Welcome to The Quiet Rich, your weekly guide to a quiet mind and rich life. Today, you’ll get 6 old-soul habits to bring back this summer.
CONTEXT
What if our grandparents had it right all along?
They started their mornings with the newspaper and coffee—not scrolling through social media. They cooked Sunday dinners from scratch. They walked to the store and actually talked to their neighbors along the way.
Fast forward to today. We've got every convenience imaginable, yet we're more anxious, distracted, and lonely than ever. Why?
Because our nervous systems were never designed for this. Constant notifications. Breaking news alerts. Dating app swipes.
The happiest people I know have figured out what our grandparents knew instinctively: offline is the new luxury.
When the phone was tied with a cord, we all felt so much more free.
Let's bring a little of that freedom back this summer.
METHOD
6 “old soul” habits to start this summer:
- Instead of asking ChatGPT for a simple recipe, ask your mom, your sibling, or your friends who love to cook.
- Instead of Ubering eggs at the last minute, knock on your neighbor’s door. They’re happy to help, and it’s really delightful to build a small community with the people who live close to you.
- Instead of texting a friend “happy birthday,” call them and chat for a while. You’ll be so glad to hear their voice. And they'll remember your call long after they've forgotten the 17 emoji-filled texts they got.
- Instead of doom-scrolling in bed at night, read a few chapters of a really good book. It does wonders for your mind (and your quality of sleep).
- Instead of listening to a podcast on every walk, give your mind some whitespace. You’ll get the best ideas.
- Instead of checking emails in line at the coffee shop, smile and say hi to the person next to you. You never know what it could lead to. A new friend. A business opportunity. A moment that makes someone's day. Or maybe just a small reminder that the world is still full of kind people.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Old-soul habits require a tiny bit more effort upfront, but they pay enormous dividends in the long run.
Calling your mom takes longer than asking AI for a recipe. But she’ll feel closer to you and you'll remember the call for days.
Knocking on your neighbor's door could feel slightly awkward at first. But that small moment of courage may turn into years of friendship.
Reading a book takes more focus than scrolling. But it nourishes your mind in a way that no algorithm ever could.
We live in a world that’s pulling us further apart from each other. It promises you convenience, but it doesn’t mention the cost hidden in fine print at the bottom. Connection.
There’s a wonderful story about Kurt Vonnegut that sums it up perfectly. He told his wife he's going out to buy an envelope:
"Oh, she says, well, you're not a poor man. You know, why don't you go online and buy a hundred envelopes and put them in the closet? And so I pretend not to hear her. And go out to get an envelope because I'm going to have a hell of a good time in the process of buying one envelope. I meet a lot of people. And see some great looking babies. And a fire engine goes by. And I give them the thumbs up. And I'll ask a woman what kind of dog that is. And, and I don't know. The moral of the story is we're here on Earth to fart around. And, of course, the computers will do us out of that. And what the computer people don't realize, or they don't care, is we're dancing animals. You know, we love to move around. And it's like we're not supposed to dance anymore. Let’s all get up and move around a bit right now…"
I’m wishing you a summer full of priceless, in-person memories and moments that matter.
All my love,
Jade
P.S. Did you enjoy this? Forward it to someone who will appreciate it. ❤️
You can catch up on all The Quiet Rich newsletters here. I got the kindest email replies about last week’s newsletter: “the time of your life.” Here were a few of them.
“I just wanted to leave a little note to say I adore your newsletter and it continues to inspire, not just in content but also in values and format. Already looking forward to the next one.” —Josefine
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“Been subscribed to your newsletter for a few months now. The latest one particularly resonated. You killed it with the 8am theory. “ —Vishal
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