Born in the Midwest, raised in the Pacific Northwest, transplant to New York.

5 things I've been thinking about:

1) linguistic relativity: how metaphors and the language we think in shapes our culture and our actions; how our culture and situation also shapes our language. For example: in Icelandic, there are over 80 words for snow and over 100 words for wind, because you have to know exactly what kind of snow and wind conditions are out there if you want to survive.

2) mindfulness, meditation, and universal love: be emotionally generous to the people around you. you never know what they're going through, and one day you're going to want someone to treat you the same way. be forgiving.

3) how does your job shape who you become? if you are in a job that constantly requires you to be suspicious of what you receive (i.e. consulting, where you need to question what you are given and challenge and reassess), how does that shape
how you act day-to-day?

4) standard operating procedure: a term used to describe set processes. what are the set processes you've put in place in your own life that allow you to reduce the number of decisions you make and spend your energy more effectively?

5) what is the difference between doing what is effective and doing what is efficient?

let’s talk about:
language
identity
perspective
places
your bookshelf

https://www.instagram.com/j.essicaguo/

PHILOSOPHY:

Value the eulogy over the resume, the important over the urgent, and presence over productivity. Remember that every interaction is a transaction of energy. You are responsible for how you make others feel. Busy is a decision and attention is an art. Simplify. Find meaning. Make time to digest and to recharge. Listen to understand and respond, not to react. Use people’s names. Being busy does not make you more important. The time to stop, notice, and enjoy is now. Give yourself permission. Pay attention. Say thank you. Curate ruthlessly. Fight complacency. Live poetically, and live deliberately: memento mori.

code of conduct:
1. Simplify.
2. Live deliberately. Memento mori.
3. Prioritize people.
4. Fight complacency.
5. Find meaning. There is no purpose w/o passion.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

I love local experiences. All my best travel experiences have been either amazing conversations with locals or something a local has recommended to me.

Music, Movies, and Books

Currently reading:
- The Righteous Mind, Jonathan Haidt

Last book finished:
- The Blue Sweater, Jacqueline Novogratz
- Thinking Fast and Slow, Daniel Kahneman
- Can Asians Think? Kishore Mabubhani

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I've hugged a baby panda.

What I Can Share with Hosts

Watercolor sketches!
Recommendations for TEDtalks. I watch A LOT.
Swapping travel stories (see countries visited).

Countries I’ve Visited

Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, England, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Scotland, Serbia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Vatican City State

Countries I’ve Lived In

China, Italy, United States