p.s. if you want your question featured in next week’s newsletter, fill out this form!!

YOOOOOOO

i’m honestly surprised i’ve been able to actually get these issues out every week lol. although it’s quite the commitment, writing every week and sharing with you guys has been both incredibly fulfilling and rewarding. thanks for sticking around.

wishing you all the best,

tulio sasaya