Simon's Blog

Former NBA guard John Wall of the LA Clippers revealed he had considered taking his life while grappling with a torn Achilles and the consecutive deaths of his mother and grandmother. Overwhelmed by hopelessness, Wall’s experience highlights a harsh reality: he is far from alone. Many elite athletes navigate these profound lows, often relying on the support of friends, family, and colleagues who understand the unique pressures of their profession.  After the 2018 Olympics, Chloe Kim famously returned home and threw her gold medal in the trash. Similarly, in 2011, Serena Williams revealed she had been battling depression after winning Wimbledon, “I cried all the time and was miserable to be around.” Despite their extraordinary physical feats, these athletes face escalating mental health challenges that fame cannot fix. For Kim, the expected ecstasy of victory was replaced by resentment: “I hated life. I just wanted a day where I could be left alone.”  Former NFL star Ricky Will...

The most beautiful I watch her I want her She walks quietly Deep in thought Never saying a word Never looks my way Doesn’t offer a word I don’t exist If her husband knew I look at her Would he take my head They don’t seem one Seem un-one Am I seeing correctly Always deep in thought Connected to a distant reality Only she can describe If only she knew I’m her distant reality I want her    

I recently learned about an herb called Kratom. Despite many conversations I’ve had regarding various substances, Kratom rarely comes up; it simply isn’t a mainstream drug that most people are familiar with. After researching the plant, I discovered that Kratom is native to Southeast Asia, where its leaves have been used in herbal medicine for generations. It grows in Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, and Papua New Guinea, and possesses opioid-like properties. Because its effectiveness and safety remain unclear, it has not been approved for medical use in the United States or many other countries. In cultures where the plant is indigenous, however, the leaves are chewed to relieve pain, boost energy, increase libido, and heal wounds. In Thailand, it is even used as a deworming agent. At low doses, Kratom produces euphoric effects similar to coca, but at high doses, the effects can become intense and last for hours.  In 2018, Thailand legalized Kratom for medical purposes, re...

Trying to connect You think it’s clear But language blunders   Our sophistication  Relying on expressions To convey our complexities   Frustrated by people’s reactions  To correct what I’ve said Not fully grasping my meaning   The language to connect  To decipher a chaotic existence Language’s a tool for fools   The need for adequate art To convey ridiculous experience To get a clearer picture   Language to convey feelings Through listening and speaking What a hassle    The ego competes for space Hinders harmony How to remove ourselves  So clarity flows Can flow Can flow    

Conversations about Marxism often feel fragmented. The mere mention of the topic causes levels of tension usually reserved for heated religious debates. However, despite the intensity of these discussions, popular understanding of Karl Marx and his theories remains remarkably vague. People frequently conflate his name with "socialism" or "communism" as if they were synonymous, overlooking the fact that Marx was primarily a critic of capitalism. He sought a system that would prioritize the common good over private accumulation. Marx argued that while capitalism is expertly designed to increase profit and capital, it contributes very little to the well-being of the community or the environment. He believed that for capitalism to truly serve humanity, it would require such a fundamental "reboot" or rigorous regulation that it would cease to be capitalism entirely. Marx’s intellectual journey began at age 17 when he enrolled at the University of Bonn. Althoug...

One day, while reading the Chiang Mai Daily News, I came across the Thai legend of Mae Nak. The story is based on events that took place during the reign of King Rama IV and centers on a beautiful woman named Nak, who lived on the banks of the Phra Khanong Canal. She possessed an undying love for her husband, Mak. While Nak was pregnant, Mak was drafted into war and seriously wounded. While he was being nursed back to health in central Bangkok, Nak and her child died during a difficult labor. When Mak eventually recovered and returned home, he found his wife and child waiting for him, seemingly alive and well. Neighbors tried to warn Mak that he was living with ghosts, but he refused to believe them. The truth was finally revealed one day while Mae Nak was preparing Nam Phrik. She accidentally dropped a lime through a hole in the floorboards. As she reached to retrieve it, she stretched her arm to an impossible length to pick it up from the ground below. Seeing this, Mak realized his w...

Becoming a monk is a profound symbol of devotion and is viewed as a selfless act within the community. The experience is intended to cultivate discipline, making a man more suitable for societal life and marriage should he choose to leave the sangha (monastic community). This tradition carries such weight that some families may even discourage their daughters from marrying a man who has not yet served as a monk. The reality of monastic life, however, is demanding. Anyone seeking ordination must commit to a rigorous set of rules and precepts. Traditionally, in many Southeast Asian lineages, applicants must be male and meet specific criteria regarding their physical and spiritual readiness. Before the day of the ceremony, the prospective monk visits family members to seek forgiveness for past transgressions. A presiding monk will visit the home to lead prayers and chanting, beginning the ritual of shaving the candidate’s head, eyebrows, and facial hair. This is often followed by the Tha...

Sydney McLaughlin is an American world-record holder in the 400-meter hurdles and the first woman to break the 51-second barrier in the event. Sydney took up running at a very early age. By age 17 she appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated, which described her as "one of the most dominant high school athletes ever." In 2018, she turned professional and signed a sponsorship deal with New Balance for an estimated $1.5 million annual base salary. Sydney knows “there is always room to improve” and constantly promises to push the boundaries of her sport. She has already discussed the possibility of competing in other events, such as the flat 400 meters, with her team. “Anything is possible,” she said. Edwin Moses, the legendary American gold medalist hurdler, once remarked, “There’s never been a weapon as strong as she is.”