If you look back at the initiatives you took when you were younger, many of them seem foolish and obviously wrong in retrospect, you might even feel quite embarrassed by some of them; but that was also the only way, the only people who make no mistake are people who do nothing. In doubt, when you feel stuck, choose the direction of what you fear (out of embarrassment, out of insecurity, out of awareness of your ignorance); that's usually how you will actually optimize your growth and unlock the more extraordinary timelines that you could live. That's also therapy for your anxiety, it's much healthier to be wrong and move forward, than be neither right nor wrong but stuck in confusion. #orangebook

Growing up poor but with access to a high-quality education is actually a good starting point for a meaningful life. You quickly learn the value of money in a non-materialistic way. You are incentivized to learn about the world and develop your own skills. You know you are alone and won't be given anything unless you prove your worth. You plan, you execute, you enjoy an unpredictably great journey. All the "success stories" that started with "I had no money" somehow omit the education part, maybe because it became too obvious in most parts of the world, but knowing people who grew up with parents who couldn't read and write (and therefore, not think with clarity either), there are many cases where you will never be able to truly "catch up" if your starting point in life is too unlucky. #orangebook

It's becoming clear that the people most capable of appreciating the best things in life, are actually the people who went through the worst and overcame it. An ordinary day feels like a blessing when you've overcome disease and death. An ordinary job feels like a life-changing opportunity when the whole world looked at you as if you were not needed. A bit of time and freedom to follow your true interests feels like the ultimate luxury when you were always too busy, forced to play games that everyone else were mechanically playing too. A bit of financial security feels like the highest wealth when you've been worried about money every single day. A thoughtful friend feels like a miracle when you grew up being rejected by everyone because of your differences. A loving family with who you can communicate effortlessly feels like yet another miracle when all you knew was manipulative relatives and pointless drama. #orangebook