Rambling

I’ve too-recently discovered the value of perambulation. Although, I can walk great distances when I’m going somewhere specific, I find a simple stroll is so much better for my mental flossing.

I once walked the distance covered by the Hobbits, from the Shire to Mt. Doom in Mordor. It was an engaging challenge (and the Hobbits did it much more quickly that I managed—which gave me new found respect for those little people) but it eventually became just a thing I was ticking off. Each time I walked one of a very small few routes that I’d measured, I simply added to the tally. Somehow, having a destination made the walks (those whereupon it occurred to me that I was getting closer to Mordor) not feel like perambulation.

That “life affirming” element lives in the rigor of the act. The days are rigorous if nothing else.

~ Craig Mod from, The Performance Art of the Walk — Ridgeline issue 150

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Maybe my problem is simply my work ethic. I have a crushing work ethic and it’s taken me a great deal of effort to let go of feeling guilty when I’m not working. If I’m on a journey—a walk or a project—if there’s a destination, then my work ethic rears its ugly head and tries to suck the perambulation out of it.

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Apparently worthless

Do not depend on the hope of results. You may have to face the fact that your work will be apparently worthless and even achieve no result at all, if not perhaps results opposite to what you expect. As you get used to this idea, you start more and more to concentrate not on the results, but on the value, the rightness, the truth of the work itself. You gradually struggle less and less for an idea and more and more for specific people. In the end, it is the reality of personal relationship that saves everything.

~ Thomas Merton

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There was a script?

I’m pretty sure there was no script. If there was a script, I definitely never saw it. In the very early days, there was for my part a lot of, “why?” Why, why, why, but seriously, why? There was a prolonged period of, “what if
” and a long list of things that got tried. (We jumped ATVs over people. Just sayin’.) Then there was a too-long period where I realized that when I multiplied my power of agency by my charisma I could achieve much mischief; never quite Evil per se, but rather than get myself into trouble I realized it was fun to get others to get us all into trouble. (I was aiming for “get themselves into trouble” but I usually missed that mark.)

Gaining agency is gaining the capacity to do something differently from, or in addition to, the events that simply happen to you. Most famous people go off-script early, usually in more than one way.

~ Simon Sarris from, The Most Precious Resource is Agency – by Simon Sarris

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You know that stupid question, “if you could get a message to your younger self, would you and what would you say?” I think I finally—51.5 years on!—have a message which I definitely would send back to myself: “Make more decisions; don’t often go with the first idea you have.” Whether it was mental or physical or who-knows-what, I was too often fast out of the blocks at the sound of the starter’s pistol. But too rarely did I consider if I even wanted to be in the race. I was crawling, and one day I stood up and ran (according to my mom, and apparently saying “why? why? why? why?”) so I’m confident I had the agency thing sorted. But what was I seeking? To where was I running? And really, maybe just right here in this moment is sort of nice, no?

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If this isn’t fun

If this isn’t fun, what would be? Because at this point, I don’t have any excuses for doing anything which isn’t simply, directly enjoyable. I don’t mean that I’m going to be petulant, and rage-quite taking out the trash and dealing with drains. I mean that upon careful inspection there isn’t anything which can’t be simply, directly enjoyable in the moment.

One rule of thumb is to ask yourself, “Am I having a good time doing this?” If you’re not enjoying yourself when you’re engaged in what seems important to you, if you can’t find spontaneous pleasure and joy in it, then there’s likely something wrong. When that happens, you have to go back to the beginning and start discarding any extraneous parts or unnatural elements.

~ Haruki Murakami from, ‘I want to open a window in their souls’: Haruki Murakami on the power of writing simply | Haruki Murakami | The Guardian

The other day I spent an entire day stacking firewood. It’s a lot of work; but it’s not really that hard. I’d load the wheelbarrow (which is kneeling, squatting or stooping labor), run it to the stacks, stack stack stack. Repeat. After a few trips, I’d retire to the patio and combine some relaxing with some digital work. The parts where I managed to be aware of what I was doing—the sounds, smells, sights, and visceral sensations of hard work—it was definitely enjoyable. Most likely because I find the results of the effort (a warm fire in cold winter) meaningful. It’s any time the meaning seems to be missing that I find I get into trouble.

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Cycles with Patrick Oancia

How can movement and philosophy intersect to foster self-awareness, transformation, and a deeper understanding of the human experience?

This conversation between Craig Constantine and Patrick Oancia revolves around the importance of structure and exploration in movement practices.

“I wanted to make something structured enough that people can go from A to Zed in a learning pattern, but at the same time, have some room for that person to have some space to perceive it as something interesting for themselves.” ~ Patrick Oancia 42’30”

They discuss the concept of balancing structure and chaos to create a practice that offers both a foundation and room for individual exploration. Patrick shares his experience in developing a movement practice called Baseworks that combines structure with the opportunity for multiple possibilities. They also touch upon the significance of finding deep connections and the value of building relationships within communities.

Patrick shares his insights on the significance of structure within movement practices. He emphasizes the importance of a structured approach that allows individuals to progress from one stage to another, while still providing room for personal exploration and diverse perspectives. They discuss how structure combined with chaos creates an engaging and interesting experience, fostering depth of perception and possibilities for growth.

“If people jump from one thing to the next, there’s no potential for somebody to sink their teeth into something, it’s reality.” ~ Patrick Oancia 44’30”

The conversation goes into the notion of embracing multiple methods and perspectives in movement practices. Patrick reflects on his experience with strict yoga teachings and how, despite the advice to stick to one method, he pursued different approaches simultaneously. Craig and Patrick discuss the value of exploring various methods, as it allows individuals to gain a broader understanding and depth of perception. They acknowledge that everyone’s journey is unique, and by embracing multiple perspectives, one can find what resonates with them personally.

“Find the others
 if you come away with one new deep connection, that’s a super valuable thing.” ~ Craig Constantine 46’35”

Also explored in the conversation is the role of community and deep connections. Craig and Patrick emphasize the value of finding like-minded individuals who share a passion for movement and personal growth. They highlight the importance of creating meaningful connections and relationships within communities, as it provides support, inspiration, and opportunities for collaboration. They recognize that a single deep connection can be more valuable than a multitude of superficial ones.

Takeaways

Balance and Focus — It’s important to strike a balance between various aspects of personal development.

Structure and Flexibility — Creating a structured framework for learning and practice provides a solid foundation for growth.

Complexity of Verbalizing Concepts — Both participants acknowledge the challenge of articulating their ideas and concepts when discussing movement practices.

Multiple Paths — Everyone’s journey is different, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach to personal development.

Deep Connections — Building meaningful connections with like-minded individuals is invaluable.

Resources

Baseworks Baseworks is a movement approach that helps anyone better feel and understand the body while developing strength, flexibility, and better control over one’s movements.

@baseworkslife Baseworks on Instagram and Baseworks on Facebook.

Baseworks’s “Zaap” has even more ways to learn about Patrick and Baseworks.

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

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To love one true

It warms my heart any time I discover someone writing on the open web. But boy howdy is it a good day when it’s also someone I know, who I think more people need to hear from.

I write because I need to.

~ Jesse Danger from, To Love One True

I’m biased, of course. Most people don’t write out in the open (I’m not criticizing.) Being a someone who does simply means I understand the urge, and the challenge (and the fear) that goes into the pensive from which writing ensues.

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Know thyself

“Know thyself” is a piece of advice which is as old as civilization, and probably a great deal older. To follow that advice, a man must do more than indulge in introspection. If I would know myself, I must know my environment; for as a body, I am part of the environment, a natural object among other natural objects, and, as a mind, I consist to a great extent of my immediate reactions to the environment and of my secondary reactions to those primary reactions.

~ Aldous Huxley

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Healthy with Rodrigo Stavale

How can movement and mindset be used as tools for healing, growth, and fostering connections in both personal and community contexts?

Rodrigo Stavale and Craig Constantine dip into several topics, including podcasting, children’s learning, and the power of unconventional teaching methods. Stavale emphasizes the significance of modeling and creative play in fostering children’s development and understanding of movement. They discuss the importance of providing diverse environments, such as streets and parks, to encourage risk management and creativity. Stavale also touches upon the value of self-reflection and feedback, noting the benefits of recording podcasts to capture and analyze one’s progress.

Stavale discusses the role of podcasting as a tool for self-reflection and assessment, allowing individuals to evaluate their progress and explore new movement approaches. He also highlights the significance of injuries, explaining how they provide valuable learning experiences that increase body awareness and strengthen individuals.

The best environment to develop kids is in streets, parks, and places with lots of information for them to manage the risks, see the challenge, and be creative.

~ Rodrigo Stavale, 22’30”

Observing his daughter’s learning process, Stavale emphasizes the importance of modeling movements rather than relying on strict instructions. He describes the value of creativity and playfulness in children’s exploration of movement challenges, allowing them to develop their own ideas and philosophy.

Stavale also underscores the importance of self-assessment in movement practice. He encourages individuals to analyze their movements, using methods such as video recordings or written observations, to identify areas for improvement and track progress. Through self-reflection, individuals can deepen their understanding, maintain motivation, and discover innovative approaches to movement challenges.

Takeaways

Emphasizing accessibility and relatability — Stavale emphasizes the importance of making his projects and videos accessible and relatable to a wide audience. His goal is to inspire others by showcasing movements that are impressive yet achievable, creating a sense of possibility and encouraging individuals to engage in physical activity.

Observing children’s learning — Stavale highlights the value of observing how children naturally learn and play. He believes in incorporating their creative nature into movement-based activities, allowing them to explore and discover movements on their own terms. By embracing their innate curiosity and playfulness, children can develop their skills and movement capabilities.

Self-assessment and growth — Stavale encourages self-assessment and progress tracking as essential elements in movement development. By regularly evaluating one’s own progress, identifying areas for improvement, and adapting movements and techniques accordingly, individuals can strive for continuous growth and self-improvement. Stavale sees challenges and obstacles as opportunities for learning and believes in pushing oneself to explore new movements and overcome personal limitations.

Resources

YouTube.com/stavaleparkourrio

@Stavale.Parkour on Instagram

Stavacast Stavale’s podcast on Spotfy

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(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

Maybe try a map?

First a hat tip to Austin Kleon. His most-recent post, Do you have a nemesis? included a mind map, which is the most-recent of the countless times I’ve encountered mind mapping. I’m a fan of Kleon for many reasons, not least of which is that he, like me, flouts the usual guidelines for the capitalization of one’s titles.

I’ve tried mind mapping a few times. (What’s that? Did I overdo it with software and processes? 
yes, of course!) Today, I was feeling unmotivated to write for Open + Curious. I thought, “Just start. JUST START!” But I simply didn’t want to face the blank screen of the digital document.

Instead, I opened my idea garden wherein I capture interesting nuggets to be seeds for future writing. In my garden, I rarely (I first wrote “never,” but I don’t want to jinx myself) have trouble finding a nugget to write about. I grabbed my favorite pen, and flipped to a blank sheet in the little binder I keep. So much action! I felt like I was already writing. /s

On that mind map I wrote the “something new” at the center. It’s not a meaningless bit of meta; it’s the central idea from a captured nugget. At this point, staring at the paper with my pen in hand felt great, versus facing a digital document which always feels too structured for me to think in. (ref. Sönke Ahrens.) In just a few minutes of thinking and scribbling I had all those bubbles. Then I had a title. 
then a route. 
an outline. And from there the writing felt doable.

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Chatter and peace

Of late there’s been a marked reduction in the ‘ol mental chatter. I don’t know from where the chatter originates. Sometimes I notice there is chatter; sometimes I notice there is not. When there is chatter, I find it’s usually impossible to stop it in the moment, or even with hours of concerted effort.

If you’re ever able to step back from your own mental chatter, and listen to it with some critical distance, perhaps after a long meditation, or in one of those tired but insightful moments near the end of the day, you might find it indeed exhibits many of the characteristics of an extremely boring and self-absorbed person. It’s not that you yourself are this way — surely you don’t say everything that comes to mind. But the mind does.

~ David Cain from, How to Stop Thinking Too Much

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The only thing that works for me, to keep the chatter at bay, is to bite off far less than I think I can chew. Then spit half of it out the moment I realize I didn’t actually want it in the first place. My chatter is [I think?] always about something (or some things) specific. The only way to stop the chatter is to realize the thing is not worth doing, or to just do it. With finite time and energy there’s a limit to the “just do it” solution. In recent months I’ve been spending huge amounts of time talking myself into realizing many things are not worth doing. This too is a Sisyphean task, but I think it’s been working— at least if I judge by my perception of recent chatter.

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Real life

Real life is found only in the present. If people tell you that you should live your life preparing for the future, do not believe them. We live in this life, and we know this life only, and therefore all our efforts should be directed toward the improvement of this life. Not your life in general but every hour of this life should be lived in the best way you know how.

~ Leo Tolstoy

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