Hi, I'm Gwyneth! I'm so glad you stumbled upon my blog. Thanks for taking the time to read my thoughts.
Since Jan 2024, I’ve set a goal to write a post every month. More often than not, I find myself scrambling to get each one out by the end of the month, but the process has been both challenging and incredibly rewarding. Writing has helped me distill and crystallise my thoughts, share them meaningfully, and spark interactions that I deeply appreciate.
I see myself as an adventurer on a journey of exploring the human condition and the world, seeking to understand and appreciate myself, others, and the interconnectedness of it all. At my core, I am drawn to meaningful connections—between ideas, people, and emotions—that feel soulful and essential to the experience of being alive. And at the heart of these connections is a shared understanding of the world and each other. Not just something we acquire, but something we experience, nurture, and grow together.
This kind of understanding takes many forms, often flowing into one another rather than existing in isolation. There are moments of solitary learning through books, podcasts, articles and introspection—where I sit with ideas and allow them to shape my perspective. Then, there are the lessons life teaches through experience, through both joy and struggle, the kind that deepen our capacity for empathy. And just as important, there is the knowing that emerges through community—through conversations, exchanging stories, collaboration, and engaging with diverse perspectives. These different ways of making sense of the world continuously build on each other, not just expanding what I know but deepening how I connect with myself, with others, and with life itself.
So this blog is a part of me trying to engage in this process—of learning, reflecting, and connecting. It’s a space where I explore ideas that intrigue me, challenge perspectives (including my own), and attempt to weave meaning from all these threads.
Beyond writing, I enjoy being in nature 🍃, quiet reflective moments (on removing brain fog) 💭, reading and learning about the world and its connections 📚, community (on community playground project) 👷♀️, listening to music (Spotify) and concerts 🎶, and sports like volleyball and basketball🏐🏀. 😃
Why Atlas Alternative?
First, I’ll admit, the alliteration was an easy win. But beyond that, Atlas represents a drive to explore the vastness of the world and its interconnectedness, while Alternative reflects my natural inclination to question norms and examine things from unconventional angles. Fun fact: according to my Dimensional test (thanks to Sophia for the intro!) results, "Values Exploration" ranks as the trait where I differ most from other users (93rd percentile). This speaks to a deep-rooted readiness to re-examine social, political, and religious value systems.
At first, this name was just an instinct, something that felt right. But in retrospect (always a fan of retrospective meaning making), it carries even more meaning. In mythology, Atlas himself is far from a straightforward hero or villain. He can be seen as many things: a misguided enforcer of tradition, a cunning and self-serving figure, a courageous rebel against tyranny (this writer likened Julian Assange to Atlas), or simply a tragic soul burdened by consequence. That ambiguity mirrors how I see the world—not in absolutes, but in layers of meaning, shaped by perspective, nuance, and the multitudes of interpretations that exist.
Even the etymology of Atlas is uncertain. Some trace it to the Berber word ádrār ("mountain"), fitting given the Atlas Mountains, home to the Berber (Amazigh) people—who, despite waves of colonialism and conquest, have preserved their nomadic traditions across the deserts and mountains of Morocco. Their way of life is deeply shaped by the land, just as the land is shaped by them. The mountains have helped protect their language (Tamazight, Tashelhit), their architecture (kasbahs, adobe houses), and their crafts (such as carpet weaving). The valleys provide fertile ground for wheat and almonds, while the highlands sustain herds of goats and sheep.
Grateful for the chance to trek through the absolutely majestic Ait Bouguemez Valley (“Happy Valley”) of Atlas Mountains in Jul 2018.
The story of the Amazigh people is testament to endurance, adaptation and relationship between people and place. Over centuries, they have absorbed new influences and yet have still maintained a deep connection to the practices, values and knowledge that are core to their identity. In the same vein, this blog is an exploration—not just discovering new ideas, but revisiting the old, retaining what resonates, and adapting it to our evolving understanding. Just as cultures evolve through a constant interplay of past and present, our understanding of the world deepens through both discovery and reflection—what we absorb and what we decide to carry forward.
The Logo
The logo, conceptualized by me and designed by my friend Weitai, blends a heartbeat and a plant to reflect the interconnectedness of all living things—how our well-being is intricately tied to the health of the environment around us. Also have it tattooed on my body :p
