安住 | Community

Growing up between Germany and China and building a career across multiple countries - my life exemplifies the borderless world we've created. Yet lately, I've found myself finding peace in a close-knit community.

The shift began subtly. Instead of chain cafés with their standardized experiences, I started frequenting the neighborhood bakery where the owner kneads the dough each morning, thinking of the families who will break bread together at their breakfast tables. Rather than anonymous big-box gyms, I joined a local fitness studio where Carlos remembers everyone's names and fitness goals. When service providers know their customers as people rather than data points, care naturally follows.

This local approach also dissolves artificial barriers between people. In our neighborhood shops and community spaces, we're not defined by our job titles, backgrounds, or beliefs. We're simply neighbors, all playing our parts in sustaining the delicate ecosystem of local life. On this giant spinning ball in the universe, we come together to create value for the small patch of Earth we temporarily call home.

Interestingly, this hasn't diminished my appreciation for global connectivity. Instead, it's helped me reimagine it. As part of my journey toward digital minimalism, I've stepped back from mainstream social media's vast but shallow waters. Instead, I've created this intimate space, a digital neighborhood of sorts, where like-minded individuals can gather to share their thoughts and revelations.