Dear ,

As you may know I'm teaching my bootcamp tomorrow. Not gonna lie it's been hard staying focused writing it because my heart is heavy and my mind is going places with what's happening in the world.

Living in a safe country like Singapore it's hard to really care about the state of our environment or the violence and hate happening in the world.

I've been embarrassed about this, actually.

Like, I care logically because I see the consequences and imagine how I'd feel if I was going through it. But because I've personally never experienced a fire, or a flood, or genuinely feared for my life, I'm not "attached" to the issue.

On the other hand, I started guiding people to own their voice because I've personally felt the pain and shame that comes with the fear of speaking up. That is a pain I very easily care about because I know how it feels like, vividly. I am very "attached" to the issue.

The thing is, I want to care about the world. Not just care logically, but to care care. I believe that we as humanity are all connected, and when one of us hurts, we all hurt.

Travel has helped me expand my world in some way. When I stepped out of my safe Singapore bubble and hung out with local villagers in Vietnam or sat down for a generously home cooked meal with an auntie who's kindness was born from the betrayal she had experienced in her life.

Having friends from around the world has helped. I remember a conversation I had with one of the sweetest most hospitable people I know - she always welcomed me to her home with home cooked meals and thought of me when she came across jobs that suited me. She showed me videos sent by her family - people running away from explosions. She said with a heavy heart - I'm conflicted, and afraid for people around me to know that I'm from Israel.

This is just one story, and hearing it from people I have a personal relationship with ached my heart.

This past week, I sense a shift within me. I felt pain in my heart for the world and my mind kept spiralling into: What can I do? What can I even do? What is the point of my work?

My very individual concerns suddenly become so trivial. Like thinking about growing my business, or making money, or inviting more peeps for tomorrow's bootcamp. Like, these are such small things compared to what people are concerned about in the world. "Lol everything is so stupid" I thought to myself.

The "trigger" for me was seeing photos and videos of the floods in Bali.

Bali holds a special place in my heart.

I had my first digital nomad experience in Bali in 2022. It opened my eyes up to possibility, to the life I could create for myself.

I went back to Bali in 2024 to heal from burnout and workaholism. I discovered dance in Bali - and how I could feel so deeply connected with my body.

I made friends in Bali, friends I actually went back to visit. And I've experienced the love, kindness, and hospitality of the Balinese. And the way they respect their traditions with so much discipline and faith touched me.

So to see videos of buildings collapsing and locals stranded waist first in greyish waters really broke my heart. Especially knowing that these floods are not just the result of the unrelenting rain, but how human activities have amplified its severity. Poorly maintained draining systems. Extreme consumption due to increase in tourists. How the rivers are filled with plastic.

And lots of foreign investments into villas, exceeding what the land can handle. Most of the time the people investing in the villas don't even live there. They don't need to think about the consequences of their choices, they only think about how much money they can make. Yes, they lost their investment. But they probably already made it all back and can easily do their business somewhere else. Locals have no where to go. This is their home.

So I searched for reliable charities I could donate to, and have been keeping Bali in prayers.

As I do so, I think about the ways I have been consuming. In today's world, we can get everything instantly though Amazon's one-click (or just 2 seconds on Shopee). How many times have I thought "aiya just buy, so cheap anyway", failing to consider the bigger impact my choice has?

68,733 phones produced per hour. 190,000 garments produced each minute. 12,000 kg of plastic produced each second. In an eye opening documentary "Buy Now: The Shopping Conspiracy" on Netflix - more than 15 million unwanted clothes are sent to Ghana. Most end up on the beaches because that's just too many.

Do you know what happens to our discarded electronics? Sent to countries where labour is cheaper, for them to burn - emitting gases that result in health issues for people in that country. Not us. And yet we line up for the latest phone launches.

Fires, floods, conflict, hate, division - to me I see it as a result of one key issue: Neglecting our humanity.

When we have the privilege to order our meals with one click, we don't see the people who made our food and delivered it.

When we have the privilege of choice and convenience in swiping on apps, we don't need to be patient to actually know a person. We can filter them with our checklist.

When it is so easy to type our opinions and click "comment" without showing our faces, we don't need to consider the complexities of the other party. Especially when we disagree with them. Cuz everything is black and white, right?

And the thing is - it is not our fault. We've been subtly taught to compete and judge growing up. In school our value is determined by our individual grades. At work we’re shown that there are limited positions “on top” and we fight for it because it's prestigious.

We were taught to believe that our success and worth is determined by money, status, and number of followers, so its no surprise that we fail to pause and pay attention to the things that cannot be measured - relationships, community, our presence.

The more we believe we have to chase money and external validation, the more pain and problems we create for ourselves.

The more we are troubled by our individual problems, the more distracted we are from what's happening around us.

And in today's world where one person's voice can cause massive hurt and highlight ideological divide, it is important now, more than ever, to recognise the power of our voice - to hurt and to heal.

When others hurt, we hurt. When we heal, the world starts healing.

And though I did take a couple of hours to whine and get out of the whole "what's the point of anything" situation... I remember a few hopeful truths:

1/ We have the ability to contribute as we are.

As a "naive Singaporean" I've always felt small when it comes to contribution. Like, what do I know? What can I do?

Fear and doubt keeps us small. Why spend time thinking whether I should say something or do something, when I can just DO IT??

Do it stupid. Do it unprepared. But most importantly, do it with love.

When your actions and words stem from love, you're contributing more than you know.

2/ A distracted generation is an unhelpful generation.

It is not that you're not good enough. You are. You are enough. You're just distracted. Distracted by what you think people think about you. Distracted by what you think you should chase. Distracted by all these things keeping you from what you need: to heal. Distracted by what the world needs: to heal. What all of us need: To love and be loved.

When we're present, we observe our thoughts. We consider our actions. We take a close look at our choices. Presence creates space for care.

3/ We are meant to be in community. Not living alone in our own boxes working on our own things.

When we recognise that we are part of a larger ecosystem, we consider the health of the people and living organisms around us.

Blind hustle and fear-based work cultures make us feel like we have to protect our own stuff all the time.

Do yourself and all of us a favour and create space for connection. At least once a week, be around people who inspire and uplift you. People who see love not as a nice little feeling but as responsibility. People who are intentional and take accountability.

Challenge yourself. Meet people you don't usually meet, so you don't get stuck in an echo chamber of same plain opinions.

Take time to learn about yourself. Recognise your biases. Get curious about your unique voice. Participate in conversations. Do it with courage.

And at the end of the day, do what you can. Like seriously stop worrying if you are good enough. You can find ways to contribute as you are.

For me, my contribution is my voice - I use it despite fear. (like for this email - lots of fear thinking I don't know enough to write about this)

I contribute with my insight, my presence, my gift in connection and storytelling. People have told me that hearing me speak and teach has "kicked them in the butt" to own their voice. That is my work. Reminding you of your power, so you can contribute meaningfully in your own way.

And as I heal, learn, grow, and connect - I'll find other ways to contribute that fills my heart and hopefully does something in this world.

Would love to hear your thoughts ❤️

For those of you who have signed up for tomorrow's bootcamp, I'm excited to meet you. Let this be the spirit in which we begin.

In your corner,

Rae xx