Scree

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

And then it gets harder →

Published April 29, 2020  ·  All posts on Apr 29  ·  

I don’t think we emphasize enough the importance of evidenced-based metrics. Deep work is important. Making lots of bets is important. But if these efforts are not grounded in the reality of your field — including the hard truths about what you really do need to potentially succeed, not just what you know how to do — they are wasted.

Cal Newport from, You Need to Master the Rules Before You Can Reinvent Them

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Deep work; yes. Making lots of bets (or, fail faster, pick yourself, iterate quickly, etc.); yes. Grounded in reality; yes. Are those all necessary? yes—actually, hell yes, amen and once more, louder, for those in the back!

But are they sufficient? If you have those three, will you be successful? Setting aside the timing and random luck parts of success, nope I think you also need tenacity.

I’m not sure if it’s learned, innate or both of those. But there’s a necessary tenacity. Ever play tug-o-war with a dog and a rope-toy? That dog has the tenacity, in Spades. (Without Googleing, can you tell me where the phrase, “in Spades” comes from?) holy shit no you dont thats my rope toy i am never gonna let go as long as you want to play this is my favorite game oh my gawd best day ever!!

But, a good dog also knows it’s a game. Tenacious? Absolutely. Drop that toy like a hot potato when something better comes up? What rope toy?

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TK: Tantra, authenticity, and eye contact →

Published April 29, 2020  ·  All posts on Apr 29  ·  

TK: Tantra, authenticity, and eye contact

What role does tantra, authenticity, and interpersonal communication play in enhancing personal growth and human connection?

TK openly discusses her experiences with tantra, explaining what it is, what it means to her, and how it relates to her goals with Lovecraft Collective. She shares her thoughts on the power of eye contact, radical honesty, and interpersonal communication. TK delves into her love of climbing, her relationship with movement, sexuality, and how the two are connected.

There’s something kind of magical that happens when you— We’re making eye contact right now, and it’s kind of silly, but if we allowed ourselves to continue to make eye contact…

~ TK (19:39)

The conversation explores the multifaceted nature of tantra, diving into its definition and its applications in fostering human connection and holistic healing. It highlights the significance of balancing energy, exploring pleasure, and integrating movement practices such as climbing and parkour into a fuller, more embodied experience of life. TK shares personal anecdotes that underline the importance of understanding and addressing sexuality as a fundamental part of being human.

The discussion also dips into the profound power of eye contact, vulnerability, and radical honesty as transformative tools in interpersonal relationships. Insights into TK’s movement background, including climbing and parkour, provide a glimpse into how physical activities intertwine with personal development and creativity.

(more…)

Honing your craft →

Published April 28, 2020  ·  All posts on Apr 28  ·  , ,

We’ve created this fantasy world where everyone is just 30 days of courage boosting exercises and life hacks away from living an amazing life.

But when you study people like Martin, who really do live remarkable lives, you almost always encounter stretches of years and years dedicated to honing craft.

~ Cal Newport from, Closing Your Interests Opens More Interesting Opportunities

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This is the eternal challenge of seeing the forest through the trees; of maintaining perspective.

I’m constantly reminded of the scenes in the Hobbit where they are trying to walk through 250 miles of a forest named, Mirkwood. “Do not leave the path,” is the only guidance they are given. After what seems like endless daily struggles, they eventually dispatch a party member to climb a singularly large tree to the uppermost branches. Unfortunately, even from that lofty perch all that could be seen was more forest forever and ever in every direction. In fact, they were in a low lying area, reasonably close to the forest edge. Crushed by the misleading perspective, their journey takes a turn for the worse.

I have so many projects where I start into the forest with the best intentions. I steel myself with, “I know this is going to turn into a slog at some point, and I’m going to remember why I went into the forest to give me the strength to carry on!” Yeah, that never works out. If the project is actually worth doing, then the forest is necessarily crushingly vast and the journey through must eventually become hopeless. Of course it’s hard; that’s what makes it worth it.

The secret? You have to love living in the forest, just for the sake of living in the forest. Then every morning is an adventure. Sure, some days are going to suck, but every morning will begin a new day of opportunity.

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Tension →

Published April 25, 2020  ·  All posts on Apr 25  ·  ,

I’ve been thinking about ways to create more opportunity for engagement among the people who are following the work of the Movers Mindset project. We’ve reached a point where we’re creating plenty of content and sharing ideas—but currently almost entirely in the broadcast direction. We’ve a considerable collection of people who are passively consuming.

Meanwhile, every time I manage to engage with someone [in this context of Movers Mindset], it’s an energizing exchange of ideas about movement, movement’s place in society, and sometimes even philosophy in general.

The whole project is intentionally aimed at people who are becoming, or already are, reflective. Such people tend to have made the growth step beyond low-value interaction and engagement and are increasingly aware of how they engage and expend their time especially online. I suppose the key is to simply engage with them one by one, until that becomes untenable for me.

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Redefining our mission →

Published April 24, 2020  ·  All posts on Apr 24  ·  

Our assignment, like that of any new boss or coach, is to overhaul the organization (i.e., ourselves), strip it down to its basics, redefine its mission, its goals, its virtues and its vices. We have to fire every part of ourselves that can’t or won’t get onboard the new mission and we have to achieve buy-in from all the other parts that we have allowed to remain with the franchise.

~ Steven Pressfield from, Why the Raiders Suck

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This exercise always proves beneficial for me; systematically going through everything that I’m doing, my habits, my friends—everything. Take the time to assess, and in particular to consider: Knowing what I know today, if today I was offered this “opportunity” to allocate my time or resources, on this thing, would I take it? It’s a powerful way to work around our inherent tendency to fall for the sunk cost fallacy.

Here I have 500 books on my “read this” bookcase. Picking up one book, knowing all that I know today, would I read this book? Considering all that I know today, would I buy a TV, subscribe to Netflix, and arrange my living room in this fashion? …would I call it my sedentary entertainment room instead? Knowing what I know today, would I agree to have dinner or drinks with this person who I currently have labeled [in my mind] as a friend? How does each of these things move me forward?

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Diligence alone →

Published April 23, 2020  ·  All posts on Apr 23

Remarkable accomplishment requires a remarkable amount of focus; this much is clear. But focus without grounded direction is unlikely to hit the sweet spot.

~ Cal Newport from, Learn the Landscape Before Putting on Blinders

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I’ve come across this point/idea many times in my journey. It took me a long time to learn how to focus, but it’s proving more challenging to figure out what to focus on.

Diligence? Focus? Single-mindedness? …whatever you want to call it. I am able to get a lot done. But I find I’m always second-guessing myself after I’ve gotten a significant portion of the way through some project…

Today, more questions than answers I suppose.

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Blake Evitt | The Parkour Community within the Larger Urban Fabric →

Published April 22, 2020  ·  All posts on Apr 22

On Castbox.fm — Blake Evitt | The Parkour Community within the Larger Urban Fabric

How can Parkour communities foster diversity and inclusivity while balancing the growth of gym-based models and maintaining engagement with broader urban and local spaces?

Inclusivity in Parkour is not just ethical but also essential for long-term business growth.

Building a strong and diverse community is not something that is against your business interests. […] A lot of the models are based on a gym only model, which means that we are kind of vastly under serving and ignoring and kind of walling ourselves off from large swaths of the population.

~ Blake Evitt (4:44)

The conversation focuses on the intersection between Parkour as a growing industry and its role in fostering diverse and inclusive communities. One recurring theme is the tension between the rise of gym-based Parkour models and the need to engage with broader urban environments to ensure accessibility. Gym-centric models risk excluding those who cannot afford memberships or lack access to gym facilities. Outdoor training and public space utilization are emphasized as strategies to broaden participation and maintain Parkour’s original roots.

Another topic highlights the role of community leaders in shaping public perception of Parkour. Positive engagement with local governments, schools, and community centers can open doors to wider recognition and acceptance. Initiatives such as after-school programs and collaboration with recreation departments are presented as effective ways to expand outreach. The importance of coaching standards, insurance, and building relationships with diverse groups is also underlined as key to sustainable growth.

Takeaways

Building diverse communities — Inclusion and diversity benefit both the Parkour community and business interests.

Gym-only models — Limiting Parkour to gyms excludes large segments of the population and reduces growth potential.

Public space use — Training outdoors fosters visibility, normalizes Parkour, and improves public perception.

Community engagement — Partnerships with schools, recreation departments, and community centers expand reach and deepen community ties.

Coaching and standards — Developing coaching skills and engaging with certifications enhances professionalism and safety.

Insurance barriers — Finding insurance for outdoor training remains a challenge but is critical for growth beyond gym walls.

Urban integration — Viewing Parkour as part of the urban fabric encourages outreach in varied settings beyond major cities.

Long-term perception — Positive public behavior directly influences Parkour’s reputation and future opportunities.

Resources

Parkour Generations — Organization involved in Parkour coaching, events, and leadership.

Art of Retreat — The leadership and education retreat for the Parkour community.

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

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Stop drifting →

Published April 22, 2020  ·  All posts on Apr 22  ·  , ,

Stop drifting. You’re not going to re-read your Brief Comments, your Deeds of the Ancient Greeks and Romans, the commonplace books you saved for your old age. Sprint for the finish. Write off your hopes, and if your well-being matters to you, be your own savior while you can.

~ Marcus Aurelius

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Normally I would simply let a quote from Aurelius stand on its own. If you’re not familiar with Meditations—Aurelius didn’t choose that title for what he wrote, it was added to his work much later—it was a collection of writings he meant only for himself; this is the emperor of the Roman empire remonstrating himself.

Here’s a second helping of remonstration: Explore. Dream. Discover.

I write this blog for myself. (And no, I’m not laboring under the delusion that I’m creating a work for the ages like Aurelius’s, Meditations.) But I am simply pleased if you, Dear Reader, find my ramblings interesting. I am genuinely delighted if anything I write stimulates your thinking. I am downright ecstatic if any of my questions catalyze your changing the course of your life.

Do you read regularly, and what have you chosen to read with the aim of changing the course of your life?

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Being present →

Published April 20, 2020  ·  All posts on Apr 20  ·  

When we work out while listening to a podcast or checking messages, we lose out on being present with our bodies, feeling the experience of moving, exerting ourselves, being in nature.

~ Leo Babauta from, The Practice of Meticulous Attention

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I try to walk as much as I can. Usually I make it out to walk every day for about an hour. For years I was simply walking in nature with myself and my thoughts. A few years ago, when I got really into podcasts as a listener, I started listening while walking.

But about a year ago—after noticing I’d stopped writing things down about my walks—I realized that I had lost something valuable: My time alone with my thoughts. So I cut back to listening to podcasts for about half the walk.

I’m often asked if I meditate. Yes, particularly in the past year, and it looks a lot like walking.

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Willful ignorance →

Published April 18, 2020  ·  All posts on Apr 18  ·  ,

Now when I pass the sign, I try and think of at least one thing I do myself that willfully ignores truths I’d rather not accept. Things I know I should change about myself that I choose not to.

~ Steven Pressfield from, «https://stevenpressfield.com/2015/01/willful-ignorance/»

On one hand, I disagree: The sign’s purpose is to save ducks; it was not created “for everyone.” In that sense, the bad grammar of the sign makes it work better. But, the ducks sign is simply an example. Pressfield’s point about willful ignorance is clear and—at least for me—on target.

A question I like to reflect on periodically in my journaling is: What habit did I curb [today or yesterday]? Also, reflecting on what parts of my behavior I dislike—which was a huge part of my initial journey rediscovering movement 10 years ago—gives me specific things to work on. I think it’s a deeply useful practice to ask oneself difficult questions and to reflect on the answers, (or lack of answers as the case may be.)

Are there any questions you ask yourself on a regular basis?

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