Myfather and mother had three children. Today, one is Australian (me), and one is Canadian. And one Sri Lankan.
My father and mother had ten grandchildren. Today, seven are Australians, two Canadians and one Sri Lankan.
I have four children and four grandchildren. All of them are Australians.
I am writing this as nationalities and gender are fluid as humanity progresses.
My descendants could be in any number of countries and hold multiple nationalities as the world continues to evolve with the rapid use of technology and advances in transport.
I did a bit of calculation today. In my adult life, I have spent 5% in Sri Lanka, 32% in the Middle East and 63% in Australia. So, here’s some advice from someone who lived without borders.
I have no idea where you will live. Which part of this world you’d live in? Which planet may you live on eventually?
I cannot predict the gender you’d be. But you are bound to be beautiful.
Whoever you are, you can be strong. No matter how you look and carry on yourself. You don’t need to fit any box. You can make your own box.
Self-esteem is the reputation you have with yourself. It is your gift to yourself that you need to give generously.
Before you love anybody, love yourself.
Be a rationalist. Be with an open mind.
Don’t be comfortable with yourself. By unsettling yourself, you will experience life in a good way. But, of course, do it rationally.
Be an optimist, even in the worst situation. Suffering is cleansing. Cleansing of the soul and the mind.
Be a clear thinker. Learn to cut out the noise. This comes with practice and retrospection.
Be hungry, be hungry for knowledge and wisdom. Be damned hungry.
Take control and take stock all the time. It will lead to independence. Independence of the mind, well-being and wealth.
Leave the planet in a better state than the one you inherited with your actions.
Cultivate the seed of change. That may come with pain, but you will win in the end.
Desire is a motivator.
Happiness is peace, a blissful state. So develop your mind to be happy and serene.
Cultivate a reading habit. Reading every day gives you a superpower.
Be a lifelong learner. Cultivate a desire to learn something new every day. Continue to be curious. Be curious, to the point of sounding annoying.
Develop good new habits.
Pick good role models and mentors. Then, have a vast support network you can rely on.
Cultivate friends who accept you for what you are. Have three friends you can be vulnerable with.
Ignore complainers and negative, angry people. Avoid them, for they do not add anything to your life.
Get up early and sleep early; every day is new and fresh.
Do everything you want to do with less angst.
Follow your dreams remaining optimistic.
CHATGPT version of my advice
Embrace your strength, no matter your appearance or demeanour. You have the power to create your own identity and don’t need to conform to anyone else’s expectations.
Foster a positive relationship with yourself by prioritising self-esteem. Treat yourself with kindness and generosity.
Practice self-love before seeking love from others.
Embrace a rational and open-minded approach to life.
Challenge yourself regularly to experience life to the fullest, but always do so rationally.
Remain optimistic, even in difficult situations. Remember that suffering can lead to personal growth and inner peace.
Cultivate clear thinking by learning to tune out distractions. This takes practice and self-reflection.
Stay hungry for knowledge and wisdom. Seek out opportunities to expand your understanding of the world.
Take control of your life and regularly assess your progress. This will lead to greater independence, both mentally and financially.
Take action to leave the world better than you found it.
Embrace change, even with discomfort, for it will ultimately lead to positive outcomes.
Use desire as a motivator for achieving your goals.
Cultivate a peaceful and happy mindset by developing your mind.
Develop a daily reading habit; it will give you a powerful advantage.
Remain a lifelong learner by seeking out new knowledge and experiences. Maintain a curious and inquisitive nature.
Form positive habits and seek out mentors and role models for guidance. Build a strong support network of friends who accept you for who you are.
Surround yourself with positive and supportive people and distance yourself from negativity and anger.
Establish a routine of waking up and going to bed early for a fresh start each day.
Approach your aspirations with confidence and optimism, letting go of unnecessary worry.
A Child of Curiosity How inherent inquisitiveness became a key driver in learning experiences. Denzil Jayasinghe · B orn in the mid-20th century, I am a product of the post-World War II era. My parents, who were teenagers when the war commenced, married in the 1950s. As a representative of the baby boomer generation, I was born under the astrological sign of Capricorn, the tenth sign of the zodiac. My birth took place at Zoysa Nursing Home, a renowned institution in Colombo, Sri Lanka, around 5 in the morning. Sri Lanka, known for its tropical climate, is a beautiful island nation south of India. This climate appealed to me, and I sought similar weather in my twenties, spending them in Dubai, where the winter resembles an Australian summer. Raised by religious parents, I held them in deep affection. However, the church teachings posed a paradox for a young mind, instructing one to love God more than one’s parents. I initially adhered to the Ten Commandments and other societal norms in ...
Neville at the Edge Denzil Jayasinghe 3 min read · 10 hours ago In the lazy, sun-dappled days at St. Joseph’s Novitiate, where the beach seemed to hum with the scent of jasmine and the distant promise of monsoon clouds, there was a little haven we boys held dear — the Milk Bar. It was a humble shack just beyond the school’s creaky gates, its tin roof glinting under the noon sun, its wooden counter cluttered with frothy glasses of Milo, bottles of sweet vanilla milk, and a jumble of pencils and dog-eared notebooks for forgetful lads like us. To us, De La Salle boys, it wasn’t just a shop. It was a sanctuary, where the weight of prayers and the Brother-Superior’s stern frowns dissolved into the clink of coins and the soft buzz of our chatter. Neville was always there, a gangly boy with limbs that seemed to outgrow him, as if they belonged to a taller shadow. His parents had sent him to the Novitiate dreaming he’d don a Christian Brother’s collar, but Neville, with his twice-failed ...
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4 min readFeb 9
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