Scree

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

Chase with Frank Mejia

Published May 26, 2022  ·  All posts on May 26  ·  

Chase – with Frank Mejia

How has participation in World Chase Tag and related activities influenced the personal training practices, community dynamics, and professional development of its participants?

World Chase Tag is transforming the perception of traditional playground games into a high-stakes global sport.

It definitely feels like it feels like 3D Chess, but just at a very rapid pace, just because of that other individual in you, you will get feedback from them, regardless of what they do.

~ Frank Mejia (6:53)

The conversation explores the evolution of World Chase Tag (WCT) as a burgeoning professional sport and its impact on participants. The discussion highlights how WCT has shifted from casual beginnings to a structured and competitive framework, requiring athletes to qualify and adopt advanced training regimens. This transformation has made WCT a unique intersection of traditional playground games and professional athletics.

Another focus is on the interplay of individual and community dynamics. Frank describes how engaging in such sports fosters creativity, camaraderie, and personal growth. The conversation also goes into the mental and physical challenges of maintaining focus and adaptability in high-intensity environments, as well as the broader implications of competitive tag on the Parkour community.

Takeaways

World Chase Tag as a professional sport — An evolution from casual games to competitive global events.

Parkour’s role in WCT — How foundational Parkour techniques are adapted for competitive tag.

Training adaptations — Shifting from power-focused to reactive and dynamic movements.

Community influence — How competitive events inspire collaboration and cultural exchange.

Mental challenges in competition — Balancing focus, strategy, and flow states under pressure.

Cultural impact of WCT — Bridging playground games with professional athletics.

Resources

World Chase Tag official website — Information about competitions, teams, and events.

Frank Mejia’s Instagram (@frnkmche4) — Updates and insights from a WCT athlete.

Move NYC — Community-centered events involving tag and movement.

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

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Exploration with Matthew Jensen

Published May 26, 2022  ·  All posts on May 26

What insights can be shared about the dynamics, challenges, and benefits of podcasting with a cohost?

Exploring the chemistry between cohosts unveils the intricacies of dynamic podcasting.

I think that I like to push Mike a little bit more, to share what he thinks about, because Mike views himself as maybe more the host that ask the questions and I like the back and forth. Just because he’s not necessarily a subject matter expert— I think that brings out kind of our best conversations when he’s actively learning something or has a different perspectives on stuff.

~ Matthew Jensen (12:41)

The discussion focuses on the dynamics of cohosting a podcast, highlighting the challenges of adapting to another person’s style while discovering the benefits of shared perspectives. Topics include how collaboration shapes the content, from deciding themes to incorporating listener questions. The importance of free-flowing conversations that capture authentic dialogue is emphasized.

The podcast’s community engagement is also explored, with feedback from listeners and support from fellow podcasters enriching the creative process. The conversation includes reflections on rapport-building, fostering shared learning experiences, and leveraging tools like question submission forms to drive interaction. The role of community in demystifying podcasting and offering practical support is acknowledged as a valuable resource.

Takeaways

The benefits of cohosting — Sharing perspectives can enrich podcast discussions.

The value of preparation — Expertise and curiosity create a balanced dialogue.

Listener engagement — Feedback and questions enhance content relevance.

Community support — Connecting with fellow podcasters provides inspiration and solutions.

Improvisational dynamics — Spontaneous discussions foster authentic interaction.

The importance of rapport — Strong interpersonal relationships add depth to conversations.

Technological challenges — Audio quality and video complexities impact production.

Experimentation in format — Trying new approaches, such as live Q&A, expands possibilities.

Resources

The New Next — A podcast discussing current events and their future implications.

Knowledge for Caregivers podcast — A podcast offering insights and tips for caregivers, referenced for its quality and feedback value.

Libsyn — A platform used for hosting podcasts, such as “The New Next”.

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

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The Structurist

Published May 26, 2022  ·  All posts on May 26  ·  

Sometimes I have a “thread of interest” that I simply know I will never have the time to do anything with. Instead of simply ̄\_(ツ)_/ ̄ing and letting it go, I’m sharing this here so I can feel like I did something with it.

The what now? Oh, this periodical…

https://artsandscience.usask.ca/structurist/

…but the links on that page itself are broken. More searching did lead me to find at least some issues in U Sask.’s online store. But they are not cheap. (If they were single-dollars-each, I might just buy them all.)

They are available on ABE Books…

https://www.abebooks.com/book-search/title/structurist/

Open questions I had:

Does anyone within the sound of my voice have any issues?
Anyone have any commentary about the periodical at large?
Does anyone’s closest library have any of them?
Is anyone near the University of Saskatchewan?
…have a contact there?
…or any in-real-life means of getting more information?

And also, why aren’t the contents of these online? They seem to be culturally significant.

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Play with Nick Anastasia

Published May 25, 2022  ·  All posts on May 25  ·  

Play with Nick Anastasia

What motivates and shapes the approaches and philosophies of movement practitioners in how they train, coach, and engage with spaces?

Designing obstacles and spaces inspires exploration and unique physical expression.

It’s just a more, sort of complicated way of, hanging out with your friends and playing with blocks when you’re a little kid.

~ Nick Anastasia (21:10)

The conversation explores the philosophy and practice of movement through structured play, improvisation, and coaching. Nick reflects on his evolution from exploring movement instinctively to intentionally designing spaces and challenges that inspire others. By creating unique and engaging setups, he aims to foster creativity and adaptability in movement.

Topics include the contrast between indoor and outdoor training spaces, with built environments offering dense opportunities for creativity and flow, while outdoor environments encourage exploration and adaptability. Improvisation plays a crucial role, with games and unstructured activities helping practitioners engage with their surroundings in new ways. Coaching philosophies emphasize introspection and learning, not just for the student but also for the instructor.

Takeaways

Movement in dense indoor setups — enables continuous exploration with minimal steps between challenges.

Outdoor training spaces — encourage discovery and adaptation to changing environments.

Improvisation in movement — develops adaptability and creativity in both planned and reactionary scenarios.

Coaching methodologies — focus on fostering individual growth and introspection for both students and instructors.

Space design and construction — inspire movement by offering unique challenges and creative opportunities.

Play as a philosophy — serves as a foundation for exploring movement, creativity, and collaboration.

The role of discovery — highlights the evolving nature of how practitioners see and use their environment.

Resources

The Movement Creative — A Parkour organization hosting events like Move NYC, focusing on creative and adaptive movement.

Parkour Generations Boston — A community that trains and coaches Parkour with temporary and permanent setups in Boston.

Harvard Square (Boston) — A location used for varied outdoor Parkour classes and exploration.

American Rendezvous — An annual Parkour event mentioned as an example of discovering changing training spots.

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

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Dopamine

Published May 25, 2022  ·  All posts on May 25  ·  

I’ve put forward a physiological hypothesis to explain the psychological Opponent Process theory, which I call the Receptor Control Theory. In essence, our pleasure set point or baseline “happiness” is determined by the density and sensitivity of dopamine receptors in the brain (and elsewhere). In this view, obesity and addiction result from a process of “dopamine resistance”, whereby receptor down-regulation impairs satisfaction and drives cravings. Conversely, high receptor density and sensitivity promote satisfaction and dampen cravings.

~ Todd Becker from, Retraining the limbic brain to overcome obesity and addiction

Phone use might rise to the level of a literal addiction. Its use can certainly cause dopamine release, which is a strong motivator that plays a role in addiction. I used to think that wasn’t true… That my phone didn’t cause dopamine release… That my phone wasn’t causing manipulation of my motivations… then I tried to put my phone down for an entire day.

And then I set about separating using my phone as a tool—which I can do a lot without it being addictive—from my phone’s use of me as a tool.

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MaryBeth Gangemi: Environment, ‘Natural Movement’, and Breathing

Published May 24, 2022  ·  All posts on May 24  ·  

MaryBeth Gangemi: Environment, ‘natural movement,’ and breathing

What are the key insights into natural movement, breathing, and how they connect to overall well-being?

MaryBeth Gangemi’s experience as a social worker has had a profound affect on how she approaches her movement practice and working with clients. She shares her own movement journey, from city to country side. MaryBeth discusses the importance of environment, breathing, and play on our ability to move well and ‘naturally.’ She unpacks her thoughts on the connections between social work and movement, as well as creating spaces accessible to all.

So you could say, is walking natural movement? […] But what if you’re walking with your head down looking at your phone, with your mouth open breathing heavy, is that? […] If we want to focus on return to nature type of idea […] how about like, really walk with posture up and look where you’re going and look around and see what’s ahead of you? […] Just not letting all of it pass you by.

~ MaryBeth Gangemi (39:34)

MaryBeth Gangemi is a breath, strength, and natural movement coach, in addition to being a wife and mother. She has certifications in many different areas, including MovNat, Kettlebells, Original Strength, and Buteyko Breathing Method. MaryBeth owns and runs Kairos Strong, where she teaches students to develop quality movement to support all areas of their life.

The conversation explores the profound relationship between natural movement, breathing, and overall well-being. Topics include the importance of posture, awareness, and incorporating nature into daily practices to foster mindfulness. Breathing techniques, such as the control pause, are discussed as vital tools for improving health and managing stress.

There’s an emphasis on rediscovering play, curiosity, and sensory experiences, like walking barefoot or engaging with different textures in the environment. The dialogue also examines the role of environment in shaping movement habits and encourages listeners to explore new activities when their current routines become monotonous or unfulfilling.

Takeaways

Breathing awareness — Understanding breathing patterns can improve oxygenation and reduce stress.

Natural movement — Everyday movements like walking and crawling can be made more mindful and enriching.

Environment’s role — The physical and social environment significantly influences movement habits.

Rediscovering play — Adults can benefit from integrating playful and exploratory elements into their routines.

Mindfulness in motion — Focusing on posture and surroundings enriches movement experiences.

Breathing practices — Simple techniques like the control pause provide tangible health benefits.

Flexibility in routines — Movement practices should be adaptable and enjoyable to sustain long-term engagement.

Resources

MaryBeth Gangemi’s web site

MaryBeth Gangemi on LinkedIn

Original Strength — A movement system mentioned for its effective breathing exercises.

Buteyko Breathing Method — A technique discussed in the context of improving breathing efficiency.

Julie Angel — A person referenced for their work in showcasing diverse movement practices.

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

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A tiny commitment

Published May 24, 2022  ·  All posts on May 24  ·  

To suddenly “go mindful” and try to be present all the time is about as easy as running a marathon when you’ve never even run around the block. Since most of us are not present the vast majority of the time, occasional stabs at “being in the moment” are quickly overrun by the colossal momentum of a lifetime of being lost in thought.

~ David Cain from, How to Make Mindfulness a Habit With Only a Tiny Commitment

There’s much worth reading on David Cain’s Raptitude website. For example, his How to walk across a parking lot, is one of the greatest things I’ve ever read. But the piece I’ve quoted from above stands out as a terrific “how to…” for working on mindfulness.

I’ve been actively working on first self-awareness, then self-assesment and finally mindfulness, for many years. (And writing about my journey as I’ve done so.) But mindfulness is still something that comes and goes for me.

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Not in a vacuum

Published May 23, 2022  ·  All posts on May 23  ·  

It can be easy to look at great geniuses like Newton and imagine that their ideas and work came solely out of their minds, that they spun it from their own thoughts—that they were true originals. But that is rarely the case.

~ Shane Parrish from, Standing on the Shoulders of Giants

There’s a perennial discussion around creativity that gets described various ways: “Steal like an artist.” “Repurpose what’s been done before.” “Creating new from the old.” I like Parrish’s point, (in the article but not the quote above,) that “geniuses” first mastered the best that others had to offer. Then they go onward and farther to create something new.

If the only thing someone has ever done is sample and remix others’ work… meh. But if someone has mastered some field—art, math, music, whatever—and then recombines and extends, (or pares down or transmogrifies)… then, ok. My distinction feels very close to the, No true Scotsman, logic fallacy, and yet I think it’s a useful distinction.

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Vignettes

Published May 22, 2022  ·  All posts on May 22

I was chatting with my old friend Arthur over a continental breakfast at the Hotel Palomar.

~ Dave Pell from, The Cell Phone Time Machine

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I’m deeply in lust for vignettes. I’ve quoted the opening of the short piece and I’m saying nothing further about it. Although, I’ll happily arrange a few more bytes about vignettes.

You see, I’m a sucker for cuts; Cuts in the sense where one visual transitions to another exactly in the way that the real world doesn’t. (With a hat tip to Douglas Adams if that last turn of phrase feels familiar.) Movies like Up, or Bicentennial Man—which I love, but most people seem to pan—or check out the “Epilogue” in the movie, Cherry, (on AppleTV. Get AppleTV for a month just to watch this movie.) I’m a sucker for Vignettes that give you just enough information for you to navigate… and leave to your own devices to pull up your own memories, and to yank on your own heart strings.

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Choose two

Published May 21, 2022  ·  All posts on May 21  ·  

Life is about tradeoffs. When we know what to say no to, and we know why, we can say yes with comfort and confidence to the things that matter. To the things that last. Work, family, scene. You can have two if you say no to one. If you can’t, you’ll have none.

~ Ryan Holiday from, Work, Family, Scene: You Can Only Pick Two

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The words “work”, “family”, and “scene” are of course maleable. I’d argue there’s a fourth—”self” or “health” would be the word I’d choose—and the admonition should be expanded to, “choose any three.” None the less, there something that feels to me very true about it being necessary, in the way the gravity is necessary to obey, about picking two of those three. There was a time when I chose work and scene. It was interesting, for a while. It wasn’t what it was cracked up to be. What’s your list, and which are you choosing?

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This is not amusing

Published May 20, 2022  ·  All posts on May 20

I grew up with maps showing how cities would be obliterated by a nuke. They’re back.

~ Clive Thompson from, The Return of 1980s-Era Nuclear-Strike Maps

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As did I. And, The Day After, for those who don’t know what that is, … well to be candid, I’m not sure how to describe it. Absolutely, scientifically and viscerally real. I know what it looks like when civilization collapses; and it’s not some kitschy zombie scenario. Disease disables, maims and kills. But nuclear war would return us to Medieval times. I would have been 12 or so when The Day After aired on TV, and I’m confident we watched it. I know I’ve also seen it several times on VHS, (and possibly on Beta as we had one of those for a while too.) There’s an interesting, unresolved question about why don’t we see signs of other intelligent beings… and one legit thought is that, quite possibly, all but vanishingly few races obliterate themselves in a sort of technology limiting event.

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Expansive

Published May 19, 2022  ·  All posts on May 19  ·  

Normally, we think of these difficulties and frustrations as something wrong with us, the other person, or the world. With this kind of view, every failure is another reason to feel bad about ourselves. Every frustration with someone else is a reason to shut down to them or lash out at them. Everything wrong with the world is another reason to feel discouraged.

~ Leo Babauta from, Everything is a Practice

slip:4uzepa2.

I recently read a discription of one’s mindset that used the term “expansive.” Having a “growth mindset,” or a “positive attitude,” are other turns of phrase in the same vein. Thinking expansively leads you to find opportunities. For 6+ years I’ve been tinkering on the Movers Mindset project, and a legitimate question comes up: What is the mindset of a mover?

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Softness with Josh Nierer

Published May 18, 2022  ·  All posts on May 18  ·  

Softness with Josh Nierer

What inspires and informs the practice and teaching of movement, particularly focusing on softness and adaptability, in Parkour?

Training barefoot and the choice of footwear reveal unexpected connections to movement fluidity.

I was always a very power hungry— Very, how far can I jump? How big of a movement can I do? Because that was always what caught the attention. But then […] I watched one of [Minh Vu Ngok’s] videos. And he was just such a beautiful mover, doing everything so elegantly, doing his flips, doing his other tricks. But you know, his video— the audio was just him moving. And it was just so quiet.

~ Josh Nierer (2:19)

The conversation explores the concept of softness in movement and its relevance to Parkour. Josh shares how his initial focus on power transitioned into a fascination with softness after observing a skilled practitioner’s quiet and elegant movements. He discusses biomechanics and how force dissipation through techniques like rolling contributes to more efficient and safer movement. Insights into ground reaction time and muscle memory highlight the technical precision required to master these movements.

Footwear and training methodologies are also discussed, emphasizing the benefits of barefoot training for sensory feedback and movement accuracy. Josh highlights the connection between repetition, strength, and mindfulness in achieving fluidity and quietness in movement. Additionally, he reflects on designing Parkour obstacles and how engineering principles enhance their functionality and versatility.

Takeaways

Repetition in training — crucial for building muscle memory and improving ground reaction time.

Softness in movement — achieved by managing force distribution and avoiding hard landings.

Biomechanics in Parkour — understanding force dissipation through rolling and other techniques.

Mindful practice — combining awareness and technical refinement to improve movement quality.

Importance of footwear — thinner soles can enhance sensory feedback and reduce injury risk.

Versatility in design — designing Parkour obstacles to maximize multiple uses and durability.

Resources

The Movement Creative — organizers of the Move NYC event.

Minh Vu Ngok @minh_vn — Practitioner from Germany known for his elegant and quiet movements.

Parkour Generations Lehigh Valley — organization offering gym design services for Parkour spaces.

Move NYC event — a Parkour community gathering featuring workshops and sessions.

Bethlehem Steel — historical reference for carpentry inspiration shared by Josh.

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

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Magnanimity

Published May 18, 2022  ·  All posts on May 18  ·  

Instead, Will redefined success for himself as winning in such a way that others are satisfied with his success. This implies not only excellence but also magnanimity. It’s like when opposing crowds would give Michael Jordan standing ovations. Or when fellow golfers would congratulate Tiger Woods on his shots. Or, you know, when conceding politicians used to say nice things about their opponents.

~ Mark Manson from, 3 Life Lessons I Learned From Will Smith

I’m reminded of zero-sum games, versus synergy. My definition of success precludes my participation in zero-sum games. I find that Mahatma Gandhi’s, “an eye-for-an-eye just leaves the whole world blind,” brings clarity when I’m uncertain. I often joke, “chaos? disorder?! …my work here is done.” Joking aside, and truth be told, I like to imagine leaving a wake of joy and improvement as I move through the world. I’m also reminded of…

To laugh often and much, to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children […] to leave the world a bit better […] to know even one life has breathed easier because you lived. This is to have succeeded

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Equilibrium

Published May 17, 2022  ·  All posts on May 17  ·  

After all, you had the amount of body fat and lean body mass that you had because they were the optimal amount to keep you at the optimal temperature given your environment. Then, without changing your environment, you forcefully overrode your body’s attempt to maintain these optimal levels in order to change the level of fat mass you have, and accidently your lean body mass.

~ Brad Pilon from, Will you lose weight and keep it off if you diet?

slip:4ubamu1.

That first sentence is sublime. As far as I can recall, it’s the sentence which best describes everything I know—from both knowledge and experiene—about controlling one’s body composition. As I wrote previously in, Exercise, “I am the sort of person who…” has been the gateway each time I’ve been able to affect my body composition. Each time it’s been because I’ve changed my behavior or my environment (or both.)

At the beginning of this week, because I am the sort of person who looks ahead for the major goals and hurdles of the coming week, I realized I needed to get two runs in before Friday; I can’t count on running at the end of the week on Friday, Saturday, nor Sunday. (Monday is the first day of the week for me.) I planned to run Tuesday and Thursday. Wednesday night, because I am the sort of person who makes a plan for tomorrow as part of preparing to go to sleep, I realized it was going to be chilly, wet, and drizzling around 7am when I was thinking it would be nice to go for a run. Fortunately, because I am the sort of person who enjoys running in the chill and drizzle the weather forecast didn’t faze me. And Thursday—this morning—, because I am the sort of person who follows through on plans, we were out the door around 7.

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Awareness with Dori Fern

Published May 16, 2022  ·  All posts on May 16

How can one effectively initiate and navigate meaningful conversations about race to foster understanding and progress?

Exploring the “messy middle” of personal change brings an unfiltered lens to life’s transformations.

A lot about this time in my life has been to move towards deeply important things where I think I can make a difference.

~ Dori Fern (29:52)

The conversation begins with reflections on a podcast project about navigating the “messy middle” of life transitions. This project explores the emotional and logistical challenges faced during significant changes, particularly focusing on authenticity and openness rather than expertise. Conversations also touch upon societal issues such as race and inclusion, emphasizing the need for candid dialogues to address personal biases and systemic inequities.

A significant part of the dialogue explores the challenges of initiating meaningful conversations about race. Dori recounts personal experiences, including the hypocrisy observed in progressive circles and the transformative impact of diverse friendships. These experiences inform a commitment to fostering understanding and purpose, particularly through confronting difficult topics and engaging with varied perspectives.

Takeaways

Moving towards purpose — Emphasizing the importance of focusing on deeply meaningful issues in middle age.

Confronting hypocrisy — Highlighting the gap between progressive ideals and lived actions in liberal spaces.

Navigating the “messy middle” — Acknowledging the challenges of life transitions and exploring them authentically.

Engaging diverse perspectives — Understanding the value of diverse friendships in broadening one’s worldview.

Creating space for conversation — Identifying strategies to initiate and sustain meaningful dialogues on race.

Recognizing systemic structures — Critiquing the pervasive impact of whiteness in societal norms and education.

Acknowledging friendship dynamics — Exploring how race conversations can shift long-standing friendships.

Addressing fear and exclusion — Understanding the role of fear in resisting inclusivity and progress.

Resources

Life-Changing with Dori Fern — A podcast focusing on life transitions and navigating change.

Co-op City — A historically significant housing complex in the Bronx, showcasing diverse urban living.

Soho House panel discussion — A notable event featuring Bomani Jones, discussing race-related themes.

Bomani Jones — Sports journalist and commentator frequently addressing race and culture.

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

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Balance with Sam Sweet and Ben Klein

Published May 16, 2022  ·  All posts on May 16  ·  

Balance – with Sam Sweet and Ben Klein

What unique insights and experiences do practitioners of partner acrobatics and group acrobatics share about their journey, techniques, and community-building?

Partner acrobatics is a very deep discipline where you can get into very, very advanced poses that take a long time. […] I’d say it’s got a very friendly start to the learning curve. And then it gets harder from there.

~ Ben Klein (2:11)

Partner acrobatics offers a unique blend of trust, technique, and teamwork rarely found in solo practices.

The mental game of acrobatics, partner acrobatics specifically, is something that I struggle with because I had a stronger… solo practice when I was younger.

~ Sam Sweet (6:17)

The conversation explores the unique aspects of partner and group acrobatics. The discussion highlights the discipline’s friendly learning curve, allowing beginners to perform seemingly advanced maneuvers quickly. Sam and Ben emphasize the mental challenges, such as overcoming fear and adapting to being upside down or off-balance. The dynamics of partnership require trust, communication, and synchronization between participants.

Another major theme is the difference between solo and group movement practices. Group acrobatics introduces challenges of collaboration and safety, especially when multiple participants form complex structures. Ben and Sam also describe the cultural and community aspects of acrobatics, showcasing the blend of creativity, interpersonal skills, and physical strength required in these practices.

Takeaways

Trust and communication — essential for both partner and group acrobatics.
Learning curve — beginners can quickly progress to advanced-looking movements.

Mental challenges — balancing requires overcoming fear and adapting to new orientations.

Dynamic relationships — each participant’s role in acrobatics shifts based on the trick.

Collaboration in groups — adds complexity to movements and communication.

Acrobatic diversity — encompasses elements of dance, yoga, and solo hand balancing.

Cultural aspects — fosters a close-knit, supportive community.
Interpersonal skills — crucial for successful partnerships in movement.

Resources

Cosmic Fit Club — a hub for movement practice and aerial training.

Move NYC Event — a movement-focused event with sessions in acrobatics and parkour, organized by The Movement Creative.

Cosmic Fit Club @cosmicfitclub — updates and insights into acrobatics and classes.

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

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Chesterton’s Fence

Published May 16, 2022  ·  All posts on May 16

As simple as Chesterton’s Fence is as a principle, it teaches us an important lesson. Many of the problems we face in life occur when we intervene with systems without an awareness of what the consequences could be. We can easily forget that this applies to subtraction as much as to addition.

~ Shane Parrish from, Chesterton’s Fence: A Lesson in Thinking

I’m going to ‘fess up and say that I don’t recall ever hearing of “Chesterton’s Fence.” If you too just went, “who’s what?” then do check out that article.

That said, I’m nervously thinking everything about it—his fence, that article—seems obvious to me. Not simple, but obvious. Any time I find myself with such thinking, rather than stand on my megalomaniac soap box and yell at “those kids”, I instead begin searching for a clear reason for why I know, what I am claiming seems obvious.

In this case, the knowledge comes from learning systems thinking. Somewhere along my way I learned to think about everything as systems of things. I’m always trying to see how this thing is related to, dependent on, and causative of, some other things. Somewhere along my way I found Chesterton’s fence, (but the fence system didn’t include long-term planning for owner identification and so the fence I apparently found wasn’t labeled.)

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Discipline

Published May 14, 2022  ·  All posts on May 14  ·  

The end for self-discipline is personal improvement; the end for discipline lies beyond the self. This distinction helps explain why individuals can be incredibly self-disciplined and yet see very little external achievement as a result. Sure, they never miss a day writing in their journal and never lose their temper, but those displays of self-mastery don’t automatically lead to outward success.

~ Brett McKay from, Are You Disciplined or Just Self-Disciplined?

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There are lots of ways to talk about this distinction; the particular way described by McKay comes from an author he’s interviewed. I’d never thought about is as “discipline” versus “self-discipline.” I’d always thought of discipline as a thing, and then the “self-” prefix in “self-discipline” means that thing done to myself. And I’m not going to change how I use the words, “discipline,” and “self-discipline.” I see why they’re using “discipline” and “self-discipline.” I think I’d prefer to use, “inward-directed,” and, “outward-directed,” discipline. Everything I do to myself is self-discipline, but when my goal is to change myself, then it’s “inward-directed,” and when my goal is to change the world, then it’s “outward-directed.”

But the point of the distinction is very interesting. Do I actually have goals which are the, “why?” behind my self-discipline? Are those goals an appropriate mixture of inward- and outward-directed?

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Collaboration with Ben Franke

Published May 13, 2022  ·  All posts on May 13  ·  

Collaboration with Ben Franke

What insights can a photographer share about the collaborative process of capturing movement, particularly when working with athletes?

Discover the intersection of art and athleticism through the lens of a movement-focused photographer.

Having been around so many different athletes, I think what’s really fascinating to me is the process, where you get a front-row seat to the process of them breaking a jump. And working through the challenges. And I can’t get enough of that. That is— I find that so amazing, where someone just gets in a zone. And then they can do this thing.

~ Ben Franke (16:11)

The conversation highlights the intricate collaboration involved in capturing dynamic movement in photography. Ben shares his approach to working closely with athletes, emphasizing the importance of understanding the movement art they practice. This partnership allows him to create compelling images while respecting the athletes’ physical limits. The interaction between artist and subject enriches the process, enabling both to come away with something meaningful.

A significant portion of the discussion revolves around the creative process, from compositional choices made in the moment to post-processing decisions. Ben also reflects on the evolution of their practice, highlighting a preference for collaborative and thoughtful work over impersonal or candid photography. Practical advice is offered to aspiring photographers, encouraging experimentation and active exploration as a path to discovering personal style.

Takeaways

Collaborative creation — Photography benefits from working closely with subjects, especially in dynamic fields like movement.

Understanding athletes — Gaining insights into athletes’ perspectives enhances the authenticity of the images.

Evolving practice — Creative approaches change over time, shaped by personal experiences and preferences.

In-the-moment composition — Many creative decisions happen in real-time, particularly in high-stakes environments.

Beginner advice — Aspiring photographers should focus on experimenting and actively shooting to develop their craft.

Human interaction — Personal connection between photographer and subject often leads to richer, more meaningful work.

Dynamic environments — Capturing movement in urban or complex settings requires an adaptive, observant approach.

Breaking barriers — Observing athletes as they mentally prepare and achieve feats provides unique storytelling opportunities.

Resources

The Movement Creative — A community organization hosting the Move NYC event.

Move NYC Event — A photography and movement event where the guest teaches photography techniques.

Photoville — An annual photography festival featuring workshops, including photowalks with athletes.

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

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