Honing your craft

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Tension

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

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

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

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Redefining our mission

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

~ Steven Pressfield from, Why the Raiders Suck

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

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

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Diligence alone

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

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

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

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

Today, more questions than answers I suppose.

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Blake Evitt | The Parkour Community within the Larger Urban Fabric

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

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

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

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

~ Blake Evitt (4:44)

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

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

Takeaways

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Resources

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

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

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

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Stop drifting

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

~ Marcus Aurelius

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

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

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

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

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Being present

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

~ Leo Babauta from, The Practice of Meticulous Attention

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

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

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

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Willful ignorance

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

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

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

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

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

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Creating value

Creating value is unrelated to busyness. When you find yourself — as I sometimes do — working long hours, day after day, reacting and e-mailing and hatching schemes, it’s useful to remember that you’re working more than some of the world’s most respected and impactful thinkers.

~ Cal Newport from, You’re Working too Hard to Make an Impact

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I often write about focus because it’s something I’m trying to improve. When I’ve lost focus, it’s a challenge to call myself back to the important things. But a better plan for improvement would be to not lose focus in the first place, or at least to not lose focus as often.

Recently I’ve been keeping in mind Viktor Frankl’s thought about there being a space between stimulus and response. I find that when I’m able to remember that space, I’m able to consciously decide when, and if, I should shift my focus.

For example, I sat down to write and a myriad of other thoughts arose. Instead of trying to ignore them or make them go away—don’t think of a pink elephant—I zoom in on each idea: I consider the sense of urgency; no, actually there’s nothing urgent about the action this thought is suggesting. I consider the sense of entitlement; no, actually there’s no reason that I should be congratulated or rewarded for this thought or what it’s suggesting I attempt to do. I consider the benefit to myself or others; no, actually this thought isn’t vastly better than the other ideas and projects I’m already working. Soon enough the thought moves along like a petulant child. I think, “let’s see, where was I? I had sat down to write.”

Externally, that whole process—even if I repeat it for multiple thoughts—looks very unlike busyness. It looks much like I’m sitting still. It looks like I’m gazing out the window. It even looks a bit like I’m focused on writing. In fact, I am still focused on writing.

It’s my choice: Is this the moment when I want to change where I’ve placed my focus? If not, then terrific, I’m still focused where I had chosen.

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Creating running intervals from Morse Code

Here’s an interesting way to use Morse Code to generate running intervals. It’s complex enough to generate infinite variety, but simple enough to generate a workout quickly.

“Running” Morse Code…

The dot duration is the basic unit of time measurement in Morse code transmission.

Select a corresponding amount of running time for the basic unit; Let’s say a “dot” will be 10 seconds of running.

The duration of a dash is three times the duration of a dot.

…so we’ll be running 30 seconds for each “dash” in Morse Code.

The letters within a word are separated by a space of duration equal to three dots,

…so we’ll have 30 seconds of walking between each letter.

and the words are separated by a space equal to seven dots.

…so 70 seconds of walking between each word.

…from Basics of Morse Code, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morse_code

Finally, you need a handy Morse Code converter, such as moresecode.world. (No relationship to me.)

Build a running sequence like this…

Grab a word, phrase, whatever you want to try “running”. For example, “I AM SLOW”, in Morse Code, is:

.. / .- -- / ... .-.. --- .--

The word “I”, one letter, is simply two dots, ..
…two dots at 10 seconds each, that’s 20 seconds of running for the letter, “i”.

For the space between the words, 70 seconds of walking.

“AM” is, two letters, .- --
…dot-dash is 10+30, so 40 seconds of running
…space between letters is 30 seconds of walking
…dash-dash is, 30+30, so 60 seconds of running

Another space between words, 70 seconds of walking.

“SLOW” is four letters, ... .-.. --- .--
run 30 (S = 10+10+10)
walk 30 between letters
run 60 (L = 10+30+10+10)
walk 30
run 90 (O = 30+30+30)
walk 30
run 70 (W = 10+30+30)

…or more simply, the whole running sequence can be written:

20 / 40 60 / 30 60 90 70

You get a 70-second walking break at the “/” between words, and the 30-second walks between letters at 40-60, 30-60, 60-90 and 90-70.

More examples…

“Mississippi” leads to:
-- .. ... ... .. ... ... .. .--. .--. ..
60 20 30 30 20 30 30 20 80 80 20
(with a 30 second walk between each of those letters)

“run faster” is:
.-. ..- -. / ..-. .- ... - . .-.
50 50 40 / 60 40 30 30 10 50

…and “movers mindset” is:
-- --- ...- . .-. ... / -- .. -. -.. ... . -
60 90 60 10 50 30 / 60 20 40 50 30 10 30

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Alan Tran | Peer Pressure

On Castbox.fm — Alan Tran | Peer Pressure

How can movement practices, such as Parkour, enhance social connection and communication through exercises involving eye contact, physical touch, and shared space?

Parkour coaches can deepen their practice by incorporating elements of Tai Chi, dance, and breath-work to foster social awareness.

I wanted to bring this to Art of Retreat because social connection is so powerful, on our mental health, on relationships, on our happiness. I want to share and see how coaches can build a stronger connection for their communities, their students, their peers. And it can be as simple as eye contact or a high five or a hug.

~ Alan Tran (23:41)

The conversation explores the intersection between movement practices like Parkour and social connection. It highlights how physical exercises involving eye contact and partner interaction can reveal hidden boundaries and deepen interpersonal communication. A particular focus is placed on how different modalities, including dance, breath-work, and Tai Chi, can integrate into Parkour to enhance awareness and foster stronger community ties.

There is also discussion around cultural and gender-based differences in how people approach exercises involving physical touch and personal space. The challenges faced when presenting these concepts to different demographics, including at-risk youth, emphasize the importance of social context in movement training. These reflections demonstrate how movement can transcend physical boundaries to facilitate emotional growth and community bonding.

Takeaways

Simple eye contact in movement — Transmits significant unspoken information and alters partner dynamics.

Gender differences in space — Male participants often hold back more than female participants during physical proximity exercises.

Movement as social connection — Sessions on touch and eye contact highlight the importance of social engagement in physical training.

Cultural variations — Comfort with physical proximity varies between participants from different regions, influencing their engagement.

Touch as a practice — Teaching touch sensitivity and awareness improves not just movement, but broader interpersonal skills.

Resources

Alan Tran @alanstran

Enso Movement — Alan Tran’s Parkour gym and movement training space.

Art of Retreat — Annual Parkour leadership and education retreat.

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

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Sound of thunder in the distance

I’ve written before about the sounds of summer thunderstorms. I’m completely trained to relax and drift away to these sounds.

It’s said there are three things you can stare at endlessly: running water, fire, and other people working. I believe the first two trigger something deep within our brains; I believe there’s something about the small, random movements of water and fire which hypnotize the predator part of our brains… something about those movements stimulates our visual cortex.

But sound! The auditory part of our brain is older still, and the sound of running water is—at least for me, how about you?—deeply alluring. I’ll sit under cover on my patio and freeze my ass off just to hear the rain falling and the sound of water in the gutters.

Anywho. What brings up this train of thought? …on a gloriously sunny and blue-skied day?

…”sounds of rain and thunder,” is a thing you can listen to on Pandora.

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Wherein I continue my perennial rant against social networks

His friends, however, were aghast at his decision to leave the social network and argued strongly against the action. Their airtight case? Certain activities, such as finding out about parties, would become less convenient. The convenience principle is so ingrained in our culture that Daniel’s friends believed that their argument that something would become less convenient was unimpeachable. Daniel, for his part, ignored them. He missed a few invitations, but not many.

~ Cal Newport from, Distraction is a Symptom of a Deeper Problem: The Convenience Principle and the Destruction of American Productivity

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I spent time writing about social networks for this post—but deleted it all because I’ve nothing nice to say. Instead I’ll smirk, and point at what someone else has written.

Great article though from Newport. As usual for his 2012 epoch, it’s specific to college students but contains deep wisdom for all.

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Blog by a Stoic

Stoicism has long surged in times of difficulty—the decline and fall of Rome, the American Revolution, the French Revolution, the Civil War, depressions, and periods of strife because it is a philosophy designed for difficult times. It says, in effect, you don’t control these alarming events going on in the world, but you do control how you respond. And in fact is a framework for responding with courage and virtue, and with the good emotions that accompany and sustain them: joy, caution and well-wishing. None of these inspiring figures were guilty of emotionless acquiescence.

~ Ryan Holiday from, The Secret, Singular Philosophy That Today’s Politics Are Desperately Missing

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I’m certainly not going to transform my blog to be entirely about Stoicism. Not because others have already done so, (others have, and have done it better than I could,) but rather, simply because this blog doesn’t have a single specific topic. It’s one long stream of consciousness where I’m leaving a breadcrumb trail of my thoughts. That being said:

Stoicism is turning out to be a powerful toolset; an excellent fulcrum for leveraging change in my personal life. Over several years, I’ve become increasingly interested in it, and have read slowly, but steadily. Very recently, I started a morning practice I’ve labeled “philosophical reading.” It’s simply some time set aside in my mornings to read and reflect on philosophy.

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Franklin, the state that sort of was

In 1784, before Tennessee’s slender shape had ever been imagined and drawn on a map, there were rumblings of discontent in three counties in western North Carolina : Washington, Sullivan, and Greene. These small counties were isolated from the rest of North Carolina and their governing representatives, separated by the formidable Southern Appalachian mountain range. Residents were all too aware of how the mountains they lived in and around disenfranchised their lives.

~ Madelyn Brown from, A Look Back at Franklin, America’s Lost State

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Today, from the wait-wat?! department: There was almost-sort-of a fourteenth original state—except the Continental Congress never recognized it. Oh, geo-politics are complicated. *wry smile*

More seriously, Atlas Obscura is a terrific web site ticking off an endless list of amazing, surprising or simply interesting places on this magnificent marble we call home.

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Paula Flinn | Neurodiversity & Inclusivity

On Castbox.fm — Paula Flinn | Neurodiversity & Inclusivity

How can communities and practices like Parkour better support and include neurodivergent individuals?

Understanding neurodiversity challenges long-held assumptions about disability and the value of different cognitive experiences.

Freedom means acceptance. When I feel free, I feel accepted, I feel that I can take up space and be myself.

~ Paula Flinn (27:01)

The conversation highlights the intersection of neurodiversity and physical movement disciplines, particularly Parkour. The discussion covers the fundamental misunderstanding of neurodivergent individuals and the social barriers they face. Parkour is presented as a medium that allows neurodivergent individuals to engage in free, non-competitive movement, providing a sense of autonomy and community.

Another focal point is the shift from a medical to a social model of disability, advocating for inclusive environments that acknowledge diverse cognitive experiences. This shift reframes disability as a result of environmental and societal barriers rather than individual deficits. The conversation touches on personal stories and broader systemic issues, including ableism and the importance of connection and acceptance.

Takeaways

Neurodiversity as Fact — The diversity of human minds is a biological reality, not a concept or trend.

Shift in Disability Perspective — Disability can be viewed as a social issue shaped by the environment rather than an individual’s deficits.

Parkour as Inclusive Space — The freedom, creativity, and autonomy in Parkour align well with the needs of neurodivergent individuals.

Challenges of Ableism — Deeply embedded ableism in society makes it difficult to change perspectives on disability.

Value of Connection — Inclusivity thrives on connection and understanding, beyond just ticking diversity checkboxes.

Resources

Perth Parkour on Facebook — Community organization supporting Parkour practice in Perth.

Women of Perth Parkour @womenofperthparkour — Group focused on women and non-binary inclusion in Parkour.

Nick Walker’s Work — Scholarly articles on neurodiversity and the social model of disability.

Art of Retreat

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

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It’s really hard to see from another’s perspective

In such a simple situation, I placed a message in what I thought was the best position: The door knocker.

~ Steven Pressfield from, Stick It To The Doorknob

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It used to be that when someone asked me to look at something, or for feedback, I took it very seriously. Not “gravely” serious, but appropriately serious. I allocated what I felt would be sufficient time to give the task my undivided attention. I gave the whatever-it-was a deep thinking-through and tried to melt my mind into all the nooks and crannies(*).

No more!

Why? Because what do I desperately want when I ask someone for feedback? I want their fresh perspective.

I’ve already thought about it six ways to Sunday—I don’t even know what that means. I’ve a reason for every minuscule feature, every character, every color, … I don’t want you to ask me what sort of feedback I want… I don’t want you to get a pencil and pad out to write an outline… I don’t want you to think about what would be he best feedback to make the thing better… And these days I’m figuring that’s what everyone else wants too.

Just my first reaction. If I’m on my game, maybe my first few reactions; bonus points if I can muster a few positives and negatives. But either way, just *pow*, no holds barred. RFN (right now). As Pressfield said, hang the note right on the doorknob: “Your baby is ugly.” “That’s the most elegant Rube-Goldberg device I’ve ever seen.”

And then maybe ask a question or three once I’ve done the hard work of doing what I was asked.

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* Anyone else always associate that phrase with butter and Thomas’s English muffins?

Intentional complications

In search of escalation, McPhee complicated the formula. If the standard profile focuses on one subject, why not, he thought, try to profile two subjects who shared some peripheral connections? That is, go from A to A + B.

~ Steven Pressfield from, Complicate the Formula

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Also, a “complication” has an interesting meaning in the world of mechanical clocks.

I complicate things quite often. I clearly see the value in pursuing complexity; it requires increased skill and attention to detail. But—and you saw this coming, right?—every complication is an invitation to dive into a rabbit-hole.

The challenge for me is two-fold. First, to always keep the number of simultaneous rabbit-hole dives restricted. Rabbit-holes seem to multiple, well, like rabbits! One, two, or three at the absolute most, is all I can truly pay deep attention to. This is hard for me to stick to. Second, to learn to exit when the passion has subsided. By definition, (my definition that is,) a rabbit-hole is a non-esssential journey. Each of the journeys improves my life and some number of them are essential, but no one rabbit-hole in particular is essential. I must always remember to exit when I’m no longer interested.

To wit: Recording 60-seconds of practice (in the context of podcasting) every day is supremely useful as it enables exploring complications. There are countless opportunities to explore with each 60-second recording session. I fell madly in lust with the practice. I worked on a few different ideas, and made improvements. …and then the Spring romance subsided, and in a rare instance of following my second self-admonishment above, I walked away from the practice. …after not even two weeks!

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What do I control?

Nothing has all of the ingredients for the emotional breakdown recipe quite like a pandemic-induced global shutdown. Lack of face-to-face socializing and general social isolation? Check. Financial uncertainty and mass unemployment? Check. Lack of regular exercise, sunlight, and access to basic necessities? Check. High uncertainty of one’s safety and security in the near future? Check. Tons of free-time to refresh news feeds five thousand times per day? Double check.

~ Mark Manson from, How to Manage Your Mental Health

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If ever there was a yawning opportunity to backslide on all the things I’ve changed in recent years—setting aside time for reflection, reading, boundaries with television and food, habits of movement and exercise, how I use the Internet (it no longer uses me,) writing, recording podcasts, … If ever there was a yawning opportunity to backslide, this current shift is it.

I still have people I care about. I make decisions about my health. I make choices using my mind by applying reason. I balance conflicting demands for my time and resources. Certainly, most of the day-to-day details of life writ large are different. But all the things which begin this paragraph remain unchanged for me.

WAIT. Why did I start with pointing out there’s a yawning opportunity to backslide, if I’m saying nothing has changed?

…because the rest of world has relaxed what it expects from me.

Think about that. If I veered and: stayed up late binge-watching Netflix, didn’t get up at the time I normally do, didn’t shower and shave when I have video calls, didn’t act professionally, etc., people would let it slide. Right? The world is facing a global crisis, so it’s ok to relax the standards.

Instead, I’m raising my standards for myself. Now, just when everyone else would be happy to give me more slack, I’m renewing my efforts; Do I really want to do this (whatever-it-is), or is there a better way I can spend my time right now? What relationships do I nurture, and which do I sever? What have I been reading? What have I been creating; does what I create build the world up or tear it down?

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Start before you are ready

It’s Einstein’s principle of relativity: all points in the universe are created equal. “There’s no need,” Patricia teaches, “to find the right starting place.”

~ Steven Pressfield from, Principles of Improv

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After considerable consideration, I remain unsure what to think of, “start before you are ready.” I agree with it, in the sense of one’s needing to avoid the opposite behavior: Never actually starting because one is busy preparing procrastinating. If Pressfield’s admonishment to, “start before you are ready,” gets you around procrastination, terrific!

However, I have a different problem: Taking on too much. At this point in my insanity, I’m desperately trying to insert an emphatic “wait, no, don’t!” in front of any urge to start any project. But my thinking becomes circular. What if all the things I’m doing—which I’m trying to avoid starting… What if all the things I’m doing are actually just me procrastinating. What if there’s some other thing that I do need to “start before I am ready,” but I just don’t see what that is yet?

Are you starting? Are you procrastinating? …how do you tell the difference?

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