Sonam J. Lama

Category: Life Lessons

  • The Unconventional Life

    Photo by Maria Oswalt on Unsplash

    An unconventional life is a way of living not bound by standard societal rules, prioritizing personal freedom, purpose, and self-expression over traditional expectations.

    People who have lived unconventional lives reject standard societal milestones like corporate careers, marriage, or city living in favor of total solitude, extreme exploration, or radical self-reliance.

    1. Worked in corporate for 7 years.
    2. I pursued Professional Basketball at 26.
    3. Played Pro Ball in Mongolia for 1 year.
    4. Lived and played Basketball in Bangkok, Thailand for a year.
    5. Had a son with a woman I had know for just 3 months.
    6. Lived 1 month in Bhutan with wife and son
    7. Traveled for 3 months with wife and son to Nepal, India and Thailand.
    8. Separated from wife at 37.
    9. Single at 37 with a son
    10. Renting an apartment with a $80,000 per year business/job as a Basketball Skills Trainer & Personal Trainer.

    I feel free with no mortgage.

    However, what keeps me here in New Jersey is my son.

    When I compared myself to other successful people, I feel behind because I don’t own a home.

    But, then I quickly think about how I have lived “The Unconventional Life.”

    Historically, I haven’t done things exactly by the book and that’s ok.

    In fact, I truly understand the meaninglessness of life and have realized life is totally based on my own interpretation.

    Here are some people in history who have lived unconventional lives:

    1. The Buddha
    2. Benjamin Franklin
    3. Leonardo Davinci
    4. Tim Ferriss
    5. Felix Dennis
    6. Bruce Lee
    7. Elon Musk
    8. Henry David Thoreau: A writer and philosopher who famously spent two years living in a small cabin by Walden Pond to practice self-reliance and deep reflection on nature.
    9. Jack Kerouac: An iconic novelist who abandoned conventional stability to roam across North America, capturing the beat lifestyle and the philosophy of the open road.
    10. Christopher McCandless: An adventurer who gave away his savings, shed material possessions, and journeyed into the Alaskan wilderness seeking ultimate freedom.
    11. Faustino Barrientos: A Chilean hermit who lived completely isolated in the remote Patagonia region for roughly 46 years, relying on a lifestyle akin to early frontier settlers.
    12. Mr. Gunnar (Mr. Gilu): A Swedish recluse who spent over six decades living in total solitude deep within the remote forests of Sweden.

    Common Themes in Unconventional Lives

    1. The Search for Solitude: Many who leave the grid do so out of a deep preference for quiet and a desire to escape modern stress.
    2. Rejection of Material Burdens: Shedding traditional markers like home mortgages, corporate ladders, and heavy possessions brings a distinct sense of psychological lightness.
    3. Risk of Isolation: Stepping away from the crowd often trades societal safety nets for potential loneliness and self-reliance.

    Do I want more success?

    Sure.

    Well, then how do I get it?

    I just keep going. I learn from the best. I experiment. I iterate.

    But, I just keep going.

    I’ve made many mistakes in my life.

    However, life is a school and our problems are the curriculum.

    Life is an adventure.

    And before I die, I want to dome interesting, fun and cool a** sh*t!

    This jives with my motto, “make a whole lot of money and have a whole lotta fun doing it!”

  • Lessons I Learned Losing Family & Friends

    Photo by Jarl Schmidt on Unsplash

    Loss: the state or act of no longer having, keeping, or controlling something.

    Here’s who I lost:

    1. My two Grandmothers, 2 Grandfathers
    2. My older cousin brother – Babu Dai (alcohol overdoes)
    3. My older cousin sister – Phulhamu Didi (succumbed to her illnesses)
    4. My friend Rubiel Mercado. (no seatbelt and flew through his windshield)
    5. My friend Alexa (Autoimmune disease)
    6. Ismar “Mookie” (shot. He was not the target)
    7. My friend Woody (drowned running from the cops)

    I can go on.

    Here’s what losing my family and friends taught me:

    1. Death can happen to any of us at anytime
    2. There is no more important time than the present
    3. You better act now. Time is ticking.
    4. Your dreams will not magically happen. You must act relentlessly.
    5. There is no meaning to life, except the meaning you give it.
    6. There is no proof of spirits. They never came back to visit me.
    7. Life is meant to be lived. It’s an adventure. Enjoy, laugh and experience the full human experience.

    I love and miss my family and friends dearly.

    However, we will all be gone one day as well.

    Let us all live our lives as best we can, achieve our dreams and do exactly what our soul desires.