Futuring Note

Category: Culture & Collective Behaviour

  • The Longest Day Is Not an Invitation to Work Longer

    What Summer Solstice teaches us about energy, burnout and knowing when to rest Part of the FuturingNote series: Reflections Through the 24 Solar Terms. Today marks the Summer Solstice (夏至 Xià Zhì); the tenth solar term. It is one of the longest days of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. read more

  • Why Missing This Solar Term Could Cost an Entire Harvest

    A lesson from ‘Grain in Ear’ solar term that applies to careers, relationships and life itself.. Part of the FuturingNote series: Reflections Through the 24 Solar Terms. A few days ago, I was reading about ‘Grain in Ear’ (芒种 Máng Zhòng), the ninth solar term in the Chinese calendar during the summer season. read more

  • Weird Thing I Had to Google “How to Accept a Compliment”

    How the Chinese solar term Grain Bud quietly changed the way I see growth and achievement Part of the FuturingNote series: Reflections Through the 24 Solar Terms. The actual Chinese characters of Grain Bud solar term is 小满 (Xiǎo Mǎn) literally means “small full.” read more

  • When Energy Rises, Direction Matters More

    Turning rising energy into purposeful growth Part of the FuturingNote series: Reflections Through the 24 Solar Terms. There is a subtle shift that happens with the arrival of the solar term ‘Beginning of Summer’ (立夏 Lì Xià) which is the first solar term of summer. read more

  • When Day and Night Are Equal, Why Aren’t We?

    A reflection on 春分 (Chūn Fēn) – Spring Equinox Part of the FuturingNote series: Reflections Through the 24 Solar Terms. There is a moment each year when the world becomes perfectly balanced. It is called 春分 (Chūn Fēn) – Spring Equinox. read more

  • Still a SpongeBob in a Squidward World

    A reflection on optimism, burnout, and the parts of ourselves we slowly trade away At first glance, SpongeBob SquarePants was never meant to be taken seriously. It was loud. Absurd. Almost nonsensical. As children, many of us watched it for the jokes… the exaggerated expressions, the chaotic humor, the underwater antics that made very little…

  • Culture Loops

    When the stories that build us begin to circle back The recent discussion around “Chinamaxxing” arrived at an interesting moment. On the surface, it is easy to dismiss the trend as just another internet curiosity. Individuals outside China experimenting with Chinese language, aesthetics, or cultural activities. But beneath the surface, something more revealing may be…

  • When the Earth Awakens, So Should We

    A reflection on 惊蛰 (Jīng Zhé) – Awakening of Insects Part of the FuturingNote series: Reflections Through the 24 Solar Terms. Every year, sometime in early March, the traditional Chinese calendar marks a solar term called 惊蛰 – Awakening of Insects. read more

  • Unity Under Pressure

    When overwhelming power forces unlikely cooperation. And what remains after the battle ends We often imagine unity as something warm and voluntary.A natural coming together of shared values and common ground. But history, and stories, suggest something more complicated. read more

  • The Quiet Paradox of Culture

    What Builds Us May Also Hold Us – 成也文化，败也文化 Growing up with Chinese New Year, the color red was never just a color, it was atmosphere, memory, and instruction. It appeared on our doors, our clothes, our envelopes, our decorations. Long before we understood symbolism, we understood participation. Red meant celebration. Red meant protection. Red…