If you have not known how to make the best use of it, if it was unprofitable to you, what need you care to lose it, to what end would you desire longer to keep it?
~ Michel de Montaigne
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Author: Craig Constantine
This is the last time
There was, or will be, a last time for everything you do, from climbing a tree to changing a diaper, and living with a practiced awareness of that fact can make even the most routine day feel like it’s bursting with blessings. Of all the lasting takeaways from my periodic dives into Stoicism, this is the one that has enhanced my life the most.
~ David Cain from, The Last Time Always Happens Now
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This is by far the most important thing I’ve learned in my several decades. I’ve written about this previously, try my “perspective” tag for some tastes, but this item bears endless repeating. Do it as if it is the last time. Think of it, in the moment, as if it is the last time. And for a bonus multiplier—but don’t do this too often or you get disappointed too—think about that thing you’re about to do, the same way. Tomorrow, when I ____ , that will be the last time I get to _____ .
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Decisions and outcomes
Decisions are good even if the outcomes aren’t. The same is true for the process of generous creativity. The process is a smart one even if the particular work doesn’t resonate, even if the art doesn’t sell, even if you aren’t happy with the reaction from the critics. That’s because what we seek and how we create aren’t the same thing.
~ Seth Godin
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The doldrums
[T]he comfort zone. This is the bane of all athletes, the enemy of all entrepreneurs and creative[s], and the graveyard of dreams.
~ Dan Edwardes from, Risk and Reward
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This is a ubiquitous problem. Perhaps you’ve heard the phrase, “stuck in the doldrums“? It’s a literal place where there isn’t much wind, and thus the bane of old-timey sailors. But the metaphorical doldrums are just as real. You can avoid the literal doldrums. You can at best only try to avoid the metaphorical ones. Whether it’s literal or metaphor though, the way out is the same: Concerted, intentional effort to go somewhere else.
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A tragic history
But I wish some one would attempt a tragical history of literature, showing how the greatest writers and artists have been treated during their lives by the various nations which have produced them and whose proudest possessions they are. It would show us the endless fight which the good and genuine works of all periods and countries have had to carry on against the perverse and bad.
~ Arthur Schopenhauer
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If only
The day is actually quite spacious, if we don’t try to overfill it.
~ Leo Babauta from, Unrushed
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It took me far too long to learn this lesson. Or, perhaps I should practice improving my self-talk: I’m so glad I understand this now. For a couple months early in 2022 I had a sticky-note about “urgency?” on my monitor. That had a profound effect on me. Is the house on fire? …okay, then where is the urgency coming from? Hint, Craig: You brought the urgency to the situation.
But, why? Why does the urgency creep in for me? I make long (long loong) arguments out in my mind about how each of the things that I’m doing, represents an intentional choice. At one time, I used to allow other people to choose for me. (I know, right… That’s nuts.) But these days, I’m working out the lesson that just because I choose, that doesn’t mean it’s a good choice. One choice, two choices, three choices, four, five, six… and the day is over-full. Quick! All these things need to be done—I chose them. Hello, urgency.
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Social with Damien Puddle
What insights can be gained about the culture, practice, and academic study of Parkour?
The conversation explores how Parkour evolved into a subject of academic research and its broader cultural implications.
I just got so interested in Parkour that I tried to spin every single project of any kind that I did, towards Parkour. Because I realized there was no— there’s hardly any research written about it at all.
~ Damien Puddle (3:50)
The conversation covers the cultural and academic dimensions of Parkour, including its growth as a global practice. Parkour’s physical techniques are explored, particularly how they contribute to biomechanical understanding and injury prevention. This ties into broader academic efforts to document and analyze Parkour, positioning it as a boundary object uniting diverse interpretations.
Attention is given to the social and philosophical aspects of Parkour. These include its global adoption, differences in regional practices, and how practitioners perceive and engage with the discipline. The conversation concludes with reflections on the broader significance of Parkour as both a personal journey and a collective cultural phenomenon.
Takeaways
Parkour as a boundary object — It unites various interpretations and perspectives across cultural and personal practices.
Regional Parkour variations — Different communities shape the practice in unique ways.
Intersection with academia — The conversation highlights how Parkour has become a legitimate subject for academic research.
Biomechanics and movement — Parkour’s techniques provide insights into safe and efficient movement practices.
Philosophical underpinnings — The practice offers opportunities for self-reflection and personal growth.
Globalization of Parkour — The spread of Parkour highlights its adaptability and universal appeal.
Community engagement — Volunteering and contributing to organizations enrich the practice beyond physical training.
Resources
Boundary Object Theory — A sociological framework discussed as a lens for understanding Parkour’s diversity.
Vincent Thibault’s Books — Works referenced for their cultural perspective on Parkour.
Miami University in Oxford, Ohio — Mentioned as a connection for exchange programs involving Parkour lectures and workshops.
David Belle Videos — Videos of the Parkour founder used in academic presentations to illustrate the discipline.
(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)
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Authenticity with Aaradhya Tiwari
How do personal approaches to podcasting, storytelling, and authenticity evolve over time and influence podcast production?
A storyteller shares insights on transitioning from solo episodes to engaging interviews.
If it’s not the real me— If it’s not something I love to do, then it won’t be authentic enough to actually go forward with it.
~ Aaradhya Tiwari (8:46)
The conversation explores the evolution of podcasting as a personal and creative medium. Aaradhya reflects on the transition from solo episodes to guest interviews, emphasizing the challenge of overcoming initial fears of rejection and the perfectionist tendencies that often accompany such projects. The importance of authenticity in podcasting is a recurring theme, with a focus on how genuine connections and natural conversations enhance the listening experience.
A mindfulness approach to creativity also features prominently. Observing daily life and being present in the moment are identified as essential practices for sparking creativity and storytelling. The discussion also touches on navigating differences in perspectives during interviews and how such exchanges can enrich a podcaster’s understanding and production quality.
Takeaways
Mindset shifts — Moving past the fear of rejection is a key step in starting and maintaining a podcast.
Perfectionism in podcasting — Striving for authenticity can help overcome the paralysis of perfection.
Storytelling as a foundation — Stories serve as a universal element that bridges differences and enriches content.
Mindfulness practices — Observing surroundings with intent enhances creativity and inspiration.
Adaptability in interviews — Acknowledging and respecting differing perspectives can lead to richer, more meaningful conversations.
Authenticity and passion — Staying true to oneself ensures the podcast remains genuine and engaging.
Resources
This is Marketing — Seth Godin’s book exploring authentic approaches to marketing and storytelling.
(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)
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Belonging
The second meaning of the word belong has to do with being an owner: Something belongs to me. To belong to a community is to act as a creator and co-owner of that community. What I consider mine I will build and nurture. The work, then, is to seek in our communities a wider and deeper sense of emotional ownership and communal ownership. It means fostering among all of a community’s citizens a sense of ownership and accountability, both in their relationship and in what they actually control.
~ Peter Block
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Rhyming
There comes a moment in doing your reading where new work begins to rhyme. When you start to see the connections. When you understand who influenced the person you’re engaging with right now.
~ Seth Godin from, On doing the reading
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I find it difficult to figure out when to shift from empty-cup, learn-everything mode into the mastery mode. Godin’s insight about “rhyming” strikes me as a great test. In the beginning of some new learning adventure, everything is new and everything is surprising. The idea of noticing when a lot of things start to rhyme… of noticing when you can tell who or what influenced this thing you’re currently studying… that is when you notice that you have shifted into the mastery level of practice. Mastery does not—not by a long shot!—mean you are done. It’s more like the point where the airplane pivots and leaps into the sky: Now I am ready to begin my own journey.
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Folly
What a ridiculous thing it is to trouble ourselves about taking the only step that is to deliver us from all trouble! As our birth brought us the birth of all things, so in our death is the death of all things included. And therefore to lament that we shall not be alive a hundred years hence, is the same folly as to be sorry we were not alive a hundred years ago.
~ Michel de Montaigne
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Nope nope nope
The History of Philosophy is an interactive tool enabling users to dig into a visual timeline of 2,500 years of philosophical thought and discover lines of agreement and divergence.
~ Ahmed Kabil from, The History of (Western) Philosophy
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I glanced at this when it appeared in my RSS feed and I had two simultaneous thoughts: “Wow, I should really dig into—” And, “RUN AWAY!” Because, this is exactly the sort of maximally complicated data visualization that I would create.
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Time and strength [are] limited
One can never read too little of bad, or too much of good books: bad books are intellectual poison; they destroy the mind. In order to read what is good one must make it a condition never to read what is bad; for life is short, and both time and strength limited.
~ Arthur Schopenhauer
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What we seem to have forgotten
Here is what we seem to have forgotten: America is not some finished work or failed project but an ongoing experiment. And it is an experiment that, by design, will never end. If parts of the machine are broken, then the responsibility of citizens is to fix the machine—not throw it away.
~ James Mattis from, The Enemy Within
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I’ll just drop that there.
…and I’ll go on to add that it’s interesting how, through loops and curly-Q’s, I often find myself at the same place. There’s a copy of The American Idea: The Best of The Atlantic Monthly in my currently-reading stack.
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Connection
To act on whatever our intentions might be to make the world better requires something more than individual action It requires, in almost every case, people who may have little connection with each other, or who may even be on opposite sides of a question, to decide to come together for some common good.
~ Peter Block
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Seek to learn
Embracing a growth mindset means to get pleasure out of changing for the better (inward rewarding) instead of getting pleasure in being praised (outward rewarding.) […] to seek as many opportunities to learn as possible is the most reliable long-term growth strategy.
~ Sönke Ahrens from, How to Take Smart Notes
Ahrens of course discusses, and gives credit where credit is due, to Carol Dweck’s ideas. (See Dweck’s, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success.) Her comment about “reliable long-term growth strategy” struck me as insightful. Her use of, “most reliable,” is an understatement. What other strategy would even be reliable?
If I want to grow, I need to learn. If I want to learn, I need to maximize those opportunities.
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Obstacles
When you start to see your world as something more in line as a tool and an obstacle to interact with, play with, you’re going to take that lesson and look at other obstacles in your life. Your relationships, your job, your work, your health even. All these things are going to be so strongly ultimately affected by this tiny little change of yourself and your city.
~ Caitlin Pontrella
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Protein allocation
By definition LC is about dietary carbohydrate restriction. If you are reducing carbohydrates, your proportional intake of protein or fat, or both, will go up. While I don’t think there is anything wrong with a high fat diet, it seems to me that the true advantage of LC may be in how protein is allocated, which appears to contribute to a better body composition.
~ Ned Kock from, Dietary protein does not become body fat if you are on a low carbohydrate diet
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Zoinks! This short article is dense. I read each paragraph. Then slowly reread the paragraph, squinting slightly and turning each sentence over in my mind. It feels like there’s at least one actionable-item, (something to start doing, or something to stop doing,) in every paragraph. I’ve spent a lot of time in recent years trying to learn what I can about all the things in this article. It’s a beautiful assembly that backs up the thesis in the first paragraph, (which is quoted entirely above.)
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The number of days
Wherever your life ends, it is all there. The utility of living consists not in the length of days, but in the use of time; a man may have lived long, and yet lived but a little. Make use of time while it is present with you. It depends upon your will, and not upon the number of days, to have a sufficient length of life.
~ Michel de Montaigne
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Spacing effect
This is where the spacing effect comes in. It’s a wildly useful phenomenon: we are better able to recall information and concepts if we learn them in multiple, spread-out sessions. We can leverage this effect by using spaced repetition to slowly learn almost anything.
~ Shane Parrish from, The Spacing Effect
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It’s funny how ideas percolate in the brain. This article and another one, (back on the 29th, which is further down in this weekly email,) passed through my radar within a couple of weeks. (I can tell because my general digital reading pile is a FIFO queue.) They were read a few times, but again in relative closeness in time. And they both ended up making the cut to be blog posts.
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