Scree

noun : an accumulation of loose stones or rocky debris lying on a slope or at the base of a hill or cliff.

Spontaneity, creativity and the ability to connect

Published December 19, 2018  ·  All posts on Dec 19  ·  

… A lot of it is relaxation. I ran into, the acting guru from the actors studio once, in an airport, and we just chatted. And he said, “you know what the actors in the movies in the 40s had, that was helpful to them? They knew how to make themselves relax on camera.” Because most of them were not experienced or trained actors, and they had to be comfortable. That’s why you constantly saw them lighting a cigarette or sitting on the edge of a desk. Anything to help them relax. And in that relaxation, which you can get other ways if you learn, comes spontaneity, creativity, the ability to connect with the other person, because you’re not worried about yourself. You’re not thinking ‘how am I doing, am I too fat…’

~ Alan Alda from, «https://art19.com/shows/clear-vivid-with-alan-alda/episodes/4a35b668-2adc-4aa3-83b0-25ef831568d2»

Theirs was a wide-ranging and very interesting conversation about the healing power of music. Around this part, they were talking about how some people seem to be natural-born communicators. In particular, how some people just seem to “fill up a space”—in a good way.

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Working hard

Published December 18, 2018  ·  All posts on Dec 18

Not that I’m blaming society for my troubles as a young adult, but nobody ever seemed to have a very good explanation for why I actually might want to work hard and challenge myself. Not “have to”, or “need to,” but “want.” The reason was always, “It’s just something you should do,” or “You’ll be glad you did when you’re my age.”

~ David Cain from, 3 Pieces of Advice I’d Give My 18 Year-Old Self If I Could

True story: I once got a job working at a golf course as a grounds keeper. I’d bicycle ~10 miles at first-light and my dad picked me up after work. I’d string trim (the entire golf course — wrap your brain around that), edge sand traps (by hand using a machete to cut the edge of the lawn) and then rake the sand. I chain-sawed trees that fell on the course, and I painted wrought-iron in the blazing sun. Every weekday for an entire summer.

I learned two things:

A deep respect for physical labor.

…and that I wanted to go to college and be a scientist working in a lab, or maybe with computers.

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The frost

Published December 17, 2018  ·  All posts on Dec 17

Young man,
Seize every minute
Of your time.

The days fly by;
Ere long you too
Will grow old.

If you believe me not,
See there, in the courtyard,
How the frost
Glitters white and cold and cruel
On the grass that once was green.

Do you not see
That you and I
Are as the branches
Of one tree?

With your rejoicing,
Comes my laughter;
With your sadness
Start my tears.

Love,
Could life be otherwise
With you and me?

~ Tzu-yeh, translated by Bruce Lee from, Bruce Lee the Renaissance Man

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(hat tip: Martial Artist of Life by J Little.)

It isn’t clear just how old the original poetry is; How about if I guess a round 1,000 years…

The human condition is clearly something we all have in common. Youth. Senescence. Immaturity. Wisdom. Life is a journey.

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Personal judgement

Published December 15, 2018  ·  All posts on Dec 15  ·  

Embedded in White’s point about language I find a reflection of one of my core beliefs about life in general: that rules are excellent organizational tools and efficient reducers of cognitive load, but they are no substitute for contextual sensitivity and personal judgement.

~ Maria Popova from, E. B. White on Why Brevity Is Not the Gold Standard for Style

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Looking back a decade or so, I know that my working on self-awareness was the turning point. What did I discover, through my new-found skill of self-awareness? …an alarming lack of judgement and sensitivity.

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Work versus labor

Published December 14, 2018  ·  All posts on Dec 14

Labor, on the other hand, sets its own pace. We may get paid for it, but it’s harder to quantify… Writing a poem, raising a child, developing a new calculus, resolving a neurosis, invention in all forms — these are labors.

~ Lewis Hyde from, Lewis Hyde on Work vs. Labor and the Pace of Creativity

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I’m alway cautious about reading clever nuances into language. Sure it makes terrific sense to distinguish between, “mindless stuff I do for money”—my phrase, not a quote from Hyde—and “heartfelt stuff I do”. But is that in the semanic definition of the words? …in the common usage of the word?

I’m not certain what to do with this; It simply struck me as worth sharing.

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Learning to say no

Published December 13, 2018  ·  All posts on Dec 13  ·  

How to Say “No” Gracefully and Uncommit (#328)

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This is a two-chapter excerpt from a book, The Disciplined Pursuit of Less, by Greg McKeown, a book about being an essentialist.

At the beginning of 2018 I latched onto the idea that by saying, “yes,” to something I am cutting off a nearly infinite number of opportunities. Whereas by saying, “no,” I am cutting off just one opportunity and leaving space for a nearly infinite number of other opportunities. That makes, “no,” the obviously better default answer, yes?

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Marcus Lincoln | Parkour Concepts

Published December 12, 2018  ·  All posts on Dec 12

On Castbox.fm — Marcus Lincoln | Parkour Concepts

What is the relationship between movement patterns, environmental constraints, and personal development in Parkour practice?

Discovering how Parkour integrates with everyday life and personal values.

What positions and what movements do I want to shape my body with? Or what do I want my body to be shaped by?

~ Marcus Lincoln (16:15)

The conversation considers the nuances of visualizing movement in Parkour, using concepts such as the “movement continuum” to break down and analyze motion. Topics include the biomechanical and environmental constraints on movement, as well as how practitioners can interpret and adapt to these factors. The discussion emphasizes how understanding patterns and positions can lead to both creative expression and refined techniques.

The second part focuses on actionable insights for practitioners, encouraging self-awareness and exploration of daily movement patterns. Suggestions include varying tempo, rhythm, and technique, while aligning movements with personal values and goals. The conversation highlights how Parkour principles extend into broader life practices, advocating for continuous improvement through awareness and incremental changes.

Takeaways

Visualizing movement — The concept of a movement continuum helps practitioners analyze patterns and improve their techniques.

Environmental constraints — How the environment shapes the potential for movement and influences decision-making.

Creative exploration — Using unfamiliar techniques or combining patterns to expand movement vocabulary.

Integration with daily life — Recognizing how Parkour principles affect broader aspects of life, including health and habits.

Incremental progress — The value of small, deliberate changes in movement and practice.

Biomechanical analysis — Breaking down movements into sub-phases to improve efficiency and adaptability.

Awareness of patterns — Identifying repetitive actions to build a foundation for varied and creative movements.

Potentiality in movement — Exploring the interplay between constraints and choices within a given environment.

Resources

Parkour Generations — A global organization dedicated to Parkour training and education.

Art of Retreat — A leadership and education conference for Parkour practitioners and enthusiasts.

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

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Forgotten super-powers

Published December 12, 2018  ·  All posts on Dec 12  ·  

Today we use tools without even thinking about it. Without a doubt, you are at this moment surrounded by (and draped in) all sorts of tools, equipment and technology. There are probably at least a dozen items in operation right now that are making your moment much better than it would otherwise be: clothing, writing utensils, computers, chairs, clocks, desks and eyeglasses for starters.

~ David Cain from, How to Enjoy Your Forgotten Superpowers

This is definitely an aspect of my Art du Déplacement, and self-improvement journey. I regularly—almost automatically now—run the train of thought he’s describing and it invariably serves me well.

In early 2018 I attended a winter retreat. On one morning, we all went out to hiking trails along a stream and water falls. It was snowy, cold, icy and sunny. I intentionally went in wool socks and my usual, minimalist running sneakers—with the insoles removed so there’s 2mm of rubber and nothing else between my socks and the world. I intentionally set out expecting wet feet (knee-deep snow in places), and my goal was to manage frost-nip and to enjoy the day. Result: Insane amounts of fun; New friends; Lessons learned; No injury; and I experienced a true winter-wonderland in a way I had never before.

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On passion

Published December 10, 2018  ·  All posts on Dec 10  ·  

There is a tremendous disparity between the passion and effort that goes into a work of art and the amount a person is likely to pay for it. Some areas pay better than others, and your passion may very well not create much in the way of salable value for anyone else.

~ David Cain from, What Passion Will Buy You

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This is such a critical point! Even if my passion, “comes through,” in what I create, that doesn’t necessarily mean others will value my work.

Worse, there’s always some amount of capriciousness to the valuation made by others. Even if I’m making something clearly of value, if that isn’t aligned with other people’s values, I’m still screwed. Passion is critical, but has little to do with success.

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Courage and leadership

Published December 9, 2018  ·  All posts on Dec 9  ·  

Somewhere along the way, marketers stopped acting like real people. We substituted a new set of ethics, one built around “buyer beware” and the letter of the law. Marketers, in order to succeed in a competitive marketplace, decided to see what they could get away with instead of what they could deliver.

~ Seth Godin from, Trust and Respect, Courage and Leadership

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This dovetails perfectly with my personal directive of respect for others’ time. I’m sure there’s nothing else useful I can add here, other than to write: ‘Read this.’

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Preschool

Published December 8, 2018  ·  All posts on Dec 8  ·  

I talked to Kelsey about some of the research for her article, and independently came to the same conclusion: despite the earlier studies of achievement being accurate, preschools (including the much-maligned Head Start) do seem to help children in subtler ways that only show up years later. Children who have been to preschool seem to stay in school longer, get better jobs, commit less crime, and require less welfare. The thing most of the early studies were looking for – academic ability – is one of the only things it doesn’t affect.

~ Scott Alexander from, Preschool

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Presented without comment. Except of course for this comment where I confess that—for the umpteenth time—I’ve read something written by Scott Alexander and had my mind broadened (in a good way.)

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Stany Boulifard Mallet: Art du Déplacement, the Yamakasi, and motivation

Published December 7, 2018  ·  All posts on Dec 7  ·  

023. Stany Boulifard Mallet: Art du Déplacement, the Yamakasi, and motivation

What is the deeper philosophy behind Art du Déplacement, and how does it shape both movement practice and personal growth?

Stany Boulifard Mallet sits down with Craig to discuss his Art du Déplacement (ADD) journey, his practice, and his relationship with the founders. He shares how he met the Yamakasi, and the impact that they have had on his training over the years. Stany also unpacks his thoughts on the motivation behind ADD and his own reasons for training.

You can choose to be ready; you can choose to train.

~ Stany Boulifard Mallet (18:20)

The conversation explores the philosophy and practices of Art du Déplacement, focusing on its origins with the Yamakasi and their transformative approach to movement. Stany shares his personal journey, from discovering the discipline as a teenager inspired by the Yamakasi movie, to training under the founders. He reflects on the mental, emotional, and physical dimensions of the practice, emphasizing how it cultivates self-awareness and connection.

A significant portion of the discussion digs into specific training methods, such as the “be ready in an instant” exercise, and the importance of aligning spirit, body, and heart in movement. Stany also highlights the ethos of humility and humanity demonstrated by the founders, and how their teaching extends beyond physicality to deeper questions about purpose and emotional connection in life.

Takeaways

The transformative impact of Art du Déplacement — The discipline offers a path to personal growth through intentional movement.

The origins of the Yamakasi — A group of friends developed a philosophy centered on mind-body connection and emotional resilience.

The philosophy of choosing — Training focuses on active choice rather than passivity, reinforcing intention and self-determination.

Training with emotional awareness — Participants are encouraged to connect their movements to their emotions and purpose.

The role of humility — Despite their fame, the Yamakasi founders embody humility and prioritize meaningful connections.

The mental aspect of practice — Training involves psychological exercises to cultivate presence and focus.

The importance of novelty — Constantly seeking new challenges fosters growth and keeps the practice fresh.

The quest for understanding — Both personal and scientific approaches inform the guest’s movement practice.

Resources

Yamakasi Movie — A blockbuster film that introduced Art du Déplacement to a global audience.

Yamakasi

University of Nantes — Where the guest teaches and integrates Art du Déplacement with sports sciences.

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

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Comfortable

Published December 7, 2018  ·  All posts on Dec 7  ·  

We tend to think of home as a specific location — a defined physical space where we feel safe and entitled to be ourselves. But home, like so many other things that profess to be something more concrete, is really just an emotion. “Home” is the emotion of belonging you get from very familiar places.

~ David Cain from, Two Simple Tricks to Be More Comfortable in Your Own Skin

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Sometimes…
—not always, not often. I’m still a deeply flawed human being who is happy to be a work in progress.

But sometimes people tell me I’m “different” or “intense” because I move more slowly than most people, or I seem [they think I “seem”; I actually “am”] to be paying attention, or I seem [again, actually “am”] to be particularly considerate or thoughtful. Sometimes people find this really unsettling; I’ve had people physically twitch in the process of avoiding my glance. To those people, I’m sorry that a heartfelt glance was too much for you at that moment. (Not sarcasm.) But sometimes, a heartfelt “Hello! How are you today?” is just the thing people need.

Often…
—again here with the caveats.

But often I’m wondering why everyone seems to be in such a hurry. I believe I understand why they are; I’m assuming their reasons are the same as my reasons were. Often I sit down and feel perfectly at home. Often after a bit of post-just-sat-down day dreaming, I’ll have a brief moment of a sort of fully immersed realization that I’m not anywhere remotely near my geographic home. And that just makes it all the more enjoyable to feel at home.

Slow down. Relax.
If things are going badly, relax for they will not last.
If things are going well, relax for they will not last.

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Andy Keller | The Strategy of Storytelling

Published December 5, 2018  ·  All posts on Dec 5

On Castbox.fm — Andy Keller | The Strategy of Storytelling

What role does storytelling play in enhancing engagement, communication, and growth within the Parkour community?

Building trust and relationships in the Parkour community starts with sharing positive stories.

People don’t do Parkour because they like Parkour, they do Parkour because of the way it makes them feel.

~ Andy Keller (3:26)

The conversation explores the application of storytelling in Parkour coaching, management, and customer relations. Andy Keller explains how storytelling can enhance engagement by appealing to emotions rather than facts, creating stronger connections between team members, and attracting new participants. By presenting Parkour as a tool that individuals can use to pursue their own goals, storytelling empowers participants to feel like the protagonist of their own journey.

Andy highlights the importance of making the participant the hero while the coach or instructor plays the role of a guide. This approach not only helps overcome hesitations but also aligns with the emotional reasons people are drawn to Parkour. By addressing feelings rather than relying solely on data, coaches and leaders can inspire confidence and motivate growth within their communities.

Takeaways

Story as communication — Storytelling serves as a powerful means to convey emotion, connection, and engagement across various forms of communication.

Three areas of focus — Storytelling can enhance coaching, team management, and customer relations by fostering stronger personal connections.

Participant as the hero — Effective storytelling positions the participant as the main character, while Parkour acts as the tool for their personal growth.

Emotional engagement — Stories address emotional barriers and fears, influencing decisions more effectively than facts and statistics.

Trust through storytelling — Sharing positive stories about others builds trust within teams and communities.

Practical application — Coaches and gym owners are encouraged to view their marketing, materials, and language through the eyes of newcomers, ensuring they align with the personal journeys of participants.

Overcoming objections — Relatable stories can address hesitations, such as age or injury concerns, by showcasing others who have faced and overcome similar barriers.

Resources

Parkour Generations Americas — Organization where Andy Keller serves as a senior coach, focusing on workshops and courses globally.

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

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Sleep, part ga-zillion

Published December 5, 2018  ·  All posts on Dec 5  ·  

Ample and quality sleep is one of the most important, and sadly neglected, elements of a sound mind and body.

~ Jarlo Ilano from, 5 Quality Sleep Strategies to Feel Well-Rested and More Productive

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(Emphasis mine.)

No.

Sleep is the most important part of my life. No exceptions. No equivication. No weasel words.

Sleep. Sleep? SLEEP!

Despite my issue with his characterization of the degree of importance, Ilano’s article is a good overview of some basic sleep ideas.

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Nature’s dominant creature

Published December 4, 2018  ·  All posts on Dec 4

A further unpleasant fact of life: biologists have discovered that the more complex a life form is, the quicker it goes extinct. That hapless cream-puff of the animal kingdom, the jellyfish, rather uncomplicated in form and function, has been around for 500 million years and counting. The average kick at the can, for a complex species, lasts four million years, which happens to be about how long we’ve been around.

~ David Cain from, Nature’s Dominant Creature

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This is such a wonderful kick in the complacency.

It’s taken me so much effort just to wrap my brain around the reality of the place of a human life [my life!] in the scale of things. In that effort, one thing I was tempted to fall back on was the crutch that at least a human life is part of the Grand Arc of Human History. Meanwhile, we still appear to be alone in the universe, day by day adding weight to the idea that there’s some sort of hard wall faced by intelligence during its evolution.

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Time to take action?

Published December 3, 2018  ·  All posts on Dec 3  ·  

The thing is, we still live in a world that’s filled with opportunity. In fact, we have more than an opportunity — we have an obligation. An obligation to spend our time doing great things. To find ideas that matter and to share them. To push ourselves and the people around us to demonstrate gratitude, insight, and inspiration. To take risks and to make the world better by being amazing.

~ Seth Godin from, Time to take action?

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Someone recently asked me about Movers Mindset. “Why is craig doing this?” and my first thought was, “Isnt this obviously a great thing?” But perhaps he wasn’t asking about the thing but rather about me. I had focused on the, “…doing this” when I perhaps I should have focused on, “…Craig doing.”

It’s simple: Movers Mindset is the community I wish I could join. To find inspiration. To find like-minded persons. To find a high-fidelity space where my ideas can be exposed to the Marketplace of Ideas.

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Entirely too much

Published December 2, 2018  ·  All posts on Dec 2  ·  

There is entirely too much human judging, too much flippant criticism of the acts of others. Suspicion is permitted to displace evidence, cheap shrewdness to banish charity, prejudice to masquerade as judgment. We imagine, we guess, we speculate—then pass on through the medium of indiscreet speech and idle gossip what may bring bitterness, sorrow, heartache, and injustice to others. The very ones we condemn may be battling nobly under a hail of trial and temptation where we might fall faint in the trenches or, lowering our colors, drop back in hopeless surrender.

~ William George Jordan, from Manvotional

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Written ~1909, this is 100 years old and still pitch-perfect today. The more things change the more they stay the same.

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The apocalypse is already here

Published November 30, 2018  ·  All posts on Nov 30  ·  

We’re made increasingly miserable because connect-the-world imperialists are unleashing machine learning on our most vulnerable and base impulses. A constant loop of refinement that prods our psyche for weak spots, and then exploits them with maximal efficiency. All in the service of selling ads for cars, shampoo, or political discord.

~ David Hansson from, «https://m.signalvnoise.com/the-ai-apocalypse-is-already-here-3bd3267cc151»

Sometimes it’s nice to stop worrying about the existential threat of the rise of the machines…

…and to instead worry about the existential threat of people doing stupid things.

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Goal visualization

Published November 29, 2018  ·  All posts on Nov 29  ·  

When people in the workplace confront shift, rift, zooming, and all of the other challenges that make up business life, there is one thread that runs through all of the choices that they make: Either they’re torchbearers, or they’re not.

~ Seth Godin from, And from the Russian judge…

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Something I talk often about is goal visualization. I’m a firm believer in the idea that “close” and “almost” do not pass muster. When I’m working, and when I’m helping others work, I visualize the goal: We need a door in this wall. It has to be this high, and wide enough for furniture to pass through. And the more specific the goal, the better. The door itself need not be insulated, but it should match the decor of the rooms on either side. It needs an easy to use, single-handle latch/door knob combination. When work begins, I then use the goal as a decision razor: For every choice—every choice, no exceptions—does this option or solution move me towards the goal? Is this a detour that moves me farther from the goal, but then makes it much easier later. [Otherwise known as front-loading work.] Along the way I visualize the state of the world at each step; We’ll knock a hole in the wall on Tuesday—wait, we have a dinner party on Friday… can we be done by Friday?

I’m not only imagining the goal. I’m imagining every single step along the way. What can go wrong? What can go better-than-expected, and what if anything should we do with that gain? And why did we choose this path? …maybe we should re-assess that decision and go this other way, now that we have this new intel having come this far? How important is this goal? …is this a goal to reach at all costs? …can we move the goal now that we have new knowledge? Can we shift some of the work into a next segment of work, shifting our current goal onto an intermediate point along the way to the ultimate goal.

Torch bearer.

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