City Life & Quiet Wisdom

The journey to freedom financially and spiritually

Noah L. Young is a white-collar professional and middle-class city dweller, working hard to build a secure tomorrow while yearning for true freedom today. Balancing the pressures of career and everyday life, Noah explores the subtle art of living fully amidst the noise—bringing together insights from psychology, spirituality, and real-world experience. With a genuine desire to understand life’s deeper currents, Noah shares honest reflections to inspire others in their thirties to find peace, purpose, and joy in the journey.

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  • Life is difficult for a man – but its okay

    The modern day male can have it hard, and its okay to admit it. At a young age, after having some true friendships they start falling off due to other bros getting married and having children. In the present day, an average male probably feels more alone than 500 years ago when there were villages, communities and male centric careers like mining where men can bond.

    At present day, many of us are in a stale quiet office. Muscle strength no longer matters over flexing a degree and typing code.

    But that is all okay. Your friends have broken off to take care of their families, children and everything about that is honorable. You see, its not easy to be a great male figure today. Because what makes a man great is not necessarily genetics – i.e. beauty. Most men today have to work hard to build a successful asset nest to assure safety of family and kin. Through self development is the only way how men can develop intelligence, humor and wisdom to navigate an ever sophisticated word. It is through hard work that we are able to build muscle and to have anything to show – rather than really doing manual labor like back in the days.

    But I am saying, it is all okay. As throughout history the battle has always been challenging. In a sense, it is this hard work that needs to be put in that makes being a successful male more honorable and noble. Because, what honor and pride is there giving everyone a participation medal?

    So instead, frame it this way – it is what is has always been, look inside for strength and motivation. Aspire to be greater and live out the spirit of great role models we have had in the past. Get up and get started.

  • Different way to see a breakup

    two people decide to separate
    at first it may seem like they are heading for different paths
    their stories diverge
    beautiful memories sweep by
    the loneliness kicks in as you see each other drifting apart

    In the grand scheme of things
    two people are just moving on
    not on in their lives on earth
    but on with their paths in their destinies

    the beautiful story diverges
    as two points take on something greater
    like two photons travelling apart
    there is no sadness
    but rather excitement and freedom of
    further exploring their purpose and path
    in the great universe and galaxies

  • Taking a day or days off without travelling

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    Living in a big city, it’s easy to feel like if you decide to take annual leave that you’ll have to go somewhere. Travel overseas, do a road trip somewhere far away.

    Though as I’ve learnt to find out, taking a week off and staying at home / working on personal projects can be just as (or even more) rewarding. The truth is, if you live alone like myself without at partner, sometimes the logistics and hassle of travelling just to get away is not worth it.

    As you age, you tend to find value in the connections you have with you. Connections such as friendships, family and people who give you meaning. Or activities that do.

    In the past, kudos to AI and GPT I’ve experienced a week off without going anywhere. Pursuing my hobbies such as video editing and image generation to make movie trailers with AI and that has been the most “flow” week I have had in decades of having a corporate job.

    I’ve got to enjoy long lunches with good friends and stayed at the restaurant another hour to watch life pass by without having the stress to return to the office.

    My question for you all is, if you have nothing to escape from – i.e. work. is an escape to somewhere far away for the change of scenery worth it?

    Perhaps you will find happiness being around friends and family whilst doing what you love. Given that you have planned in advance the week to do hobbies like fishing, camping, visiting a local spot or just working intensely on a side project.

  • The Pros & Cons of Dating Apps

    Pros

    • Meet people out of your circle
    • Great for introverts
    • Dates on demand
    • Great way to fill weekends as a single person – plus meet prosects
    • Meet people out of your league sometimes
    • Exciting and fun, great stories to tell later
    • Success cases for finding both casual and serious relationships
    • Highest chance of meeting someone compared to traditional bump into you and say hi at bar way
    • Generally easier.

    Cons

    • People out of your circle may be out of your circle for a reason – unshared values, hobbies, ethics etc.
    • Dominated by great photoshoppers, beauty but lack of effective way to screen personality and other very important aspects
      • i.e. tone, the way of speech
      • how spontaneous someone is when they talk or how articulate
      • if personalities and hobbies are actually real – tonnes of inaccurate representations
      • Great texters but probably bad conversationalists
    • 80/20 on dating pool dominated by those with great stats – height, photos etc. but not necessarily realistic
    • Exhaustion from going on dates, particularly if you are in a human facing day job. Feels like work
    • Plenty of small talk and repeating yourself over and over again
    • Expensive if you decide to pay
    • The inability to choose. Apps are designed to keep you they and make you pay for premium. Finding someone is the story and narrative to market to you. Ideally they want you to be indecisive
    • its hard to know someone well without much interest or due diligence
    • Constant battle between yourself but also the other person on whether they will commit or not
    • Pressures of getting dates and matches like KPIs
    • Being asked how dating life is or bumble life – for juicy stories rather than people actually caring about your dating life.

    There is no right or wrong like any double edged sword, its invention has been great and destructive to some within the context of humanity.

  • Future or present? The dilemma for FIRE guys.

    For as long as I can remember, the tug of war between present and future has been a recurring theme for myself – someone who discovered the concept of FIRE at the age of 24. Since then, for a decade I’ve been caught up in the ebb and flow of struggles between living now and saving for the future.

    I believe I am not alone in this. Listening to podcasts from Ramit Sethi or other gurus its easy to find examples of other people, sharing the same journey and having the problems of forgetting how to spend to live intentionally. As Ramit once put it, we forget how to spend and live if we base our success in life on every dollar saved. Kind of like a scoreboard of rising numbers, rather than building memory dividends or truly living in the moment.

    Before FIRE, my life motto was always to live a life you will remember and over the years it seems that I have wanted to save to live that life and have the freedom. A little sacrifice cant be that bad right?

    In fact, forgetting how to spend, or spending in a guilt free way has cost me quite a lot of happiness. it makes purchases a struggle. Booking that nice hotel a struggle. Or even buying gifts for my partner a struggle. To compensate and make these things available I can only sacrifice other areas in my life.

    I watch peers spend lavishly and enjoying life – which in turn creates some meaning in working hard to earn more. Having targets can be a motivation to work. When you are working just to build a number, it becomes harder to correlate the success and discipline with something you can enjoy (especially if it is far away)

    Is there a conclusion to all this? Perhaps not or not at the moment. But I suppose its good to let everyone know that these things are one of the downsides to FIRE. And that perhaps COASTfire would make a lot more sense and meaning.

    Work does bring meaning and income. Striking the balance is the most crucial of all things just like having a balanced diet feeds the body. Whilst no one is perfect, it makes sense to be conscious to make an effort to balance things for better mental health and clarity.

    N. L. Young

  • When your Money Dials change – Travel

    Don’t get me wrong, I still enjoy travelling every year. But things have taken a change in the recent two or so years. At 35, it seems that life has taken other priorities and I value being around friends and family more.

    In my twenties, travel was about exploring new places, experiencing new cultures and food. Doing things that pushed me – including the red eye flights to exotic countries, weekend trips returning on Mondays and starting work the very following hours.

    I enjoyed visiting countries to learn about their history from museums and to walk ancient streets that have been preserved since many decades ago. Staying at nice hotels and resorts was really “living’ and enjoying my youth.

    Sadly as time goes by things seem to have taken a turn. Planning trips are exhausting and thinking about where to go seems to be a chore. I wouldn’t say I’m well travelled globally, but I’ve visited enough countries in Asia – Greater China, Japan and Korea included as well as Europe. Museums start to display similar things. Architecture seem to have resemblance or is pretty much identical once you cross the border. Nature scenes? Austria and Switzerland have striking resemblance that i’m no longer mind blown.

    Cynicism aside, I think i’ve come to realise that I can be happy staying put. After buying my own home and truly making it a home, I’ve realised being in my home country doesn’t feel so bad. I’ve learned that happiness is only real when shared. And this is around family around a dining table. Going to restaurants with close friends. Practicing self love with classes and healthy self maintenance. Cooking and being in nature makes me at peace.

    Over time, trading this type of peace over busy airports, chaotic bus stops, fear of getting lost and scammed has become a nice feeling. Yes, to some, particularly the younger ones, this may seem like someone growing old and losing their sense of adventure.

    But to me, its a sign of entering a new stage in life. Where finding peace and happiness means having good connections. Sharing happy moments with those you love and value. Rather than with acquaintances many miles away from home. It’s also about finding meaning at work and watering the grass where home is.

    And really, there is nothing wrong with that. Seeking happiness maybe closer than you think. After experiencing the world in my twenties and early 30s. Small things can bring joy. Especially at home. Petting my dog, watering my plants, having a nice coffee nearby or being available last minute for loved ones.

    I will continue to travel nonetheless. But travel shouldn’t be to escape. And happiness can be found at home. Without something to escape from, travel becomes less of a priority. This newfound joy of living everyday where you are is more fulfilling than jumping on the plane for the sake of it.

    N. L. Young

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