Today, when walking outside in the morning, I found my neighbor had changed to a mini trash can. The cute size drew my attention. I know their son has left home working for a while, so only the couple can reduce the trash to this size every week. The change can also save around $10 a month for the trash fee. The scene reminds me of our children having all grown up and we are entering a new stage to live more with our partners rather than with children. 

​As we stroll along life’s journey, tiny changes shape the path. Noticing these changes is an amazing discovery.  What's your discovery of changes that you observe today? 

When was the last time you were waiting for the kettle to boil? Did you enjoy the steam coming out and the sounds of boiling starting to emerge? For me, it's been a while. I now used to stick in other things while waiting, cleaning the room, reading the news. It’s about efficiency and making better use of time... However, today I'd like to think about this differently - The art of less - are we too efficient to live a meaningful life?

One day, along with my friends, we realized how far busier we are than our ancestors. If we travel crossing the Pacific, it used to take months by ship. Months! It takes time, but there is also something almost romantic about that. When you'd have nothing to do but curl up with a good book, strike up a conversation with a stranger, or wander down to the ship's bar for a little gathering. Life had a natural pause built right in.

Look at today, eight hours flight and you're there. Wonderful, yes — but the moment you land, the world expects you straight back at your desk. With Internet services, some are also working on presentations,  emails, or taking video conferences on the flight. Racing becomes constant.

With AI in the picture now, things have squeezed even tighter. I was chatting with a developer friend recently, and she told me her team used to ship features by every two-week sprint. Now, it turns out to be every single day. One developer took a two-week vacation and came back barely recognizing his own codebase. 

So, here's the question that keeps turning over in my mind, and maybe you do too: can our brains actually keep up with all of this? We could feel that strange fog — surrounded by more information than ever, yet somehow less certain about what any of it is for, what are the things that actually matter, and what we are really working toward.

It's worth coming back to life fundamentals where things remain simple. Life is meant to be lived and savored. More output, more reading, more delivery feels productive, but somewhere along the way, we might lose the thread. There really is a point when more becomes too much. Knowing more doesn't always mean gaining more — or enjoying more.

​So here's a little teatime thought for you: what if we leaned back into the art of less? Pick one meaningful thing today. Just one. Do it well, do it slowly, and then let yourself rest. Slow but Steady wins. One at a time.

As AI adoption expands, a new type of stress emerges in human society—AI stress. This stress manifests as personal anxiety and social friction. Let’s delve into this phenomenon and explore strategies for managing it.

Firstly, job insecurity is a significant concern. When AI surpasses human programming skills, knowledge becomes more comprehensive than any consultant, program planning surpasses most program managers, and presentations and report creation reach highly professional and high standards, the workforce starts to question their values. When AI can perform these tasks, what should I do? People quietly start working off the hours to compete, not against AI but against others around them! This insecurity is further exacerbated by news of widespread layoffs across various industries, affecting both large and small companies.

Secondly, job insecurity leads to workplace friction. As job security diminishes, human behavior becomes increasingly aggressive, with individuals seeking to intimidate others and take credit for their achievements. We witness people excluding others from collaboration and taking credit for their work. Greed and selfishness become prevalent, raising the question of whether this AI revolution is a zero-sum game or if we can expand the pie to satisfy everyone’s demands and desires.

Thirdly, the pressure to work harder intensifies. As AI processes information faster, we feel compelled to catch up, leading to daily brain drain. Some call it "AI brain fry". The question arises: can we continue to work more and handle the demands of AI? On the other hand, we also become less confident in ourselves, checking writing with AI and asking AI for content creation. While it’s natural for AI to do a better job, we lose opportunities to develop ourselves.

How can we handle this? Some thoughts to share. First, set boundaries and think indecently. Don’t rush to use AI but find your voice first. Second, save money to gain financial confidence in case of losing a job, live a good life, and remember that AI doesn’t have life experiences. We can enjoy it. Third, use stoic thinking: If you can’t control it, follow it, do what you can, and let nature pick and decide.

What are your thoughts on AI stress? Do you recognize it or experience it? How do you manage it? I look forward to discussing this further with you later. 

Recently, I came across the news that my old acquaintance secured a position at a major high-tech company with an unprecedented signing bonus. This news made me realize how different we can choose our career paths: Some choose the fast food with immediate satisfaction, while others are committed to Michelin cooking to dive deep into a field and seize this significant opportunity.  Let's reflect on the different paths and analyze it so you can later choose one that works for you. 

The first question is "can we wait for that long?" In the early 2000s, while we were all deeply involved in AI research. We faced numerous challenges: lacking data and very limited processing power. At the same time, other technologies like the web, search, and data engineering were rapidly advancing, which offered a lot more lucrative career possibilities.  So, at that time, most yearned for a career that provided immediate satisfaction, convenience, and predictability. It's the quick and easier path, while few pursued in-depth research pursuing a Ph.D. for 5-6 years that are now highly sought-after talent but it is 20 years later!

The second question is "are you suitable for Michelin cooking?"To be honest, even I dared to take the hard path, based on my own intelligence, I was unlikely to achieve the same level of success. I found this is true to many others as well. Therefore, self-awareness and understanding of one’s strengths and limitations are crucial in career planning.​ Is it a deliberate and time-consuming cooking process always to create the perfect dish?  The answer is it depends. Know yourself first.  

The 3rd question, the long-term planning is riskier because you can't get immediate feedbacks. You never know the area you deep dive will pick up later, while fast food gives quick results so you can adjust and find the best one that works for you. Deep dive has more unknowns and is a darker path to navigate. 

In summary, when considering career options, we are very likely to choose between fast food or Michelin cooking. One is fast and obvious, one takes time and requires highly trained skills and persistent hard work.  Both have pros and cons. If you are making your decision now, ask yourself "Should I plan for the long run or the short term? Do I know what I am good at? Do I need follow a more predictable path? ". Hope this can be helpful for you to make your judgment and plan your career.

Step outside and immerse yourself in the city you live in or visit. It’s a refreshing and relaxing break from your daily routine. This weekend, we visited the San Antonio Riverwalk. While we were there, we simply learned a little about the city’s history, where it came from, where it stands in bigger historical narratives, and why it became what it is right now. Then, we tried some local food and strolled around to enjoy the leisurely weekend time. 

We find it enjoyable to use the teatime to simply uncover the stories hidden within a city and pleasantly know that you’re a part of it at this moment. 

I finally checked a major item off my bucket list: dinner at the three-Michelin-starred Jungsik. They do an incredible job of blending traditional Korean flavors with French techniques. The highlight was the octopus—tender on the inside and crispy on the outside. It’s hands-down the best octopus I’ve ever eaten.

Jungsik 
Address:  2 Harrison St, New York, NY 10013 (Map)
Web: jungsik.com (Cost $400 per person)

The restaurant is named after its founder, Chef Jungsik Yim, who is renowned for introducing the “New Korean” movement to the global fine-dining scene, the restaurant offers a multi-course tasting menu. This menu harmonizes bold, authentic ingredients such as perilla oil, kimchi, and gochugaru (chili powder) with luxurious elements like truffle, wagyu, and caviar. Among their most legendary dishes is the “Jungsik Kimbap,” a reimagined version of the classic Korean seaweed rice roll. This dish features a crispy seaweed shell and premium fillings like truffles or wagyu beef.