JETS JOURNAL - #077
April 8, 2025
Hi All!
Here is your weekly round up of what I’m pondering and exploring. Feel free to forward along to a friend if you think they might enjoy.
Spin The Wheel
Whenever I’m struggling with making a decision, I spin the wheel.
And when I say spin the wheel, I literally mean I goto an online random wheel spinner, input my options, and hit spin.
And no, I’m not doing this to abandon my agency, and leave my fate in the hands of chance.
I’m doing this because it helps reveal what I really want.
Once the wheel lands on a winner, one of two things happen inside my gut.
I’m happy with the outcome.
I’m not happy with the outcome, and I realise what I wanted all along.
Now, this isn’t to say my heart is always right, and it will always make the best decisions for me. But it is a simple way to bring clarity to my decision making process, by either confirming what I want, or making me reconsider what I thought I wanted.
If ever you’re unsure about a decision, try spinning the wheel.
Combining technology with ancient wisdom
I’ve recently started working at a new job that has been really mentally stimulating for me. Without saying too much, it involves integrating some of the latest technology with ancient Aboriginal wisdom.
This has been very inspiring , and eye-opening to me, especially as an Aboriginal Australian myself, who has felt very disconnected from his culture for most of his life, mostly due to the fact I don’t look or feel like your traditional Aboriginal.
Anyway, besides that trauma dump, I think there is something very interesting with how Indigenous people view the world, and their relationship in it. I appreciate that in these cultures, not only in Australia, but across the world, there is a reciprical appreciation for ones environment.
Here, you do not own land, you care for it, and you are its steward.
Which in the western world, is an incomprensible idea to wrap your head around, because we’re all running around wanting to own, anything, and everything.
I wrote an article called Beyond Human Relationships, that spoke about this idea of treating the things in your immediate environment with the same levels of respect as a relationship with another human.
If you’re interested you can read it here.
However, I don’t know everything about traditional Indigenous worldviews, and the natural world, so I’ve put together a reading list I’ve started working through to try expand my knowledge.
Here is the book list and order I plan on reading them in:
The Adventures of Nature: The Adventures of Alexander Von Humboldt by Andrea Wulf
Walden by Henry David Thoreau
The Hidden Life of Trees by Peter Wohlleben
Thinking in Systems by Donella H. Meadows
The Biggest Estate on Earth: How Aboriginees Made Australia by Bill Gammage
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Teachings, Scientific Knowledge, and The Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer
And, will I read all of these?
I don’t know, but I’m really enjoying the first book on the list, and plan on continuing on my journey of following my curiosity in my lifelong education.
Cathedrals are everywhere
Suprisingly, editing my own book, has reinvigorated my passion for photography, and learning to see the world again.
Last week I mentioned that I created an online photo diary to dump whatever photos I took on my phone. I’ve now, hidden that website, (unless you know where to look) so I can keep it as a place soley for me to capture the things I find interesting in my day-to-day.
And although most of the days I’m capturing are me commuting to my job, and living a very normal life, it has forced me to look a little closer at the world, and appreciate the moments that would normally just pass by me.
Which brings me back to why I love photography, and writing, because it taught me how to see.
My book, which I’m sure you will eventually get to read one day, reminds me of how beautiful it is becoming a tourist in your own city, and realising you don’t need to travel to the other side of the world to see beauty, because it’s already everywhere around us, no matter where we are in the world.
So, to conclude this section of the newsletter, I want to leave a post I found with you.
The Minecraft Movie
Last week I watched The Minecraft Movie with a few friends, and although it was terrible, it was ironically one of the best cinematic experiances I’ve ever had.
I’ve never been to a movie in my life, and experianced such an engaged audience, who would scream, clap, and shout so loudly.
It’s might sound crazy, but this feels like a moment todays generation are going to look back on with so much glee. So, if you haven’t already, go watch it with some friends, and yell out some stupid shit.
IGNORE ALL ADVICE (EVEN THIS)
This is a fantastic video I think everyone should watch.
Hope everyone enjoys their week.
Love,
Jet Williams