Ryu's Blog

Learn and Create

Recent Posts

  • J.S. Mill on Human Flourishing

    John Stuart Mill’s Autobiography had a strong impact on me when I read it many years ago. The way his father raised him, eventually leading to his mental breakdown, his relationship with Harriet Taylor, and his thoughts on topics like liberty and happiness, all left a deep impression on me.

    In this post, Henry Oliver summarises Mill’s thoughts on human flourishing, which emphasize becoming a better person (moral), gaining greater skill (practical), and developing higher levels of taste (aesthetic).

    I hope to continue learning, discovering, and building my character.

    Excerpts:

    The Art of Life means not trying to be happy, but developing yourself. Sometimes, in order to be happier, we must do what we dislike. We need the pain of improvement before we can have the happiness of achievement.

    Mill’s art of life, the balancing of the moral, practical, and aesthetic, is about enabling people to raise their aspirations and improve themselves in ways they couldn’t imagine when they began their journey of bildung and discovery.

    If we keep a vision of greatness in mind and develop a nobleness of character, we will be best equipped to practice many-sidedness and to discover the world, rather than accept what other people tell us think.

    So as you make your resolutions, think about how to cultivate your character practically, aesthetically, and spiritually. Be many sided. Keep educating yourself. Discover the world. Aim at something noble.

    I often remind myself of Mill’s quote on happiness:

    Those only are happy … who have their minds fixed on some object other than their own happiness; on the happiness of others, on the improvement of mankind, even on some art or pursuit, followed not as a means, but as itself an ideal end. Aiming thus at something else, they find happiness by the way.

    John Stuart Mill

  • Sketches (H.M.) III

  • Stagnation and Beginning

    Feeling empty or stagnant? Try something new or different. Don’t be afraid of the unknown and uncertainty. New beginnings often offer hope and possibilities.

    That’s my takeaway from this beautiful post by Maria Popova.

    Perhaps the art of harvesting the secret riches of our lives is best achieved when we place profound trust in the act of beginning. Risk might be our greatest ally. To live a truly creative life, we always need to cast a critical look at where we presently are, attempting always to discern where we have become stagnant and where new beginning might be ripening. There can be no growth if we do not remain open and vulnerable to what is new and different. I have never seen anyone take a risk for growth that was not rewarded a thousand times over…

    Sometimes the greatest challenge is to actually begin; there is something deep in us that conspires with what wants to remain within safe boundaries and stay the same… Sometimes a period of preparation is necessary, where the idea of the beginning can gestate and refine itself; yet quite often we unnecessarily postpone and equivocate when we should simply take the risk and leap into a new beginning.

    And in a sense, this is exactly what a beginning does. It is an opening for surprises. Surrounding the intention and the act of beginning, there are always exciting possibilities…

    Part of the art of living wisely is to learn to recognize and attend to such profound openings in one’s life.

    John O’Donohue

    FOR A NEW BEGINNING

    In out-of-the-way places of the heart,
    Where your thoughts never think to wander,
    This beginning has been quietly forming,
    Waiting until you were ready to emerge. 

    For a long time it has watched your desire,
    Feeling the emptiness growing inside you,
    Noticing how you willed yourself on,
    Still unable to leave what you had outgrown. 

    It watched you play with the seduction of safety
    And the gray promises that sameness whispered,
    Heard the waves of turmoil rise and relent,
    Wondered would you always live like this. 

    Then the delight, when your courage kindled,
    And out you stepped onto new ground,
    Your eyes young again with energy and dream,
    A path of plenitude opening before you. 

    Though your destination is not yet clear
    You can trust the promise of this opening;
    Unfurl yourself into the grace of beginning
    That is at one with your life’s desire. 

    Awaken your spirit to adventure;
    Hold nothing back, learn to find ease in risk;
    Soon you will be home in a new rhythm,
    For your soul senses the world that awaits you.

    John O’Donohue

  • Sketches (H.M.) II

  • Strength Training

    During my student years, basketball was my primary sport. After I started working, running became my go-to exercise. Strength training wasn’t a focus for me until recently. One of my goals this year was to start incorporating strength trainings into my routine. Having enough strength is a key component to living a healthy life, as Peter Attia writes extensively (here’s another summary), and we tend to lose muscle as we age.

    A friend recommended a local gym, and I’ve been going there twice a week for about six months. It turned out to be a good experience. My aim is not to become a bodybuilder. After gaining some muscle, I’m focusing on maintaining my muscle mass and enhancing functional strength and mobility. This way, I hope I can continue to enjoy sports and stay active as I age.

    One of my aspirations is to play basketball with my sons when they reach their teenage years. If they’re willing to team up with their ‘old man’ on the court, I’d love for us to play in 3-on-3 basketball games. To make this dream a reality and keep up with them, maintaining a strong and healthy physique is essential.

    Here is a promotional video for the gym I visit if you are interested in seeing my progress.

  • Sketches (H.M.)

  • The Need for Closure

  • The Legend of Zelda Sketches

    “Time passes, people move. Like a river’s flow, it never ends… A childish mind will turn to noble ambition… Young love will become deep affection… The clear water’s surface reflects growth…” – Sheik

    “The only distance that matters is the distance between our hearts.” – Rhondson

  • Melbourne Impressions

    It’s highly walkable with lots of greenery and clean air, so no wonder it’s often ranked as one of the most livable cities. The free tram zone in the CBD is a nice concept.

    Known as the cultural capital of Australia, it tends to attract people interested in the creative industries. There are plenty of museums, galleries, live music, sports, and other events in the city.

    Food is generally good and reasonably priced, thanks to the abundance of fresh locally grown ingredients (meat, dairy, wine, fruits, etc.). It’s cheap to cook at home, and even dining out doesn’t feel expensive relative to Singapore. It also has a strong coffee culture.

    With a population of 6.6 million, it’s somewhere between Singapore and Hong Kong. That seems enough to sustain cultural events and shops without feeling too crowded.

    If there are complaints, it’d be the tenacious flies that seem to stick with you, especially near parks during the summer. And it’s a bit far from other countries for international travel.

  • Final Fantasy XVI Sketches