Author: han

Jason Allatt, Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

There’s a funny catch-22 with the idea of “first-world problems.” As someone who has only ever lived in the First World, to me, they’re just problems. To clarify, I don’t mean the line at Starbucks, I don’t mean Chick-fil-A is out of sandwiches. When I think of a “first-world problem,” what weighs on me is the feeling that I’ve already won life in a lot of ways.

The lottery of being born in Canada is a hell of a big win: I don’t want for food or water, I have a place to live that’s mine and people I love around me. Despite this massive win in the lottery of life, it doesn’t seem to make me happy. The simultaneous feeling of being thankful for where I was born, yet feeling guilty for not being 100% happy 100% of the time is a real phenomenon of mental health.

The struggle with mental health and wanting to better oneself is always seen through the lens of what we know. Doing better than yesterday means improving on a life that, to many, is already beyond a dream. Even as I write this, the voice at the back of my head starts gnawing away at me. How absolutely pathetic I am, to be feeling sad or depressed. For what? There’s no war outside my door, I don’t fear for my life. So why do I wake up and need three little white pills to feel like I deserve to live?

To take it a step further, I’m white. No one has ever looked at me and assumed the worst. Every institution was built by and for people who look like me, and I actively benefit from them. I’m not an activist, I don’t fight for change. How absolutely pathetic am I to complain about “the system” we live in while doing nothing but benefiting from it?

To this horrible and self-destructive part of my brain, which at every turn seeks to tear me down, I have one word of protection: empathy. If there is a bare minimum I can do, it’s care. It’s to keep informed of all the horrible things that go on in the world, recognize self-destructive thoughts and remind myself to be thankful of how lucky I am for the life I was born into. Maybe feeling guilty for that unearned happiness is better than looking down on people and being angry that they can’t just pull themselves up by their bootstraps. Anger is never a good emotion, but dissipating it through my own reflection is better than spewing it out into the world. It’s better than hating people. I can be better than the immature, jaded and barely concealed racism/sexism/homophobia of the people I spent many years being forced to be around. Cultivating empathy outside exactly what you know and exactly what you’ve been exposed to is maybe the best thing I’ve done to alleviate the self-destructive “poor me” spiral of thinking.

Don’t look down on people for their own struggles. Don’t throw your hands up and refuse to understand why people are upset when they (like me) were born in a place that gives them amazing advantages compared to other parts of the world. Don’t be part of the sad and seemingly growing divide in society. There are millions of people who started life seemingly having won the same lottery as me, only to have the world (especially recently) seem to tell them that they are not worthy of it, their struggle isn’t valid and their identity should be rejected or not even exist, a whole swath of society throwing their hands up and giving up on people simply because they are not 100% thankful or 100% happy, 100% of the time.

My voice probably means nothing, but if it can be heard at all, I would say this: be thankful for the things you couldn’t control that worked out in your favour, and don’t ever accept that those things are enough. Challenge the things that fight to repress you, find the voices that will speak with you, be proud of what you work for and be thankful you’re strong enough to do it. Don’t ever let yourself be cut down by the idea that it could always be worse and for many it is. And try to be happy, despite how much your brain may conspire to make that not the case. 

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Lauren Long (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

The musical duo Sugarland was a regular presence in our household while I was growing up. My younger sister religiously played their music, but despite her best attempts to convert me, I never turned into a Sugarland fan. Don’t get me wrong, I like their music, but just as my sister and I have different interests and taste in clothes despite sharing DNA, we have different taste in music, though we do love some of the same artists. 

One of Sugarland’s songs that has always stuck with me is “Already Gone,” and the lines “My mama mapped out the road that she knows/Which hands to shake and which hands you hold.” I believe that people come into our lives for a reason, and that some are meant to stay forever, while others only appear in a few chapters. But what they all have in common is that they are placed in our lives so that we can learn from them and teach them something in return. We can all learn from each other, if we take the time and have the patience to.

I’ve had a lot of people walk into my life and walk out again, but like I said above, some people aren’t meant to stay in our lives. And then there are the people who you connect with right away because your soul recognizes them as the people you’ve been searching for your whole life. For me, those people are the beautiful human beings I’ve met through the pole dance community and my work with the Empowered Pole Dance Project. 

It was destiny that brought them into my life at the right time, and I want to dedicate this piece to them because without them, I wouldn’t be where I am right now. 

The crazy thing is, I haven’t met any of the people who have worked with me on The Empowered Pole Dance Project in person. Our interactions have all been virtual, whether on Instagram or over email. I met the majority of the dancers I’ve interviewed on Instagram, and even though miles, state lines and, in some cases, oceans separate us, I feel a connection with them that I’ve never felt with anyone in my younger years. 

The very first pole dancer I met on Instagram was my friend Irina in Italy. I had ordered a copy of her book Pole Dance Fitness off of Amazon and I tagged her in an Instagram post of the book propped against my pole. She shared it and tagged me in her story, I shared her story to mine, and the rest is history. She came into my life at the right time because the world had shut down due to the pandemic, and we talked everyday over Instagram and later WhatsApp. Our connection saved both of us from the loneliness and depression that was felt by many during the dark year of 2020. 

While our lives became busy once things started opening up again, we still keep in touch and find ways to work around the time difference that comes with being an ocean and then some apart. 

Irina, along with the dancers of the Empowered Pole Dance Project in our Instagram group chat, were all there for me last summer when my family experienced a double tragedy. They showed their love and support during the five days of waiting, offering prayers for my family and I, and continued to do so in the days, weeks and months that came after. 

Through the fog of grief, I felt their love and support. They were lights in the dark guiding me forward and always took a few minutes to reach out and ask if I was okay. It was with their love, patience, prayers and support that I slowly began to return to myself, and I will be forever thankful to them because, at a time when I needed it the most, they gave me love and encouragement, and held space for me to grieve, heal and breathe. 

When I asked these people to be a part of the Empowered Pole Dance Project, I had no way of knowing that they would become some of the most important people in my life and help me get through some of the darkest days of my life. Some people have come into my life by chance, but it is my belief that these beautiful souls came into it by destiny. I think someone or something saw that I needed them and would need them, and if I didn’t believe that there was a greater plan at work before, I do now. 

The people who come into your life and stay for the good and bad times are your true friends, and true friends are angels on Earth. 

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Born and raised in Quesnel, BC, Lauren Long is a strong advocate for mental health and well-being, as well as being a major Swiftie and a role model for positive body image. When she’s not writing, you can find her on the pole, on the training mats or curled up with a good book.

 

Olena Seredova, Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

I had put off writing this letter for a long time. It didn’t feel urgent—I thought I had plenty of time. Then I sat down to work on this article and finally wrote a letter to the one who has been with me my whole life.

“My dear, my miraculous one! You have been with me from the very beginning, from my first breath. There is so much I need to tell you. Forgive me for never truly thanking you. Forgive me for only now saying—thank you, my incredible body . . .”

I cried as I filled six pages with memories. It was hard to stop. I thanked my body for the most important moments—like the birth of my daughter, for example. But there were also many ordinary things, like feeling joy and gratitude for how quickly my fingers could type, keeping up with my thoughts.

Such a letter—especially from me, who had always treated my body as a machine to be tested and pushed to its limits . . . how did this happen? Something changed during my work on this article, and I would like to share my observations and reflections with you.

I love making plans, writing lists, calculating outcomes. But life doesn’t read my lists or follow my plans—it just happens. And sometimes, it brings major changes: my health fails, plans fall apart, loved ones leave. And if I’m honest, when things don’t go according to plan, I feel betrayed, as if I’ve been deceived.

With these changes come grievances, along with bitterness, despair, anger, resentment and fear: “Why did this happen to me?!” But no one ever signed a contract with me guaranteeing that life would unfold exactly as I had imagined.

Lately, I’ve begun to see why embracing change has always felt so difficult for me.

It’s because of that famous mantra: “Me, mine, my own.” I must have practiced it too diligently. I got used to thinking that everything I have is mine by right—my youth, my health, my family, my friends, my talents. All of it undeniably, unquestionably mine. Seeing everything as mine, any change or loss felt unjust.

But let’s reflect—what do we really control, and what is truly ours? We didn’t choose our personality, homeland, parents, era, appearance or health. We didn’t choose the people we would meet, the abilities we would be given—we didn’t even choose our own name.

Control is even more elusive. If I truly have control, then why can’t I hold on to my youth? Why can’t I ensure my loved ones will always be safe? Why can’t I guarantee that happiness will last forever?

Maybe it’s wisdom that has finally come with time, or maybe I had to lose too much to understand it. And forgive me if this sounds like a cliché, but I must say it: “We are given these gifts, but they were never truly ours.”

We were simply allowed to use them—briefly, freely. We had no part in creating anything we consider our own. Perhaps it’s simpler to say that we received this entire world as a gift.

And here is what I have come to understand: gratitude is not just a polite phrase—it is a fundamental state of mind. People say that happy individuals don’t have more than unhappy ones. They just have a better-developed ability to notice what they already have. 

In recent weeks, I immersed myself in this idea—do you know what gratitude has done to me? I no longer feel anger that my health is not what it once was. Instead, I thank my body for allowing me to do everything I’ve wanted for so many years. I no longer resent that people leave. Instead, I am grateful that I had the chance to meet them. I no longer fear the future. I understand: everything I need, I already have.

Here’s my surprising realization—grievances make me a victim of circumstances, while gratitude sets me free. And there’s something else I’ve come to understand.

After writing my letter to my body, I can’t quite explain it, but something shifted within me. In the way I walk, in my posture, even in how fast I eat. As if, after a deep conversation with a good friend, I now carry a quiet sense of fullness and support within me. Gratitude has led me to newfound respect for my body. But what is even more astonishing—it has given me respect for the world that manifests through my body.

It feels as though, through my now heightened senses, I am perceiving a world more vivid and extraordinary than before. For now, I am enjoying this childlike wonder, as if I had stepped into a celebration held in my honor. And this celebration wasn’t arranged by someone—it was arranged by the world itself.

Grievance and gratitude are opposites. The more we carry of one, the less space there is for the other. Gratitude shatters the illusion that the world owes us something and transforms life into a gift—one that we are eager to unwrap with curiosity and delight.

We live in a world full of invisible miracles. Gratitude is the ability to recognize our wealth before we lose it.

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Leave your thoughts for Neha in the comments below. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube to stay up-to-date with Low Entropy news!

 

Neha Kaushik, Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

There was a time when I believed in the illusion of control, in the comforting notion that the future could be neatly mapped out. I had career milestones to reach by 30, relationships that would stand the test of time, a version of myself I believed in with such a fervour that it felt inevitable. And yet life, as it often does, unraveled my carefully constructed expectations thread by thread, until I was left standing in a future I had never foreseen.

The truth is, we can analyze, plan and predict all we want. The future remains unknowable, indifferent to our meticulous forecasts. For those of us who cling too tightly to our predicted future, the moment we realize it will never come to pass is not just unsettling—it is quietly melancholic.

The Weight of a Failed Prediction

A failed prediction is not just about being wrong; it is about losing a version of the future we had come to love, a version that sometimes masquerades as a dream. I have watched people, myself included, mourn the futures they were once certain of. The friend who spent years chasing an academic career only to realize that the dream had faded, leaving behind an empty shell of what once felt like purpose. The partner who built a relationship on the assumption that love at 22 would be love forever, only to wake up at 30 to a reality that no longer fit. The artist who once believed they would paint for a living, but now finds themself in an office, wondering when the dream slipped through their fingers.

There is a particular kind of grief in realizing that a life you once believed was yours will never come to be. It is not just a single loss, but a thousand small ones—the job you imagined yourself thriving in, the home you pictured yourself living in, the person you thought you would become. These lost futures linger in the corners of our minds, occasionally resurfacing in quiet moments, reminding us of what could have been.

And yet, despite the ache of their absence, the universe shows you that what you want is not what you need—sometimes with tough love.

The Beauty of Uncertainty

Life is far more interesting when it refuses to be predicted. Some of the most defining moments of my life happened not because I followed a well-laid plan, but because I abandoned it. The job that was supposed to be temporary became the foundation of a career I loved for a while. The heartbreak that nearly broke me eventually made room for something truer. The city I moved to on a whim, thinking it would be a passing chapter, only to find it becoming home.

We resist uncertainty because we are fearful of the unknown. We forget, unpredictability is what makes life extraordinary. We so love plot twists in books and films—a story that unfolds exactly as expected is dull, lifeless, uninspiring—why, then, do we resist the very twists and turns of our own lives? Is living uncertainty through fiction easier?

The Futility of Forecasting Life

Society teaches us to plan, to be prepared, to have a five-year vision (don’t shy away from accepting you have your retirement planned).

We cling to the idea that if we just calculate every variable correctly, we can outmanoeuvre the chaos. The irony is that our attempts to control the future do not actually prevent disaster—they only make it harder to adapt when things go off course. When they do, it’s hell on earth. It is not uncertainty that destroys us, but our resistance to it.

The Melancholy of a Life That Looks Nothing Like We Imagined

Perhaps the hardest lesson in all of this is accepting that our lives will likely look nothing like we imagined in our early 20s. When we are young, we construct visions of ourselves based on what we know at the time—career ambitions shaped by idealism, relationships that seem eternal because we have not yet learned how time changes people, goals that feel permanent because we have not yet encountered the forces that will mold us into someone new.

But our passions shift. The things we once wanted no longer fit the people we become. The friendships and relationships we thought were unshakable sometimes fade, and the people we swore we’d never become start looking back at us in the mirror.

There is a bittersweetness in this realization. Sometimes, we grieve the people we thought we’d be, the lives we thought we’d live. But there is also a quiet beauty in the unexpected—because within the wreckage of our failed predictions, there is room for reinvention.

Embracing the Unknown

After a lot of grief and chaos, I stopped trying to predict the future. Not because I stopped caring, but because I started trusting. Trusting that the unknown is not to be feared. That a life rigidly planned is a life half-lived.

The moments I could never have foreseen are the ones that changed me the most. The most beautiful things in my life often arrive unannounced, in the spaces between my expectations.

And so, I wake up each day no longer seeking certainty, but curiosity. Not asking, “Where will I be in five years?” but “What is possible that I haven’t even imagined yet?” 

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Leave your thoughts for Neha in the comments below. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube to stay up-to-date with Low Entropy news!

 

Makayla Anderson, Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

When it comes to making decisions, especially big ones, most people spend a lot of time weighing the risks and rewards. They analyze every potential outcome, try to calculate the odds, and often hesitate, caught between the fear of failure and the hope of success. But for me? I don’t think that much about it. And here’s why.

Overthinking Kills Action

I’ve found that the more I analyze risks and rewards, the more likely I am to get stuck in a cycle of overthinking. I start questioning every possible scenario, and before I know it, I’m paralyzed by my own thoughts. That hesitation can be the biggest obstacle to progress. Instead of taking the leap, I end up waiting for the “perfect” moment—one that rarely, if ever, comes.

By not dwelling too much on risk versus reward, I allow myself to take action faster and adapt as I go. Life is unpredictable, and no amount of planning can eliminate uncertainty. Sometimes, you just have to take the first step and trust that you’ll figure things out along the way.

Learning Through Experience

Another reason I don’t overthink risk and reward is that experience has taught me that failure isn’t the end of the world. In fact, failure is often the best teacher. Some of the biggest lessons I’ve learned have come from taking risks that didn’t pan out the way I expected. If I had been too focused on avoiding failure, I would have missed out on those learning opportunities.

Experience also builds confidence. The more I put myself out there, the more I realize that I can handle setbacks and adapt to new challenges. That confidence makes it easier to take risks without the constant need to analyze every possible outcome.

Passion Over Calculation

For me, passion often outweighs logic when it comes to decision-making. If I’m truly passionate about something, I don’t need to sit down and weigh the risks versus the rewards—I just go for it. Passion drives me forward, even when logic might suggest caution. Some of the most fulfilling things I’ve done in life didn’t necessarily make sense on paper, but they felt right in my gut.

I’ve come to believe that when you’re passionate about something, you’ll find a way to make it work, regardless of the risks. The reward, in those cases, isn’t just about success or failure; it’s about doing something meaningful.

Trusting My Intuition

Intuition plays a big role in why I don’t dwell on risk and reward. I’ve learned to trust my instincts and make decisions based on what feels right in the moment. That doesn’t mean I act recklessly, but I’ve realized that my gut often knows what’s best before my mind has a chance to overcomplicate things.

Overanalyzing risks can drown out intuition, making it harder to hear that inner voice that guides me toward the right path. By trusting myself more, I find that my decisions are often aligned with my values and goals, even if they don’t follow conventional wisdom.

Growth Comes from Discomfort

The reality is, growth doesn’t happen in comfort zones. If I spent too much time calculating risks, I’d probably talk myself out of half the things that have helped me grow the most. Taking risks means embracing discomfort, uncertainty and the possibility of failure—all things that contribute to personal and professional growth.

Instead of thinking, “What if it goes wrong?” I try to think, “What if it works out?” That shift in perspective helps me move forward without getting bogged down by fear.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, I choose to focus more on action and less on the what-ifs. Of course, I consider potential consequences, but I don’t let them hold me back. I’ve realized that life is too short to overanalyze every step. Sometimes, the best way to figure things out is to dive in, take risks and see where they lead.

So, if you find yourself stuck in the endless loop of risk-versus-reward calculations, maybe it’s time to take a step back and just go for it. You might be surprised at what happens when you stop thinking so much and start doing.

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Leave your thoughts for Makayla in the comments below. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube to stay up-to-date with Low Entropy news!

 

Neema Ejercito (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

I have a dream. On my fifth round of working through Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way, I declared that I wanted to perform on stage (dancing, maybe?) with my multimedia artwork all around me and people freely watching me and walking around my works, experiencing my dance and my art as they pleased at the Globe Theatre in the UK. I had no idea how I would raise the funds for this logistical nightmare, and when I first verbalized it, I felt that I didn’t have any artwork to speak of.

That was 2017, if my memory serves. Fast-forward to today, when I have been creating art and participated in my first community fundraiser exhibit. None of the five pieces I donated sold, and I think the gallery owner only put two of them up. One she simply disqualified because the frame was banged up, and she couldn’t find any remedy for it.

It wasn’t exactly my dream fulfilled when I first thought about it. But if I truly pay attention to what happened, part of my dream did indeed come to pass. And when I pay it even more attention, it didn’t just happen to me. I made it happen. I created things that expressed my thoughts and feelings, I applied to the gallery with my pieces, I submitted them and I even posted about the event on my social media. None of that would’ve happened if I hadn’t bought some marbling paint from Opus and experimented with it, or if I hadn’t gone with my husband to an amazing photo workshop at BenCab’s gallery in Baguio back home with our amazing instructor, Tilak Hettige.

And these are just a few of the things I did to make my own luck. When I was little and read about how the people I admired got to where they were, a common theme was, indeed, the word “luck.” You have to be at the right place at the right time, know the right people. And how that worked eluded me. Now though, as I listen to more podcasts of people I admire, I find another vein running through all of them, which is that they worked their butts off.

They weren’t necessarily stepping on other people in a rat race, though there were those who did, and I would grow out of love with these personas, not that that mattered to them. The hard work seemed more often to come from just working on something because they were arriving for something more than just paying the bills. What kept them going, in spite of the ridicule, rejection, booing and even the sh*t thrown at them (both literally and figuratively), was that they had a bigger goal in mind. They faced all this not for crowds to sing their names, or to have their names up on billboards (though of course, those never hurt). What kept them going was that they were compelled to do what they set out to do, and that they had to give their all to it.

I had prepared a lot of other stuff, noting ideas that came when I was running errands, jotting actual material I thought would be perfect for this article. And I feel I’ve gone elsewhere with what I’m writing now. I guess it is just like making my own luck. I could make all the plans in the world for something, only to find that I would have already “arrived,” had I only taken the time to pay attention to what was all around me.

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Ever since watching Better Man with her second son, Neema Ejercito has not stopped listening to Robbie Williams’ Live at Knebworth album on Spotify. She even writes to it (much to the joy of her loving husband, who has told her to stop so that he doesn’t hate him and his music XD). She is a mother to two other humans and a bunch of plants, all of whom she adores and loves watching grow.

 

Cassandra Di Lalla (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

I’m choosing to write about this because I’ve escaped death numerous times throughout my life.

I struggle immensely with my mental health, but I’ve come to accept that about myself. I’ve tried nearly everything under the sun, yet I’m still left with so many unanswered questions. I’ve seen some unusually dark days. I was bullied relentlessly throughout the years by peers, teachers (yes . . . teachers), partners, etc . . . I was beat up, name called, threatened, harassed and the list goes on. It was constant and it was every single day. Cops did absolutely nothing other than say, “Kids will be kids.” The disgust, the anger, the sadness and the hopelessness I felt when those words were said to me . . . unbelievable. Those experiences were a lot to handle and I didn’t know how to cope, but I’m still here.

I’m doing the things I love most. I’m spending time with my family, hanging out with my fur friends, writing, crafting, meditating, enjoying nature and plenty more! I also really appreciate being part of the Low Entropy family—it has made such a positive impact on my life. I feel valued and appreciated.

I’ve been in more car accidents than what I can count on both hands, but I’ll only share a few of them.

I was in a multiple car pile-up collision with my father, so the impact from all the other cars behind us was quite heavy. It was a wild chain . . . the 10th (or so) car behind us was what started it all. Imagine—for all those cars to have hit us with such high impact—the guy responsible must have been absolutely flying!

There was a collision where I can truly say that I survived by sheer luck or miracle, because there was every reason in the book for me to have died that day. And I don’t mean because I deserved to die, I simply mean that, with the way it happened, I’m surprised I wasn’t pronounced dead. I say this because a big truck with a lift-gate backed up right into us, breaking through the passenger side window, directly hitting me. My entire right side was hit and bruised, but I also got pushed as far as the driver’s seat and right into the steering wheel, causing the car horn to go off. The tip of the lift-gate pushed right up against my cheek bone and neck, making it difficult to breathe. I was terrified and I was livid. 

I somehow forced myself up and out of the car in a total rage and I went after the truck driver, yelling and screaming at the top of my lungs and using some not-so-pretty words. Why? Because he had no care in the world about the accident he just caused and what he had just done to my father and me. I wasn’t going to let him off the hook so easily. I was worried about my father, I had to make sure he was okay. My anger towards the truck driver kept escalating and there was a point where my father and bystanders had to physically restrain me. I was fuming. The truck driver could have ended my life as well as my father’s and his reaction to what had transpired was absolute trash. “Oh sorry,” was all that came out of his mouth. He didn’t ask if we were okay and he didn’t offer to help us in any way. The bystanders then sprung into action by asking if we were hurt, offered to call 911, stayed with us for comfort and support, etc . . . It was mind-boggling.

I was in another accident with someone other than my father but again, I was the passenger. We got T-boned on my side. It was awful. The airbag dropped in for a visit and I was squished between the airbag and my seat. I had a hard time breathing. They had to unbolt the door to get me out. I was immediately put on a stretcher, given oxygen and a neck brace, and rushed to the hospital. Another miracle. The paramedic was nasty . . . as nasty as you can get. I had voiced to her that the neck brace was a bit tight and she told me to shut my mouth and to stop overreacting all while shaking her head and laughing. There was a cop that came into my hospital room telling me I needed an attitude adjustment. When my brother, mother and father came to the hospital and my father found out about how the paramedic and cop had treated me—he was not a happy camper. Can you blame him? What a disaster!

I have so many others I could share but I’m sure you get it by now. I’m incredibly lucky to be alive and I try not to take that for granted, but sometimes emotions take over and you kind of wonder what your purpose is in life after having gone through all of those things.

Be thankful and grateful for what you have, because nothing is ever guaranteed. There’s definitely someone above you celebrating your existence and pushing you to live happily, so count your blessings. 

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Cassandra Di Lalla lives life purposefully. She enjoys reading, writing and mental health initiatives. She’s an animal lover for life and an innovative individual always finding new ways to create.

 

 

Mahsa Sheikh, Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

Humans can be, to varying degrees, self-interested and selfish—especially at times when resources are scarce, or when we are simply faced with fewer options than usual. There is no denying that we often can’t easily ignore seeing others advance in their careers or lives and not question where we stand in comparison. 

When I was younger, I often felt left out and couldn’t turn a blind eye to others’ success; I wanted to reap the rewards of my own hard work. I, too, wanted to feel the joy and happiness that came with achieving success. I was not really thinking much about how people whose happiness and success bothered me so much achieved their goals in life. I felt resentful and either tried to avoid them or found ways to vent my anger by talking behind their backs. To the best that I can recall, neither of those coping mechanisms served me right: I do not remember feeling good about myself after backbiting others, nor did I rethink my strategies to better myself.

When I was in college, for quite a long time, I thought I had bad luck with every little thing I tried to achieve, be it in the realm of studies and self-improvement or dating, and a little later, finding employment to realize my dreams.

It all started when I began to pursue my bachelor’s in English. In those days, all I wanted was to become this essayist extraordinaire, with remarkable things to write about. Prior to this, in grade 10, I had gotten into the habit of reading any English book I got my hands on. There was simply something about English prose that stood out to me. I had something to look forward to during the winter and spring breaks, and summer holidays felt more carefree as I curled up with a romance novel in a corner. I wanted to write a prose as memorable as Mark Twain’s and as penetrating as Carson McCullers’. 

I began to have high hopes about debuting a career in writing, and without putting much thought into the ins and outs of becoming an author, I decided to put an end to studying math, which used to be my primary focus, and instead entered college to study English. It was no more than a little past a month that I faced a serious dilemma about my choice. It wasn’t so much about finding the curriculum simplistic and of little substance than feeling that certain instructors favored a handful of students who had a way to their hearts. I despised the unequal treatment, and started to hate the professors deep down in my heart . . . and at times showed my resentment to both the classmates and the professors. Never once did it occur to me to work on my soft skills and try to walk in my fellow students’ footsteps to gain instructors’ favor. 

Looking back, I now realize that I was surrounded by opportunities to grow: the school offered free drop-in counselling sessions, and the library shelves of our faculty were filled with classics to explore. Weekly movie screenings were not only frequent, but dirt cheap! I had opportunities to work on my personal progress and grow my skills in a language I adored. Instead, because I was not receiving the validation I wanted, I filled my heart with jealousy and unchecked anger, and gave up on myself. At one point, I even tried to transfer to a different school to avoid seeing the people whose progress I was so green about! 

I spent years thinking that I deserved better, and time slipped away without apology as I grew impatient about being taken for granted. I started to see things in a different light on a breezy, sunny day in late September a few years ago. I was looking out the window, appreciating the bright green turf of our neighbour living across from the street, when all of a sudden and for the first time in my life I thought to myself, “Life is beautiful!” I felt overjoyed, and a desire to think about ways to keep my thoughts positive resurfaced. I made a big, life-changing decision that day: no matter what, I would choose to stay serene about things I could not control. 

Envying “lucky people” now sounds rather parochial and shortsighted to me. I stopped thinking that luck has much to do with success. I think people who think that way might ignore or devalue the time and effort successful people spend to achieve the results they want in life. Moreso, I find that the more we preoccupy ourselves with other people’s haves, the less we focus on the right path for us. 

Perhaps a well-known Persian proverb on death and closure can shed light on how to perceive bad luck in life. As the proverb goes, “Death is that camel that sits at everyone’s door.” Because there is no escape from death, it is best to accept it while going through life. Like the proverbial camel, misfortune is inseparable from life, and the sooner we accept this, the easier it is to tackle everyday problems. It is hence beneficial to face life’s misfortunes with patience and resilience, and prepare ourselves for any potential opportunity to welcome light and luck into our lives. 

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Leave your thoughts for Mahsa in the comments below. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube to stay up-to-date with Low Entropy news!

 

 

Sasna Nawran (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

In a world that moves at lightning speed, it’s easy to focus on what’s missing, rather than what’s present. You scroll through social media and see people with lavish vacations, new cars or seemingly perfect lives. 

In comparison, your own life may feel ordinary or lacking. But here’s the truth: gratitude can completely transform the way you see your world.

Gratitude isn’t just about saying “thank you.” It’s a mindset, a way of shifting your focus from what you don’t have to what you do. When you appreciate what you have, you open the door to more happiness, peace and contentment. 

But how exactly do you cultivate gratitude in your daily life? Let’s explore.

1. Start with the Little Things

You don’t need a dramatic life change to start being grateful. It all begins with noticing the little things. The warm cup of coffee in the morning, the comfort of your bed or even the sound of laughter from a loved one—these moments hold so much joy when you take the time to appreciate them.

Try this: Each morning, before you check your phone or start your day, think of three things you’re grateful for. They don’t have to be big. 

Maybe it’s the sunshine streaming through your window or the fact that you have food to eat. Starting your day this way shifts your perspective toward appreciation.

2. Keep a Gratitude Journal

Writing down what you’re grateful for helps you focus on the positives in your life. A gratitude journal doesn’t have to be a formal, time-consuming task. Simply jotting down a few things each day that made you smile can be powerful.

A great tip is to write about different aspects of your life: your health, relationships, career or personal growth. Over time, you’ll notice patterns in what truly brings you joy and fulfillment.

3. Express Gratitude to Others

Appreciation doesn’t just exist in your mind; it thrives when shared. Tell the people in your life how much they mean to you. It could be a simple text to a friend, a heartfelt note to a family member or a genuine compliment to a colleague.

When you express gratitude to others, not only do you brighten their day, but you also deepen your own sense of appreciation. The more you acknowledge kindness in others, the more kindness you’ll start noticing around you.

4. Reframe Challenges as Lessons

It’s easy to be grateful when everything is going well, but what about when life throws you challenges? Shifting your perspective can make a world of difference.

Instead of seeing a setback as a failure, try viewing it as a lesson. Did you lose a job? Maybe it’s an opportunity to find one that aligns better with your passions. 

Did a relationship end? Perhaps it’s paving the way for a healthier one. Growth often comes through challenges, and when you see them as opportunities, you develop a deeper appreciation for life’s journey.

5. Limit Comparison and Embrace Contentment

Comparison is the thief of joy. When you constantly compare your life to others, it’s hard to feel grateful. Social media often paints a picture of perfection, but remember, it’s a highlight reel, not reality.

Instead of wishing for someone else’s life, focus on your own blessings. Think about what makes your life unique and fulfilling. 

Maybe you have a tight-knit family, great health or a hobby you love. Contentment doesn’t mean you stop striving for more; it simply means you appreciate what you have while working toward what you want.

6. Engage in Acts of Kindness

Giving to others can amplify your own gratitude. When you help someone in need, you gain perspective on your own blessings. Whether it’s donating to charity, volunteering or simply offering a helping hand, kindness connects you to the bigger picture.

Helping others reminds you that gratitude isn’t just about receiving, it’s also about giving. The more you give, the more you realize how much you have.

7. Be Present and Mindful

Gratitude flourishes in the present moment. Too often, people dwell on the past or worry about the future, missing out on the beauty of now.

Practice mindfulness by fully engaging in your experiences. Savor your meals instead of rushing through them. Take deep breaths and enjoy the fresh air. 

Spend quality time with loved ones without distractions. The more present you are, the more beauty you’ll notice in everyday moments.

Final Thoughts: Gratitude is a Choice

Life is filled with ups and downs, but gratitude gives you the power to find joy even in the simplest things. 

It’s not about ignoring hardships, but choosing to focus on what’s good despite them. When you cultivate gratitude, you don’t just change your mindset, you change your entire experience of life.

So, start today. Find the beauty in small moments, express appreciation and embrace what you have. Your happiness is waiting for you in the simple act of gratitude.

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Leave your thoughts for Sasna in the comments below. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube to stay up-to-date with Low Entropy news!

 

 

Diny Davis (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

“Luck is believing you’re lucky” – Tennessee Williams

Have you ever wondered about the role of luck in your life? It’s a funny thing, isn’t it? Sometimes it feels like everything’s going our way, and other times, well, not so much. This article explores the nature of luck and fate, how to embrace it, and the mindset shift needed to incorporate them into your life with grace and acceptance.

What is Luck, Anyway?

Luck is one of those things that’s hard to pin down. Some friends think it’s all about chance, while others believe we make our own luck. Here’s my take:

1. Luck is when good things happen that we can’t control.
2. It’s also when bad things don’t happen to us.
3. Sometimes, it’s just being in the right place at the right time.

The Cultural Significance of Luck

Different cultures have unique perspectives on luck. From four-leaf clovers to lucky numbers, these beliefs shape how we view fortune and misfortune. Have you ever wondered why some cultures consider certain things lucky while others don’t?

The Psychology Behind Luck 

Our perception of luck isn’t just about external events—it’s deeply rooted in our psychology. Let’s explore how our minds interpret and process the concept of luck.

The Role of Fate in Our Lives

Fate, unlike luck, suggests a predetermined path dictated by a higher power or set of universal rules. The role of fate often leaves us to examine the extent of our control over our destinies.

How Luck and Fate Work Together

Here’s a thought: maybe luck is just part of our fate. It’s like we’re all playing a big game of life, and luck is one of the cards we’re dealt. But how do we play those cards? That’s up to us.

Accepting Your Fate

Now, this is where things get interesting. Accepting your fate doesn’t mean giving up or not trying. It’s more about finding peace with what life throws your way. Here’s how I see it:

Understand What You Can and Can’t Control

Life’s a bit like a rollercoaster. We can’t always control the ups and downs, but we can decide how to react to them. 

Learn from Both Good and Bad Luck

Every experience, lucky or not, teaches us something. Sometimes, what looks like bad luck turns out to be a blessing in disguise.

Be Grateful for What You Have

Gratitude is like a superpower. When we focus on what we’re thankful for, it’s easier to accept our fate. Try this:

• Each night, think of three good things that happened that day.
• Thank people who help you, even for small things.
• Appreciate the little joys, like a sunny day or a good cup of coffee.

Making the Most of Your Luck

Even if you believe in fate, you can still make the most of your luck. Here’s how:

1. Stay open to opportunities.
2. Keep a positive attitude.
3. Work hard and be prepared.
4. Help others—good karma comes back around.

Navigating Life with Luck and Fate

Achieving a harmonious balance between accepting luck and fate while recognizing your ability to make decisions can be transformative. 

Steps to Embrace Change

• Reframe setbacks as learning experiences.
• Celebrate small wins and acknowledge their small effects.
• Cultivate gratitude to achieve positivity in everyday life.

Small Changes, Big Impacts

Have you ever considered how a small, seemingly insignificant event could have drastically altered the course of your life? It’s a powerful reminder of how interconnected everything is.

Embracing Uncertainty: The Beauty of Not Knowing

While uncertainty can be scary, it’s also what makes life exciting. Imagine if you knew everything that was going to happen—wouldn’t that be boring? Learning to embrace uncertainty can open us up to new experiences and opportunities.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, accepting your fate isn’t about giving up. It’s about finding peace with your journey, making the most of your luck, and growing through all of life’s twists and turns. Remember, you’re the author of your story—fate might give you the plot twists, but you decide how to tell the tale.

While we can’t control who we meet or when, we can influence the quality of our relationships. By being open, authentic, and kind, we create more opportunities for meaningful connections. It’s like creating your own luck in the kingdom of relationships.

In understanding and accepting luck and fate, we free ourselves from the chains of constant control, allowing for moments of surrender.

So, what do you think? Are you ready to embrace your fate and make a little luck of your own?

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Diny Davis is an aspiring author who is passionate about fitness and a strong believer in the close connection between physical and mental health. She is a journalism, psychology and literature graduate, a loving wife and a caring mother who maintains a balance in her work and personal life while giving emphasis to self-care.

 

 

Grace Cheng (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

Throughout history, humanity has been fascinated by the mysterious force of luck. The concept of luck is often glorified in literature, films and everyday conversation, which can elicit various emotions, ranging from excitement and hope to frustration and acceptance. What exactly is luck? Can it shape our experiences profoundly, or is it just a random event? We will explore the multilayered nature of luck, its interconnections with our daily lives, and the significant impacts it has on individuals and society.

What is Luck?

We often think of luck as the result of random events that affect our lives. The events can range from the insignificant to the monumental, such as winning a life-changing prize or narrowly avoiding disaster. Luck has traditionally been associated with supernatural forces, divine intervention or the alignment of celestial bodies, providing a sense of comfort in times of uncertainty.

According to scientific perspectives, luck is not entirely based on chance. It is true that luck is determined by randomness, but it is also shaped by our choices, our environment and our actions. Psychologist Richard Wiseman, the author of The Luck Factor, says that lucky people are those who create, notice and act upon opportunities. It is important to acknowledge and utilize luck, even if external forces shape our lives. However, it is our attitudes and actions that shape our lives.

Luck and Life’s Foundations

From the moment we are born, luck determines our circumstances in life. Our parents’ wealth, our country of birth and the political climate all contribute to our chances of achieving success, good health and education. It is evident that a child born into a wealthy family with access to quality education and healthcare is at a distinct advantage, compared to a child born into a poor family with fewer resources. We can see how powerful luck is at directing the course of our lives, stemming from these random circumstances at birth.

The influence of luck on our personal and professional journeys continues to grow as we age. Having luck in the workplace can be both a blessing and a challenge. It is possible to accelerate career advancement through a chance encounter with a mentor, while it is possible to derail long-term goals through an unexpected job loss. It has been proven that networking is crucial to career success, and our connections can open doors that might be considered lucky breaks. Despite this, hard work and preparation are still necessary to create and recognize these opportunities.

The Role of Luck in Relationships

Our relationships are also influenced by luck.  People often meet their significant others in unexpected and random ways, such as through casual chats in coffee shops, introductions through friends or random encounters in classes. As a result of fortuitous moments, deep relationships often flourish, demonstrating how random events can influence our social lives.

Luck, Mindset and Perception

A person’s perception of luck can significantly influence the way they approach life. Those who consider themselves lucky tend to be optimistic, resilient and open to new experiences. As a result, they take calculated risks, view challenges as opportunities for growth and view failure as part of the learning process. It is through this positive mindset that individuals can manifest self-fulfilling prophecies, which leads them to act upon opportunities when they come their way.

In contrast, those who see themselves as “unlucky” may develop a more negative outlook on life, feeling defeated by challenges. Their belief in bad luck can prevent them from recognizing opportunities. According to Wiseman, “unlucky” individuals often focus on negative outcomes and miss potentially lucky encounters because of this narrow focus.

Balancing Luck and Skill

Luck and skill are closely related, which is an important nuance to consider. The combination of effort, competence and determination ensures long-term success, regardless of luck. Sports, for example, may provide an athlete with a lucky break, such as an opponent getting injured. However, it is their skill and perseverance that determine the outcome.

Entrepreneurship is another good example of this dynamic. In startups, luck often plays a significant role in market conditions, customer preferences and external factors. Nevertheless, successful entrepreneurs combine luck with preparation, flexibility and unwavering effort to make the most of their opportunities. It is said that “luck favors the prepared.”

Luck and Society

In a broader context, luck raises important questions about fairness in society. The consequences of socioeconomic, racial and gender inequalities can be profound, despite often being the result of random circumstances. By understanding the role of luck in these disparities, we can think about how we can address these inequalities through policy changes and community initiatives. The more we acknowledge the importance of luck in life, the more likely we are to develop systems that offer equal opportunities to everyone.

Conclusion

In our lives, luck plays an inescapable role, influencing our experiences with moments of joy, surprise and frustration. The course of our journeys is undoubtedly shaped by luck, but it is also influenced by our actions, choices and mindsets. It is only by embracing both the unpredictable nature of luck and the power of personal agency that we can gain a deeper understanding of our lives and the opportunities that lie ahead. The recognition of chance encourages resilience, strengthens our relationships and motivates us to advocate for systems that ensure equal access to success. We cannot control luck, but how we navigate its unpredictable currents can lead to a more fulfilling life.

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Grace has an accounting and finance background. She enjoys reading, writing, listening to music, watching movies and playing sports.

 

 

Nasly Roa Noriega (she/her/hers), Low Entropy Volunteer Writer

How do I accept my destiny? Should I accept what has been written for me, or try to mold it? I think that when we talk about accepting something, it is like receiving a destiny, but often we might feel reluctant to follow that path.

And what is destiny? There are so many definitions . . . some define it spiritually, like those who believe God is the owner of our destiny. Others might see it from a moral point of view, where we were created to have the ability to make decisions and be responsible for them. Still others might believe in fatalistic destiny, involving predestined events.

Destiny looks at the future, what is not seen, but sensed, where we sense what may happen according to our thoughts on the present and past.

Yesterday I asked my husband if he wanted to accept his destiny, or if he at least knew what it might be. He answered me with the same question: Would you accept yours?  His question initially left me perplexed, because I only wanted an answer to be able to write something. However, he gave me the answer I needed, because it was then when I realized that I had a destiny.

I had always thought that destiny was not known and that things just happen, but when I meditated on the question of whether I would accept my destiny, I realized that the destiny I imagined in my childhood was not fulfilled as I matured because I did not have the attitude or perseverance to achieve what my thoughts wanted, and I just let myself be carried away by circumstances that occurred during my personal growth.

In this moment, I realized that that destiny that once crossed my child’s mind had returned to my thoughts. I felt that my destiny was not the future but what I am achieving in the present, what I am building day by day. Each circumstance is tied to a thought that defines me, and that shapes a destiny that has always been there, but that I have always postponed.

It is not necessary to be sure of what awaits us at the end. There will always be mysterious steps along our paths, and we can go around those steps, climb them, or perhaps feel that they prevent us from passing and look for another path. But in the end, we will get there.

As human beings, we have the capacity to make moral decisions, and we must be responsible for them, because they determine our actions and what is attracted to us. We decide what we want to be and we define our destinies based on our desires, but it is our attitudes and actions that lead us where we go.

Destiny is a decision. For me, this definition defines my identity. Accepting that decision depends on circumstances, thoughts, morals and attitudes. We have all defined a destiny by how we have led our lives, but the way we shape it and the way we decide to face it is the most fundamental challenge in our lives.

I return again to my initial question: Should I accept my destiny? 

If I like it and I want it, I can continue with my destiny, but if I am at the point where I feel frustrated and my circumstances are not what I want, I can begin to mold, set aside or rewrite my story on a new page, assuming the responsibility of making the changes that a new decision brings with it.

Every time we take a first step, we are defining our destinies. Every time we face new challenges, we add more steps to our destinies. Every time we fall and get up, we accept the responsibility of the consequences that our decisions bring to our destinies.  Therefore, we are the true authors of our own destinies.

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Hello, my name is Nasly Roa. I am Colombian, an economist by profession, a writer by passion, a mother without condition, a wife by dedication and an entrepreneur by motivation. This is my destiny.