Scree

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

Ryan Mallon: Bushwacking, Parkour, and Making Your Own Path

July 25, 2022 · All posts on Jul 25

Ryan Mallon: Bushwacking, Parkour and making your own path

The journey from New Jersey to Asheville reveals how a Parkour athlete reshaped his movement training in the wilderness.

Ryan Mallon is a parkour athlete, coach, rock climber, and general outdoorsman. His personal journey includes being an American Parkour sponsored athlete, and an APK ambassador. He’s coached state champion and regional-placing gymnasts, and has competed in World Chase Tag USA. More recently, Ryan spends much of his time in the beautiful mountains outside of Asheville, North Carolina, hiking, climbing, and photographing nature.

[Impact is a complicated subject.] I think the best way I can whittle that down—and I think a lot of people tend to agree with this—is bringing things to the public attention always is a double edged sword. […] The more places people know about, and can spread out to, will lessen impact in a singular spot.

~ Ryan Mallon (30:00)

The conversation explores how movement disciplines like Parkour can integrate with natural landscapes. Starting from structured training in a gym, the discussion transitions to adapting techniques for outdoor environments, particularly in North Carolina’s mountainous regions. Topics include the creative process of identifying and utilizing natural challenges for training and the unique perspective gained from exploring untouched environments.

It also touches on ecological concerns and the impact of human activity on natural spaces. Ryan emphasizes a balance between sharing access to beautiful, lesser-known locations and ensuring minimal ecological disruption. Discussions about coaching and community-building underline the value of teaching methodologies that empower others while cultivating personal growth through exploration.

Takeaways

The adaptability of Parkour — Techniques evolve from structured environments to embrace natural challenges.

Coaching as a skill — The ability to break down movements to foundational levels is key to being an effective coach.

Integrating outdoor exploration — Wilderness exploration can serve as a dynamic training ground, blending movement disciplines with nature.

Ecological awareness — Balancing public access with conservation is critical in managing natural spaces responsibly.

Personal evolution through movement — Training in nature fosters growth, creativity, and resilience.

Building community — Combining technical skills and shared experiences strengthens connections among practitioners.

Resources

Ryan Mallon @ryanmallonpk

American Parkour — A community and resource hub for Parkour enthusiasts.

Gaia GPS — A mapping and GPS navigation app used for planning explorations.

World Chase Tag — A competitive tag event that highlights agility and strategy.

Leave No Trace — An organization promoting responsible outdoor practices.

Blue Ridge Mountains — The geographical area central to the speaker’s exploration and training.

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

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Time amplifies

July 25, 2022 · All posts on Jul 25

The small choices we make on a daily basis either work for us or against us. One choice puts time on your side. The other ensures it’s working against you. Time amplifies what you feed it.

~ Shane Parrish from, The Small Steps of Giant Leaps

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I don’t truly know if I’m unique. For me, the only way I can manage to feel as if I’ve enough time in my day is if I’m ruthless with myself about not giving my time away. I’ve spent so many decades feeling harried and busy… only to realize, duh, I did that to myself. I’ve spent so many dark days simply wanting some peace… only to realize, duh, all this craziness, I chose that. Somehow, I managed to slowly let this same idea Parrish mentions seep into my bones. Now I feel like I’m able to relax and simply experience being, through most of my days. Sometimes, I even take naps. My 25-year-old self would be horrified.

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The Internet

July 24, 2022 · All posts on Jul 24

Ultimately, the goal is not to stop using the internet, or even minimize its use, but to put it back into a box in the basement where it belongs. The first step is to discover what I’m up against. If I find a way to make the internet small again, I’ll write a book about it so others can do it too.

~ David Cain from, How to Make the Internet Small Again

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I’ve been beating this drum for years, (eg, here’s a search for “use you”.) I don’t want to put the Internet literally into a box and then stuff it in the basement. (Even setting aside that I don’t have a basement.) The Internet is nothing more than a tool. The Internet, but also TV, food, politics, religion, music, your car(s?), books, or even hoarding [sometimes misspelled “collecting”] things… one can have a dysfunctional relationship with anything. (Truth in blogging: My addiction is TV and snacking.)

Don’t think my little paragraphs here are meant to diminish what Cain wrote. Go read that, it’s better than what I’ve written here. Rather, my point is simply that we each need to figure out—for each of those things I listed above, and every other thing—are we using it, or are we letting it use us.

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Radically brilliant

July 23, 2022 · All posts on Jul 23

Maria Montessori’s ideas about education stem from the principles of choice, individual dignity, spontaneous order, experimental discovery, and freedom of movement. They stand in radical contrast to traditional schooling, too often based on authority, central planning, rigid instruction, and force. She once described children in such schools as “butterflies stuck with pins, fixed in their places.”

~ David Kirby from, Maria Montessori’s ‘Libertarian View of Children’

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This is a great introduction to Montessori, both the person and her ideas about education. Back in the Precambrian Era, my school district did a few decidedly Montessorian things. Did those make a difference for me? …were they the most important things in my primary education? Great questions for which I’ve no answer. I will say that my greatest memories—the ones that are about education, not the ones which simply happened in and around my schooling as great as those are—from primary education are from those decidedly unusual-for-that-time methods. The proof is in the pudding, as they say.

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Editing with Christi Cassidy

July 22, 2022 · All posts on Jul 22

How does expertise in book editing influence podcast production and storytelling?

Podcasting challenges traditional storytelling approaches from book editing.

It’s hard finding that story, and everybody of course talks about it— all the [professionals], you know, in their newsletters and books— and I’m like where is it? Where is it?! Help me out. I know it’s here somewhere.

~ Christi Cassidy (6:30)

The conversation centers on the relationship between book editing and podcast production. It explores how skills in editing text, such as identifying verbal tics and structuring content, translate to editing podcasts. A notable challenge is finding a coherent story arc within the fluid and nonlinear format of audio conversations.

Further discussion touches on the creative aspirations for podcasting, including integrating layered audio elements such as music and sound effects to enrich the listener’s experience. The practicalities of podcast artwork and the psychological impact of visual elements in audio media are also examined.

Takeaways

Editing techniques from books — help identify and remove verbal tics in podcasts.

Finding story arcs in podcasts — remains a challenge despite parallels with book editing.

Creative ambitions in podcasting — include layering sound and voices for richer audio.

Visual elements in podcasts — serve as a crucial bridge between social media and audio platforms.

Hardwired human tendencies — show strong attraction to visuals, like faces and album art.

Practicalities of production — involve balancing creative desires with technical realities.

Resources

Moving Along podcast — Hosted by Christi Cassidy, available on major platforms like Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts.

Descript — A software tool for podcast editing, utilized for transcript-based workflows.

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

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Investigation with James Adams

July 22, 2022 · All posts on Jul 22

Investigation – with James Adams

What role does problem-solving and creativity play in the intersection of programming, parkour, and personal growth?

The discussion reveals how creativity and self-discipline shape one’s approach to challenges in life and movement.

Sometimes the right thing to do is to walk away from the problem or to recognize that it’s not the right time or you’re not in the right place for it.

~ James Adams (14:39)

The conversation explores the intersection of programming, parkour, and personal growth, highlighting the common thread of problem-solving. A discussion unfolds about how programming serves as a versatile tool, akin to a multipurpose screwdriver, allowing for efficiency and creativity in tackling challenges. This framework extends to parkour, where physical and mental obstacles mirror problem-solving in technical domains.

The social dynamics of parkour play a significant role in fostering confidence and personal development. The practice’s non-competitive, collaborative nature offers opportunities for self-improvement and resilience. Topics of balance and burnout emerge, with reflections on the importance of stepping back when challenges become overwhelming. Additionally, James shares insights into his Parkour Clinic project, which provides free sports therapy consultations, blending his technical expertise and passion for movement.

Takeaways

Programming as a tool — Provides efficiency and a creative outlet for problem-solving.

Social aspects of parkour — Enhances confidence and creates a supportive community.

Importance of stepping back — Recognizing when to pause instead of pushing forward on challenges.

Combining interests — Merging technical skills and physical movement to create unique solutions.

Parkour’s mental impact — Encourages resilience and a problem-solving mindset in both physical and abstract contexts.

Non-competitive environments — Cultivates collaboration and individual growth.

Parkour Clinic project — Offers free, remote sports therapy consultations, focusing on conversation-based solutions.

Resources

Parkour Clinic — Offers free online sports therapy sessions.

James’s Blog — Personal blog discussing various topics, including programming and parkour.

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

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The price of the ticket

July 22, 2022 · All posts on Jul 22

What a journey this life is! Dependent, entirely, on things unseen. If your lover lives in Hong Kong and cannot get to Chicago, it will be necessary for you to go to Hong Kong. Perhaps you will spend your life there, and never see Chicago again. And you will, I assure you, as long as space and time divide you from anyone you love, discover a great deal about shipping routes, airlines, earth quake, famine, disease, and war. And you will always know what time it is in Hong Kong, for you love someone who lives there. And love will simply have no choice but to go into battle with space and time and, furthermore, to win.

~ James Baldwin from, The Light Between Us – The Marginalian

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I’m not sure how many things I’ve linked to over on Popova’s Marginalian project. By now you should be directly following it and reading everything she’s publishing. I’m frozen by indecision; there are so countless many superlative books, and Nothing Personal is yet another one. Drat!

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Reasons and persons

July 21, 2022 · All posts on Jul 21

You’ve probably heard this scenario before. It originally comes from Derek Parfit’s 1984 book Reasons and Persons, where he actually answers the question. (Though you may not like the answer.) To answer it, he has to go though a set of even weirder scenarios. Here’s most of them, edited aggressively.

~ “Dynomight” from, Reasons and Persons: The case against the self

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This article turns a number of complicated thought experiments into a disorienting dash through a hall of mirrors. I’ve not read Parfit’s book, but I’ve encountered these sorts of thought experiments before. On one hand I’m drawn to thinking about them because I feel I should be able to have some foundational, (although not necessarily simple,) principles that I can use to answer them. Which is a working definition of, “I want to be rational.” Until I start really digging into the experiments and things get really complicated. Why, it’s as if being a limited-in-resources mind forced to interact with in an intractably complex world, may not be something with a clear, correct, let alone singular, solution.

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Always a good reminder

July 20, 2022 · All posts on Jul 20

We often turn it into something bad: I suck for not being disciplined, I suck for not being able to focus, I’m not strong enough, etc etc. But it’s just a part of being human — we all have fear, uncertainty, doubt, resistance built into our survival instincts.

~ Leo Babauta from, Working with Your Inner Resistance – Zen Habits Website

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My “I suck” dialog has different vocabulary, and I have a penchant for petulance. Nonetheless, it’s always a good reminder to be aware of it. I can sabotage myself, without fail, by setting expectations—any expectations—for anything I’m working on. The only way I can stay balanced on the narrow, mountaintop spine of rock that is sanity is to pay attention to the next steps. There’s not really much option about where the path along the ridge leads. In recent months I’ve been tinkering on a new project creating something I’ve been curious to try for a long time. It’s interesting, but not particularly difficult work. It’s definitely creative, and I’ve repeatedly found interesting little twists in the path. Am I going somewhere in particular with the project? …not really. I have ideas of what might be farther along the path, but that’s more an interesting additional possibility, rather than the reason for doing the work.

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Pet peeve #7

July 19, 2022 · All posts on Jul 19

Web pages which neglect to include two of the most important pieces of information: Who and When. Yes, all web pages. Thou shalt always list the author. (“Anonymous” is a legitimate answer to, “who?’) Thou shalt always list at least a general composition/publication date. Online, it is already difficult to place things into context. Having a Who and When gives that many more clues to place things into context.

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Take a seat

July 18, 2022 · All posts on Jul 18

A simple way to start moving your body more is to swap your sedentary seat for “active sitting.” How much of your body’s work are you giving to the chair? If the back of the chair disappeared, what would happen? Would you collapse backwards? If yes, then the chair-back is doing the work of your core musculature. And obviously, if the bottom of a chair dropped out we’d fall straight down because the chair is also doing the work of the legs.

~ Katy Bowman from, 53 Ways to Take A Seat – Nutritious Movement

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This is a terrific example of Bowman’s way of looking into human movement. A huge amount of what I do involves computers. Even though have all the various physical types of computer, sedentary is still sedentary. Short of abandoning my entire lifestyle, the best I can do is to change things frequently through my day and this delightful little article has “a few” variations.

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Babble

July 17, 2022 · All posts on Jul 17

Consider sketching on a page, where various ideas or points are connected by drawing arrows or shapes or groupings. When sketching, you aren’t quite sure how to structure your thoughts before you start. And sketching is, in some way, the act of figuring this out. There is something highly nonlinear about this process where your thoughts backtrack to previous ideas and test the strength of old conclusions.

~ Gytis Daujotas from, Iterating fast: voice dictation as a form of babble — LessWrong

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Before I begin, I want to point to these general thoughts about Babble, and to this very interesting series of articles advancing the idea that the antagonistic algorithms Babble and Prune can at least partly model how the mind works.

I’m thinking that one way to have what I’d call a “really good conversation” is when the participants are babbling together. Baby babble is generally incomprehensible, or at least not comprehensible overall. Baby babble has many comprehensible words, but rarely a comprehensible sentence. In conversations which I’d call “good”, the babble has comprehensible sentences, and often comprehensible paragraphs, but may not be comprehensible overall. We’re babbling, and pruning, to see where we end up.

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Expectations with Jam Mayer

July 16, 2022 · All posts on Jul 16

How do different communication mediums influence engagement and interaction in personal and professional settings?

Exploring the interplay between technology, generational habits, and learning styles shapes the dynamics of modern communication.

There is a little bit of a disconnect because there’s that expectation from a generation that says you have to show yourself on video, but the digital natives… don’t care.

~ Jam Mayer (4:33)

The conversation explores the nuanced ways communication mediums affect engagement. It contrasts the experience of in-person training with digital formats, highlighting the energy and connection possible in face-to-face settings versus the challenges posed by video calls. Generational differences in behavior and expectations are examined, with older generations often emphasizing visible engagement and digital natives demonstrating a more relaxed approach.

The discussion goes into the dynamics of online communities, particularly challenges in making platforms user-friendly for diverse engagement styles. Jam and Craig address the difficulty of translating podcast audiences into other forms of interaction and consider strategies for creators to adapt content for various mediums, ensuring accessibility for their audience’s preferences.

Takeaways

Choosing communication mediums — dependent on personal learning styles and context.

Generational differences — younger audiences are more comfortable with digital flexibility.

Energy in interactions — stronger in-person connections compared to digital ones.

Podcast audience behavior — challenges in transitioning listeners to other platforms.

Community space design — balancing simplicity with features for proactive users.

Adaptability for creators — experimenting with multiple formats increases engagement potential.

Resources

Jam Mayer on LinkedIn — Jam Mayer’s preferred platform for professional connections.

Discourse — a community platform with customizable homepage settings.

Reddit — mentioned as a highly active online forum illustrating user engagement challenges.

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

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Christian Anderson: Exploration, Influences, and Creating

July 16, 2022 · All posts on Jul 16

Christian Anderson: Exploration, influences, and creating

How do personal exploration, creativity, and cultural influences shape movement practices and artistic endeavors?

Christian Anderson is a parkour coach, athlete, teacher, martial artist, and movement artist. He created his own parkour teaching program, pursues weapons training, and is an artist in other mediums, including drawing, music, videos, and blade-smithing. Christian earned his bachelors in Landscape architecture at North Carolina A&T University.

You don’t have to tell a kid to play, to jump to climb. There’s a lot of innate understanding of movement that I think children have, to be completely honest.

~ Christian Anderson (28:59)

Christian Anderson’s unique interests are wide-ranging; from martial arts and weapons training, to parkour, to art, to creating his own weapons and training set-ups. Christian shares his inspirations and process for learning and creating. He discusses teaching, landscape architecture, and his specific influences and role models. Christian unpacks his personal martial arts, weapons, and movement practices, and how all of them are creatively interconnected.

The conversation explores how personal creativity, cultural influences, and movement intersect in both art and physical practices. Topics range from martial arts and weapon-making to how imagination facilitates movement, particularly in children. The discussion highlights the importance of personal space creation, whether for training or as a sanctuary, and how integrating these elements into daily life fosters growth.

There is a deep appreciation for cultural artifacts, such as samurai films and ninjutsu, which serve as both inspiration and a means to connect with broader traditions. Additionally, the dialogue touches on the challenges of prioritizing projects, maintaining focus, and overcoming impostor syndrome, illustrating the complexity of creative expression and personal exploration.

Takeaways

Creating personal spaces — Spaces designed for training or reflection enhance creativity and personal growth.

Martial arts inspiration — Movement practices often draw from cultural traditions and historical arts.

Childhood creativity — Imagination and play significantly aid learning and physical development.

Overcoming impostor syndrome — Acknowledging and embracing imperfections is key to creative growth.

Interdisciplinary practices — Combining artistic and physical endeavors fosters innovation.

Environmental influence — Nature and green spaces serve as restorative environments for recharging.

Visual motivation — Visual aids and imagery act as powerful tools for focus and inspiration.

Cultural connections — Martial arts offer a window into understanding and appreciating different cultures.

Resources

Instagrams: @adept.anderson, @adeptations

Magnificent Seven scene recreation

The Magnificent Seven (2016) — Film discussed for its choreography and cultural references.

Mirakawa dummy video — Creating videos of his work

Japanese Throwing Weapons by Daniel Fletcher — A guide to traditional shuriken and their use.

Akira Kurosawa – Japanese filmmaker

Rashomon – story told from multiple viewpoints. Also, Seven Samurai, Hidden Fortress, Harakiri, 13 Assassins, Samurai Rebellion, Yojimbo

Freeway Park in Seattle — Lawrence Halprin

Guerrilla Gardening TEDxTalk

Japanese Throwing Weapons

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

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One reason why I journal

July 16, 2022 · All posts on Jul 16

When we conjure up what it will be like to start a new practice, form a new habit, knock an item off a bucket list, we see the fun but not the work. We see an image in which all the drudgery has been edited out, and only the montage of rewards left in.

~ Brett McKay from, «https://www.artofmanliness.com/character/advice/sunday-firesides-do-you-like-the-idea-more-than-the-reality/»

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Great points from McKay. I often enjoy inverting problems like the one he’s describing. Let’s say I thought a lot about the idea and the reality and decided far in the past to start something—for example, a daily podcast of me reading quotes. Then the inversion of the problem McKay is writing about would be to figure out, in the present, if my current experience of the reality matches what I expected the reality to be, back when I made the decision. Because, if I don’t do that, how do I get better at making the idea/reality choice McKay is discussing?

This is one reason I journal. For every project (and much more) in the last decade I’ve journaled about it. An idea begins to appear repeatedly in my journal entries. Sometimes it grows into my laying out the expected reality—the work this is going to require, the physical and emotional costs, the expected outcome(s), the rewards, etc.. Then I regularly reread my old journal entries and see how much of an idiot I was. ;)

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Emergence with Corey Schlosser-Hall

July 15, 2022 · All posts on Jul 15

How does podcasting facilitate personal growth and the exchange of insights?

Podcasting invites both hosts and listeners into transformative spaces of thought.

Doing this work can be playful… and giving others the opportunity to listen in when insight happens is a pretty cool thing.

~ Corey Schlosser-Hall (19:11)

The conversation explores the multifaceted nature of podcasting, particularly its potential to create and share insights. Corey reflects on his podcast “On the Verge,” which captures moments of inspiration before they manifest into tangible outcomes. Craig and Corey discuss how meaningful exchanges in conversational formats provide fertile ground for reflection and personal growth.

They also examine the concept of “emergence” in communication, debating whether conversations simply elicit pre-existing knowledge or foster the creation of new ideas. They agree that podcasting serves as a unique medium for these emergent moments, with its challenges and rewards—including the variety of approaches it enables, from intimate dialogues to larger production endeavors.

Takeaways

Capturing inspiration — Moments before ideas become tangible can be deeply insightful.

Insight through dialogue — Conversational podcasts enable reflective and emergent thinking.

Creative challenges — Balancing pre-recording, live recording, and post-production has unique rewards and difficulties.

Emergence in communication — Interactions can construct new meaning rather than just reveal existing thoughts.

Playfulness in podcasting — Creating and sharing content can feel enjoyable and spontaneous.

Adaptability — Different podcast formats and experiences provide ongoing opportunities for growth.

Ownership transitions — Navigating podcast ownership when shifting organizations poses challenges.

Resources

On the Verge podcast — Focuses on capturing moments of invisible inspiration before they become visible.

Calendly — Scheduling tool used for organizing podcast interviews.

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

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It’s subtle but critically important

July 15, 2022 · All posts on Jul 15

It’s broadly agreed these days that consciousness poses a very serious challenge for contemporary science. What I’m trying to work out at the moment is why science has such difficulty with consciousness. We can trace this problem back to its root, at the start of the scientific revolution.

~ Philip Goff from, A Post-Galilean Paradigm | Edge.org

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I once had a mathematics professor make a comment that it’s fascinating that mathematics is able to explain reality. I double-clutched at the time. And every single time I think about the point he was making, I still pause and my mind reels. If one is looking at—for example—classical mechanics, and one studies the ballistic equations, one can go along nicely using forces and trigonometry, and understand golf balls and baseballs in flight. Soon you realize your mathematics is only an approximation. So you dive into fluid mechanics, which requires serious calculus, and you then understand why golf balls have dimples and why the stitching on baseballs is strictly specified in the rules. All along the way, mathematics models reality perfectly!

But why? So you keep peeling. The math and physics gets more and more complicated—stochastic processes, randomness, quantum mechanics, wave-particle theory, etc.—as each layer answers another “why”… but it’s … is “cyclical” the right word? No matter how far you go, you can always ask “why” again, for the most complex and most accurate system you model and explain.

Down there at the bottom, that’s where Galileo declared there was a distinction between physical reality, and consciousness and the soul. We’ve had hundreds of years of progress via science on what Galileo divided off as “physical reality.” (And that progress is a Very Good Thing.) But as this article explores, is there actually a distinction? What if making that distinction is a mistake?

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Fellowship with Howard M

July 14, 2022 · All posts on Jul 14

How does the podcast “Seasons of Sobriety” explore the journey and challenges of long-term sobriety?

The process of creating a podcast about sobriety becomes a lesson in embracing imperfection.

If you try to have the perfect podcast you go perfectly insane.

~ Howard M (11:43)

The conversation explores the creation and purpose of the podcast Seasons of Sobriety, which focuses on the experiences of individuals with long-term sobriety. Howard discusses the challenges of finding guests with extensive recovery time and the deeper layers of personal growth required beyond abstaining from alcohol. He emphasizes the importance of sharing stories that can inspire others to believe recovery is possible.

The discussion also touches on podcast production, including the difficulties of editing, embracing imperfection, and maintaining creative integrity without monetization. Themes of connection and fellowship arise as critical elements, not just in recovery but also in the podcasting journey. Howard views his work as a contribution to the recovery community, aiming to foster hope and connection.

Takeaways

Creating a podcast — embracing imperfection and focusing on the message rather than technical perfection.

Long-term sobriety — exploring the deeper challenges beyond simply not drinking.

Fellowship and connection — highlighting their importance in recovery and creative work.

Curating podcast guests — focusing on individuals with decades of sobriety to provide unique insights.

Personal growth — the continuing journey and layers of change required in recovery.

Non-commercial podcasting — viewing the podcast as a charitable contribution rather than a business.

Resources

Seasons of Sobriety podcast — A podcast focusing on long-term sobriety stories.

Seth Godin’s Akimbo and workshops — Courses and content inspiring podcast creation.

Simplecast — Podcast hosting platform used by Howard.

Penn & Teller’s performances — Referenced for insights into embracing imperfection.

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

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Humanism

July 14, 2022 · All posts on Jul 14

But if progress is real and important—how do we judge this? How do we justify that improvements to material living standards are good? That technological and industrial progress represents true progress for humanity?

~ Jason Crawford from, Progress, humanism, agency

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In a few dozen words, this article goes from zero to gloves-off, let’s take about the nature of what is good. Yes, please. Lets discuss this more often. I find, without exception, it’s completely pointless to discuss anything—the climate, energy sources, guns, health, rights… choose your favorite third-rail topic—if myself and the other(s) don’t share the same values.

And I mean the big values of philosophy. When I start thinking about what does human autonomy mean? …what rights and/or responsibilities does consciousness confer? …what is truth? Big yawning questions! …when we don’t agree on that stuff, then no wonder we’re at odds on the other things.

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Muffled

July 13, 2022 · All posts on Jul 13

Nothing you create is ultimately your own, yet all of it is you. Your imagination, it seems to me, is mostly an accidental dance between collected memory and influence, and is not intrinsic to you, rather it is a construction that awaits spiritual ignition.

~ Nick Cave from, Nick Cave on Creativity, the Myth of Originality, and How to Find Your Voice – The Marginalian

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This is a thought which seriously concerns me; What exactly, if anything, am I accomplishing in the totality of my life? In a very micro sense, I’m simply holding back entropy ever so slightly in one minuscule niche of the universe. I like to imagine this is like pushing the cuticles of my finger nails back: Comforting and aesthetically pleasing, but ultimately pointless because my nails continuously grow until they don’t at which point I won’t care any more. I’m not being morbid or pessimistic here. There’s nothing wrong with that micro-scale getting things done. I take comfort in the fact that pushing entropy back a bit is—quiet literally—all that anyone can do.

It’s when I shift to a much larger scale that things look quite rosy. I sleep well at night, (both literally and figuratively,) because I like who I am becoming, and I plan to keep at it. Along the way, a quite large number of people have said the equivalent of “what you did there made my life a little better.” What more could one attempt?

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