Daily: Joy, Perspective, and Connection
I heard somewhere that to be happy, you should spend time each day with six people you care about. I not only did that earlier today, but I also ran a few errands.The stores were busy, but not chaotic—people seemed calm and relaxed, which was nice.
I didn’t finish my morning routine earlier (you can read about it here if you want: Morning Process), so I worked on it in the afternoon instead.
Listen to the article:
Listen to the Deep Dive: I’m not sure why, but Deep Dive seems to think the wrong transliteration of Elon looks more like the original name. It doesn’t.
1. Your attitude really is your most important asset. It shapes what you see and how you handle your emotions, and those two things have a huge impact on your success.
2. One of my favorite verses: Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! — Philippians 4:4
3. And then there’s this quote: Everything lasts for a day, the one who remembers and the remembered.—Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 4.35
4. I was reading about the world-famous people whose names are carved into the steps of the New York City Public Library. Most of us haven’t even heard of them today, let alone remember who they were. It’s a good reminder to keep things in perspective.
5. But then I thought—maybe if someone had a great Chinese name crafted by you and me together, their chances of being remembered in 100 years might go up. A good name gets noticed and remembered more often. (Okay, I’m half-joking, but still!)
6. Theia, a hypothesized ancient planet, collided with Earth, likely forming the Moon. The Moon stabilizes Earth’s tilt and climate, and its tides support marine life. Without it, we might face extreme weather and a very different path for human evolution. It’s crucial for life as we know it!
7. In Arabic, Egyptians call their country Misr, its official name. The English word Egypt comes from the ancient Greek Aigyptos, derived from Hwt-Ka-Ptah, meaning the temple of the soul of Ptah, a deity in ancient Memphis. Over time, the name evolved through different languages.
8. The name Elon has Hebrew origins, meaning oak tree or strong. It’s often associated with strength and resilience. It’s typically pronounced as EE-lon, with emphasis on the first syllable.
In China, Elon is transliterated as 埃隆 (Āilóng), which doesn’t really make sense to me because there’s no “ai” sound in “Elon.” Interestingly, that same character 埃 is also used in the name for Egypt, 埃及 (Āijí). Since Egypt comes from Aigyptos, it makes sense to use a character that sounds like “ai” for that name. But for Elon? It feels like a mistranslation.
In Taiwan and Hong Kong, Elon is usually transliterated as 伊隆 (Yīlóng), which sounds much closer to the original name.
Here’s something to think about: what do you do when over a billion people pronounce your name wrong, but a smaller group of around 30 million gets closer? I think you should pick the version you like and let people know that’s the one you want as your official Chinese name.
China also transliterates Trump’s name incorrectly, but that’s a topic for another day.
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GPT: Here’s a revised version with a stronger focus on the reader’s perspective, making the content more engaging, useful, and relevant:
Finding Joy, Perspective, and Connection in Everyday Life
Have you ever heard that to be truly happy, you should spend time each day with six people you care about? I gave it a try today and can vouch for its impact—it felt great to connect! I even managed to run a few errands. The stores were busy but calm, and the relaxed atmosphere made the day more enjoyable.
If you’re like me, you might struggle with sticking to a morning routine. (Here’s my approach if you’re curious: Morning Process). When life gets in the way, don’t sweat it—just pick it up later in the day, like I did this afternoon.
Lessons Worth Sharing
1. Your Attitude Shapes Everything
Think about this: Your attitude is your most important asset. It determines how you see the world and handle your emotions. These two factors play a huge role in your success, so why not invest in a positive mindset?
2. Inspiration to Carry With You
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!—Philippians 4:4
Everything lasts for a day, the one who remembers and the remembered.—Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 4.35
These words remind me to find joy and keep a long-term perspective, even when life feels overwhelming.
A Thought on Legacy
I read about the world-famous names carved into the steps of the New York City Public Library. How many of those people do we actually remember today? It’s humbling to realize how fleeting recognition can be.
But here’s a fun thought—what if a well-crafted Chinese name could make someone more memorable? A great name gets noticed, resonates, and sticks with people. (Half-joking, but there’s some truth to it!)
Fun Facts Worth Knowing
1. Theia and the Moon
Did you know an ancient planet called Theia might have collided with Earth, forming the Moon? The Moon’s role in stabilizing Earth’s climate and tides has been critical for life as we know it. Without it, human evolution might have taken a completely different path.
2. The Names We Use
In Arabic, Egypt is called Misr, its official name. The English Egypt comes from the ancient Greek Aigyptos, derived from Hwt-Ka-Ptah (the temple of the soul of Ptah). It’s fascinating how names evolve through history.
Elon, a Hebrew name meaning oak tree or strong, is typically pronounced EE-lon. In China, it’s transliterated as 埃隆 (Āilóng), but that doesn’t fit since “ai” isn’t in “Elon.” This same character is used for Egypt (Āijí), which makes sense based on its origin (Aigyptos).
In Taiwan and Hong Kong, Elon is transliterated as 伊隆 (Yīlóng), which sounds much closer. Here’s a question: If billions of people say your name wrong but millions get closer, which would you choose? Personally, I’d go with the one I like and make it official.
China also transliterates Trump’s name incorrectly, but that’s a story for another day!
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Why This Version Works for Readers:
Engages the Reader: It frames your experiences and thoughts as lessons or insights they can apply to their own lives.
Adds Value: Practical takeaways (e.g., attitude shaping success, picking a preferred name) make the content more useful.
Clear Flow: Organized sections guide readers through your ideas seamlessly.
Personal Yet Relatable: Balances your perspective with universal themes like happiness, legacy, and names.
Let me know how this lands!