Deep Life Reflections: Friday Five
Issue 77 - Look Back: Part 1
Welcome to Issue 77 of Deep Life Reflections.
This week, I'm writing to you from Spain, where I'm spending the next two and a half weeks traveling. I really enjoy visiting Spain, with it’s rich history, culture, and beautiful surroundings. During this trip, I’ll be visiting Majorca, Murcia, Seville, and ending my journey in Estepona, a small town along the southern coast. I’m currently in Majorca, staying in Alcúdia Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage site surrounded by 14th-century walls and narrow, colourful streets.
As I travel, I thought this would be the perfect time to take stock and reflect on some key themes from previous issues—after all, we now have 76 editions spanning the last 18 months! This gives you the chance to revisit past insights or discover something you might have missed the first time.
This approach also reflects one of my core beliefs: the importance of stepping back, taking breaks, and allowing ourselves time to recharge and reflect. So, for the next couple of issues, that’s exactly what I'll be doing—revisiting some of the interesting themes from past editions for you to explore at your own pace.
As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts or comments—and if you've been to any of the places I’m visiting in Spain, please share your recommendations or experiences.
So, join me as we look back in this week’s Friday Five.
Rebirth - Issue 19, June 30, 2023
For this special look back, it feels fitting to return to Spain, where I wrote Issue 19 last June. In that edition, titled Rebirth, I explored how travel can act as a powerful catalyst for renewal—a chance to reset, rediscover, and see the world with fresh, childlike wonder.
In that reflection, I discussed Paulo Coelho’s The Pilgrimage, which chronicles his experiences along the Camino de Santiago, a spiritual path through northern Spain to Santiago de Compostela. I also touched on the six-part television series The Trip to Spain, which poignantly captures the lighter yet reflective side of travel.
And that week’s quote came from Mark Twain, a constant source of wisdom.
Whispers in The Grey - Issue 25, August 11
For the second revisit, I’ve selected an issue that remains as relevant as ever—understanding the many shades of grey in complex matters rather than settling for black-and-white positions. In that edition, I highlighted an excellent essay by journalist Amanda Ripley called Complicating the Narratives, Ripley urged reporters to approach complex issues differently, by revealing the full spectrum of perspectives, rather than framing them as binary, polarised debates.
I also reflected on Christopher Nolan’s powerful and haunting biopic Oppenheimer, and contemplated the moral complexities surrounding the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945. Can a decision be both morally justifiable and ethically questionable? This remains a critical question, especially in times of difficult decisions.
That week’s quote came from F. Scott Fitzgerald, and I posed an important question for reflection, one that may still resonate today.
I hope you enjoyed this look back through Deep Life Reflections. Perhaps there are some areas in your own life that might benefit from a pause, offering the space to reflect before moving forward. Thanks as always for reading and being part of the Deep Life Journey community. Have a great weekend.
James
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