Those six points are right near the top, too. It’s a great article about reading. —about a certain kind of reading. I’m not certain what to call the type of reading, but for today “reading to learn” will do as a label. Well, there’s another type of reading which I’ll call “reading for ‘hunh‘”.
There’s deep value in a ‘hunh’. When you find one, you can be sure you have just learned something. I spend a lot of time every day reading for ‘hunh’. I cast a wide net and then haul the contents up onto the fishing boat deck. I shuffle through the contents in muck boots; you don’t want to get this arbitrary stuff really on you. Using a squee-gee I push some of it around in an only vaguely interested fashion. I’m not super-focused. I’m paying attention for sharp edges but I’m not expecting any particular outcome. If I find a ‘hunh’ it’s just that; no more and no less than something simply interesting for the time it’s in my realm of awareness. And then I drop it back on the deck. Soon enough I wash it all overboard.
As always, I continue my project of self-improvement. I’ve long been aware that I take on too much— and yet, all efforts to “take on less” only seem to lessen the problem; Like pulling Dandelion weeds but not getting the entire root out. I’ve made an insane effort in countless ways over several decades to make progress towards “take on less.” I’ve long known there must be something underlying.
I love to use a tool I refer to as a “wedge”, to affect changes by altering the normal sequence of things. A wedge can be used to create a space for consideration, to divert my thinking, or to initiate (or change) an activity. It works because the presence of the wedge alters the mental context. My mind proceeds from idea to idea, with an evolving context for that thinking. As the context changes, it constrains—or maybe, “helps select” is a better description—what ideas are going to come to the fore of my mind next. Trains of thought develop this way. The inserted wedge causes, (if it’s done right,) enough of a shift in my mental context.
It’s really difficult to have the wedge be a thought. But orange sticky notes work well. (Until you no longer notice them, of course.)
The action of this wedge is to make me think about why I’m about to do this next thing that feels so urgent.
“Is it really [urgent]?” …like, how a smoke detector sounding off is urgent? Okay, so it’s not that urgent.
“Where does that feeling [of urgency] arise?”
And that is where my train of thought shifts. (So far it has been every time I’ve felt urgency to do something.) Because the feeling comes from my desire for control; There are countless examples. That explains why I’m forever taking on too much.
“Sit with that?” Sit with that realization that the urgency is a reaction to a desire for control. Sit with the knowledge that every attempt at control—all types, all sizes, all shapes, all degrees… attempted control of anything external—has never ended well for me.
The aim was to detect the possible presence of ancient bacteria encapsulated inside fluid and solid inclusions present in the calcium sulfate matrix from its formation. […] At the 2017 meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, researchers, including Dr. Boston, announced the discovery of bacteria found in inclusions embedded in some of the crystals. Using sterile methods, the researchers were able to extract and reanimate these organisms, which are not closely related to anything in the known genetic databases.
That sounds like the first paragraph from a newspaper article appearing about three days before the world ends. It’s been four years though, so I guess it’s okay?
How did I stumble on that… I found Podcast: The Naica cave in one of my RSS feeds. I didn’t listen, but I did quickly find the Wikipedia page for the Naica Mine. And from there it’s just one click to the Cave of Crystals.
This all reads like something the Dwarves would do, leading to their eventually having to abandon Khazad-dûm. Or the beginning of The Andromeda Strain.
It’s incredible—meaning not credible, not something one would think one should take as true—that we can push air through a tube, finely modulate tension of some fibrous bands attached to flaps, manipulate the shape of a bunch of things it seems were designed for eating . . . and presto! some idea appears in your mind, generally, in the way I intended. It’s incredible but so blasé, right?
And it’s not even incredible, at this point, that the whole “process” has different “languages,” with dialects, jargon and local slang. No. That’s all yawns-ville.
It’s not even interesting that I can smashcrastically make up “words” and it still works. The right idea still appears in your head. And a word can have multiple meanings. Does it have the same several meanings in another language? Meh, interesting, but not brain melting.
What explodes my noodle every time is the thought of homonyms. Words in one language that sound the same that have different meanings. To. Too. Two. Homonyms! …why aren’t those words also homonyms in another language? (‘au’ or is it ‘a’? …and ‘deux’?) Are there in fact any homonyms in one language that are also homonyms in another language? If so, or if not, does that tell us anything about language itself? …or about the origins of language? …or about the common ancestry of those particular languages, or about those particular words? …or . . .
yeah no sorry wat? Mrs. Peters just always thought I wasn’t paying attention in French class.
Have you ever worked a hand-operated water pump? I mean the outdoor, permanently installed ones for pulling up drinking water. There’s a lot of varability to them, but generally there’s a bit of pumping before there’s any fruit to the labor. In my mind, there’s also a particular sound that goes with the initial machinations.
Sometimes, when I want to create a blog post from nothing, I hear that sound. You start on that pump. Then you’d hear the sound change, you’d feel the water make the action of the pump more leaden as the amount of effort changed.
But still, no water yet. You’d lean into it a bit more. Some sounds of water now. A gurgling rising in pitch which you instinctively know means the space for air is dwindling rapidly. And at a hard to predict moment . . .
You get a blog post about water pumps when you were expecting drinking water.
Why is play so powerful? Johnson explains that “humans — and other organisms — evolved neural mechanisms that promote learning when they have experiences that confound their expectations. When the world surprises us with something, our brains are wired to pay attention.”
And the whole point of play is to be surprised. The unknown factor is part of what entertains us. Play is a gateway to possibility.
Have you seen the movie, Inception? There are a pile of mind-bending perspective shifts in there… something like a dolly-zoom, a long music descent, a rotating set that obliterates our sense of reality as the actors fall to the ceiling, that look on their face, M C Escher learns to use modern CGI for a city street scene . . . you get the idea.
surprise unknown factor gateway to possibility…
My understanding of what play is, and why we’re drawn to it, has fundamentally shifted.
There are lots of places—but two in particular are top of mind—where I’m storytelling these days. There’s this very difficult form of storytelling where you have to craft an experience of discovery for someone. You have a project, and it’s on the Internet. Someone comes to some part of it. From somewhere. Maybe someone told them something about some part of it; What they were told may be correct, incorrect, useful, or distractionary. (Is that even a word?) And every single one of those variable things would be different for each person.
And I have my ideas, my wants, (what I may want this new person to do,) and my way of seeing and understanding the world and this thing this other person is experiencing. I can use language, colors, design (esthetics, affordances, familiarity, etc.,) audio, video, gamification, revealed complexity, feedback, and more.
I create something, and release it into the world. Let’s say, for the sake of argument, it is the best thing I can possibly create. Later, I look at it—perhaps after seeing someone encounter it for their first time and their having a flawed experience, perhaps after asking someone to review the thing, whatever… Later, I look at it and omgbecky I suddenly see several serious, glaring flaws. Not spelling error type “flaws” — no, this whole story is told backwards, or this isn’t the right thing to tell at this point in their journey type flaws.
I used to get petulant when that happened. I’d worked so hard on it, and now it’s clear that my best wasn’t very good after all.
But today, my reaction is the opposite. I get really execited! “Wait— slow down— I’m scribbling notes as fast as I can,” excited. I used to think, “where were you when I worked so hard on this,” and now I’m thinking, “being able to see that this thing actually sucks, is awesome because now I can make it better.”
I’m a process process process person. The second time I have to do something, I’m trying to figure out how to either never have to do that again, or how to automate it. (And failing those two, it goes into my admin day.) But being process oriented also means I like to build tools to enable doing things that weren’t previously possible.
Recently, I installed a little bit of code on my site that will bounce one to a random post. This means I can now have a link, which takes me to a random quote. I collect all the quotes because I want to read them. A big portion of the enjoyment comes from their discovery. So any time I can mange to re-discover a quote, by stumbling over it some how, that’s a bonus. So now, each morning, I bounce myself to a re-discovery…
Which is great to bookmark— Except, if you click that, you land on a quote; and making a bookmark is then of that specific quote. Instead you have to manually create a new bookmark—so that’s your homework for today, go figure out how to do that in your fave web browser. In that new bookmark, you can copy-and-paste that URL as the address for the bookmark. Then, any time you go to that bookmark, my web site will bounce you to a random quote.
I’ve been up for more than two hours today. I’m completely paralyzed by too many things to do. At this point—this point right here where I’ve opened the text box to write a blog post—I’m simply flailing. Simply grasping at any action.
Where’s the actual problem though? The paralysis isn’t from external pressures; it isn’t that I cannot figure out how to get things done in time, or on budget, to meet other’s expectations. All the expectations come from myself. This is a theme which has come up previously here multiple times.
Luke 4:23 springs to mind. What would I suggest if someone came to me with these exact symptoms, and asked me for help? I’d suggest visualizing what would success look like.
“It would be not this feeling!”
Yes, okay. Can you describe the current feeling?
“It’s a frenetic, cacophony of ideas and options, making me feel like progress—progress is clearly possible upon each idea and option, but progress upon any idea or option feels pointless.”
I notice you said, ‘feels pointless’, … why use ‘feels’ rather than ‘is’?
“Because I know that I could easily finish, at an awesome level of execution, any one of these things. So just picking one of them, arbitrarily, for discussion, progress on that one would move it towards completion.”
Are you saying that working on any of one of them— when you focus on that line of action alone— that actually feels like a good idea?
“Well, yes.”
If considering one feels okay, but considering all of them makes working on them feel not okay…
“But how do I choose? How do I be sure that I can finish all of them— all of these projects?”
You are aware that you cannot be certain to finish anything. This last thing you’ve said is a fact of life, because of the dichotomy of control. If you’ve only chosen to work on virtuous things— let’s take that as a given— then all these things you’re struggling to pick among… they’re all nothing more than preferred indifferents. Pick one, since they are all equally awesome. Chop wood. Carry water.
What motivates and shapes the personal experiences and practices of someone who navigates both the parkour and climbing communities?
Exploring mindfulness in movement reveals deeper insights into personal and communal growth.
It’s interesting how it somehow reveals our own thought process. So the exact sequence of my feet in some stride up to something— or the exact way that I place my hands, reveals how I think about movement.
~ Oliver Thorpe (15:07)
The conversation touches on the intersection of culture, movement, and personal growth. Reflections on moving between Denmark and Australia explore themes of adaptation and community, with emphasis on how cultural differences shape human connections. Denmark, with its initially reserved people, becomes a home through its parkour community, providing both camaraderie and a sense of belonging.
The discussion also delves into the relationship between mindfulness, training, and motivation. Experiences in parkour and climbing illustrate how challenges provide motivation and how iterative attempts help in overcoming fear. There is also a reflection on how personal habits, like coffee preparation, tie into broader practices of mindfulness and intentionality.
Takeaways
The role of community in creating a sense of belonging — The parkour community in Denmark plays a key role in fostering personal connections.
The contrast between Danish and Australian cultures — These cultural differences highlight variations in social behavior and interpersonal connections.
The interplay of mindfulness and movement — Training in parkour and climbing reveals how mindfulness shapes approach and execution.
The motivational power of challenges — Facing and overcoming physical and psychological barriers provides a sense of growth.
The iterative nature of overcoming fear — Experiences in climbing show how repeated exposure transforms fear into confidence.
What inspires and shapes the creation and evolution of a vision board project and podcast that focus on personal growth and self-discovery?
The vision board workshop reveals hidden desires and life goals by tapping into creative instincts rather than logical reasoning.
Having the courage to become who you’re created to be is what badass really stands for.
~ Pej Onile-Ere (8:42)
The conversation discusses the transformation of a vision board project into a workshop that helps participants uncover and act on their hidden desires and life goals. It explores the use of creative rather than analytical thinking, and the integration of deep meditation to guide individuals in aligning their priorities with their life’s current phase. The workshop focuses on crafting actionable maps from abstract aspirations, providing clarity and focus.
Another major topic is the intersection of the workshop and the creation of a podcast that emphasizes personal growth and overcoming fear. Pej shares her journey of acquiring domain names inspired by vision boards, leveraging podcasting as a platform for exploring the stories and routines of successful individuals. She reflects on how her podcast and workshop themes of courage and self-discovery align.
Takeaways
Transforming aspirations into action — Vision boards evolve into actionable life maps.
The power of meditative reflection — Creative workshops help unearth hidden goals.
Exploring self-improvement — Courage and overcoming fear are key to personal growth.
The importance of structured learning — Podcasting courses provide clarity and community.
Common struggles in growth journeys — Participants often face self-doubt and distraction.
Integrating multiple mediums — Workshops and podcasts offer complementary pathways to self-discovery.
The role of intuition — Vision boards highlight deeper life desires that may be overlooked.
Finding personal focus — Projects aim to narrow participants’ priorities to one to three key areas.
Resources
Badass Fabulous — Pej’s podcast explores courage and self-discovery through personal stories.
Vision board workshops — Pej’s workshops, named “Discover Your Life Map,” focusing on personal and professional goals.
It’s free. There are no tricks, no gimmicks, and there’s no “upsell” at the end. It’s simply an opportunity to synchronize with others who want to make progress toward some goal of their own choosing.
This session is for kind and generous people who want to get something, (something of their own choosing,) done. But, who feel they need some others to kindly and gently hold them accountable to doing the work. In the session, you’ll be part of a group of people working together.
I always liked those weird exploration games from the 1980s and 90s, like Zork and Myst, where you wake up in a strange environment, with no idea where you are or even who you are. You have to gather the context from the inside out, by wandering around, pushing buttons, peering behind wall paintings, and reading notes left by strangers who were here before you.
I don’t think I can really explain it. You either know what Myst is, (and it ate months of your waking hours,) and so know what he means; Or you don’t. “I like those games because that’s exactly what it’s to be a human being, if you think about it.” I hadn’t until I read it. But, zoinks, he’s right. The feeling I have in the middle of a great conversation is the same feeling I had exploring Myst, and while exploring all those other things Cain mentions learning about.
As with everything I’ve ever seen Babauta post, I agree. If you’re feeling scattered, you could do a lot worse than to read that article. It provides perspective, and some small, actionable things to start on.
But, my Dear Reader, sometimes the problem is ourselves. We said ‘yes’ to one, or two, or twenty, things too many. And the yes’s are insidious. We are all so eager to help, that we rush in. (“The rescuer,” is one of the corners in the Karpman drama triangle. For which I refer you to M B Stanier’s, The Coaching Habit, p138.) So, if you’re feeling scattered: Check for drama.
The hard part is when you learn to start to set boundaries. Dealing with how setting boundaries feels when you’re comfortable being the rescuer is hard. Dealing with how it feels when everyone knows you as that person is hard. It takes cahones to relax and sink, to save yourself from the drowning swimmer you were trying to save. It takes chutzpah, when a friend asks you for what they think is a small favor, to pause for several seconds, to do the mental calculus, to set your boundaries for just how much effort you’re going to put into the thing… and only then answer them, ‘Yes.’ It takes brass to be kind enough to yourself to ensure you have boundaries that work for you.
What are the insights and challenges involved in creating and sustaining a podcast about learning and development?
A conversation about transforming technical challenges into meaningful dialogues unfolds with clarity and humor.
What we noticed was that the conversation started to go in all these different directions, and we weren’t achieving the goal of trying to get specific questions answered.
~ John Parsell (12:53)
The conversation explores the development and challenges of creating a podcast focused on learning and development. One central theme is the evolution from an initial idea of streaming live discussions to eventually crafting a podcast, which required navigating technical, logistical, and content challenges. The podcast aims to address practical issues, like engaging stakeholders and uncovering the root causes of organizational training requests, rather than focusing solely on technical skills.
Another significant topic is how the hosts approach guest engagement and content structuring. John emphasizes the importance of clear goals, preparation, and providing value to listeners. The discussion touches on their method of using templates and curated questions to guide interviews while maintaining conversational authenticity. Building strong relationships and fostering collaboration, both with podcast guests and within the learning and development community, emerges as a recurring theme.
Takeaways
Collaboration as a foundation — Relationships are key to effective problem-solving and project success.
Podcast evolution — Original plans often shift as new insights emerge during the creative process.
Community engagement — Interacting with diverse professionals enriches podcast content and purpose.
Preparation for flexibility — Balancing structured questions with open dialogue enhances guest interaction.
Practical challenges — Addressing real-world learning and development issues requires nuanced approaches.
Tools and templates — Organized frameworks streamline podcast production and maintain focus.
Resources
Rory Sachs — Co-host and partner in the podcast “Is Training the Answer,” focusing on learning and development challenges.
Is Training the Answer? — The official site, “Is Training the Answer,” offering insights and episodes.
Twitch — Early inspiration for streaming discussions, though not pursued as the final format.
The solution isn’t to flee, but rather to grab all the technology doo-dads by the, err… doo-dads and make them do your bidding. Notice when something annoys you, and then take the time—it might be seconds, minutes, hours or days—to solve that problem. Triple-word score if you can eliminate something entirely; delete your account from one social network that you’re ok with being without… that fixes annoying notifications. Delete an app. Find some web sites, (hey thanks for following mine,) that work the way you want them to. Subscribe to email if you like, use RSS if you like, etc.
I’m not sure when we started sending out holiday cards. You know, the old fashioned way, in envelops with a stamp. But, it might be 20 years that we’ve been doing it. Some parts of it are a simple process; For example, we have a digital address list and I simply print the addresses on labels.
The two hardest parts however have always been finding holiday stamps that we liked—that sounds silly, but there it is. So this year, we’re breaking with tradition and simply using the generic postage stamps that we keep on hand.
And finding cards we like. By the time we get around to starting on our holiday cards, it’s too late to really do any custom ordering. Besides, neither of us is willing to buy something we can’t see/touch. And there’s the debate about do we print a photo of ourselves to include? …and what about including a sort of “this past year…” summary letter? Or perhaps those simple photo montages with a simple holiday slogan—we’ve been getting a higher number of those in recent years and it’s nice to see everyone’s photos…
This year we decided to do something different. We spent all of the time we would have spent finding the “right” stamps and finding the “right” cards… and bought cheap-ass plain Avery card stock and spent the time making them ourselves. The card is a solid mediocre job, as far as holiday cards go. But it’s exactly the card we wanted to send out.
How does the practice of design, particularly in cover art and podcasting, bridge functionality and storytelling?
Discover the parallels between designing podcast cover art and packaging consumer goods.
It’s like a very tiny story in a square footprint, and of course it should reflect you. And then, also, once your audience gets used to it, [it will] be like a shortcut to finding your new episode.
~ Hernán Braberman (2:18)
The conversation explores the relationship between storytelling and design, focusing on podcast cover art as a form of visual storytelling. Hernán explains how the design parallels packaging consumer goods, both requiring an ability to draw attention and convey meaning within a small space. He discusses how the elements of design—shapes, colors, and typography—can embody the emotional and functional attributes of a podcast’s narrative, making the artwork a recognizable shortcut for audiences.
Hernán shares personal anecdotes, including inspiration from Spanish designer Javier Mariscal, whose philosophy of “design without surname” influenced their perspective. He also draws an analogy between podcasting and scuba diving, emphasizing the unique medium and altered sense of time in both. The discussion reflects on how creativity in podcasting is an open-ended process, comparable to the iterative nature of design, and how sound and structure play critical roles in storytelling.
Takeaways
Storytelling in design — Visual elements in cover art serve as a narrative gateway for audiences.
Parallels between mediums — Podcast cover art shares similarities with packaging design in consumer goods.
Creative methodology — Starting with conceptual frameworks aids in refining design or restarting from new perspectives.
Influence of mentors — Inspiration from influential designers can reshape one’s approach to creativity and professional practice.
Role of sound in podcasting — Audio design enhances storytelling by creating an immersive, unique atmosphere.
Podcasting as a design activity — Structuring and planning podcast elements is akin to a creative design process.
Analogies in creativity — Comparing podcasting to scuba diving highlights the transformative experience of exploring new mediums.
Resources
Javier Mariscal — Spanish designer known for his multidisciplinary approach, blending graphic design, product design, and more.
Podcast directories — Platforms compared to supermarket shelves for showcasing podcast cover art.
Supermarket packaging design — Used as a metaphor for crafting engaging and functional podcast thumbnails.
How do the dynamics of conversation and storytelling impact podcasting and personal connection?
Effective podcasting techniques rely on balancing preparation and adaptability during interviews.
A lot of people never answer those questions, until somebody asks them. And, actually, you asking them often brings them insight they didn’t necessarily have.
~ Simon Ratcliffe (17:23)
The conversation explores the nuances of podcasting and the emotional dynamics of meaningful dialogue. One focus is the emotional highs and lows experienced in podcast production, from the joy of recording to the challenges of editing and releasing episodes. Another topic is the value of acknowledging guests’ individuality, with examples of how thoughtful questioning can lead to deep, meaningful exchanges.
The discussion also examines group dynamics, especially in the context of facilitating group interviews or research discussions. Key insights include the importance of recognizing and engaging all participants and the transformative power of contextual understanding in conversations. The conversation reflects on how certain techniques, such as effective pauses and unscripted interactions, contribute to authentic connections.
Takeaways
Understanding storytelling techniques — Conversations are enriched by focusing on the broader context of a person’s life.
Acknowledging individuality — Recognizing each participant fosters trust and engagement.
Balancing preparation and flexibility — Minimal but strategic notes can guide meaningful exchanges.
Value of silence — Different kinds of silence serve distinct purposes in conversations.
Emotional highs and lows in podcasting — The creative process involves both joy and challenges.
Role of group dynamics — Acknowledging everyone in a group encourages balanced participation.
Therapeutic elements of conversations — Thoughtful questions often lead to unexpected insights.
