[H]ad I my life to arrange over again, I would do again as I have done. Only those who have lived at the full stretch seven days a week for a long time can appreciate the full beauty of a regular recurring idleness. Moreover, I am ageing. And it is a question of age. In cases of a bounding youth and exceptional energy and desire for effort I should say unhesitatingly: Keep going, day in, day out.
~ Arnold Bennett
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Questions alone are not enough. Context matters. The mind-set that people bring to the room matters. How people came to be in the room matters. The room itself matters. The social structure of how people talk to each other matters. The action of the leader/convener matters.
~ Peter Block
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What is the relationship between creativity, resilience, and adaptability in pursuing diverse interests and entrepreneurial endeavors?
Auraiya Madrid highlights the significance of creating meaningful relationships, embracing creativity, and being intentional in her practice, offering insight into her journey as a performer, athlete, and gym owner.
I try to live my life [without regrets] because you do the best with what you know and what you have at the moment. Generally, as long as you’re doing that, that’s all you can do.
~ Auraiya Madrid 18′ 55″
Craig Constantine talks with Auraiya Madrid. They explore her dynamic approach to life as a self-described “Hobby Hoarder,” constantly embracing new projects and challenges. They discuss the transition from performer to content creator and the importance of building authentic connections with audiences. The conversation also dips into Auraiya’s experience founding Edge Movement, a parkour gym, and the valuable lessons learned. Throughout the conversation, Auraiya emphasizes the significance of creativity, diversity, and intentionality in her practice.
Creativity is definitely a skill set … anyone who doesn’t think they have it, that just means they haven’t practiced it. You can always get better at creativity.
~ Auraiya Madrid ~3′ 20″
Takeaways
Embracing Diverse Interests — Erica is a self-described “Hobby Hoarder” who enjoys exploring various activities like movement, arts and crafts, music, and more. Embracing diverse interests can lead to personal growth and creativity.
Creativity as a Skill — Erica emphasizes that creativity is a skill that can be developed with practice. It’s not limited to a select few, and anyone can become more creative through consistent effort.
Prioritizing People and Mentorship — Erica prioritizes paying her coaches well and fostering strong mentor-student relationships. She believes in the importance of investing in people’s growth and providing a positive influence in their lives.
Resources
Edge Movement — https://www.edgemvmnt.com
@auraiyamadrid on IG — https://www.instagram.com/auraiyamadrid/
(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)
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Happiness. I’m inclined to think it is something that arises spontaneously; When I create space within—meaning when I don’t fill my thoughts and actions up with stress and chaos—then sometimes I discover that happiness fills that space. But I can also tell you that it doesn’t always fill that space.
Kahneman contends that happiness and satisfaction are distinct. Happiness is a momentary experience that arises spontaneously and is fleeting. Meanwhile, satisfaction is a long-term feeling, built over time and based on achieving goals and building the kind of life you admire. On the Dec. 19 podcast “Conversations with Tyler,” hosted by economist Tyler Cowen, Kahneman explains that working toward one goal may undermine our ability to experience the other.
~ Ephrat Livni from, Daniel Kahneman explains why most people don’t want to be happy
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Perhaps I don’t understand the difference between the experience of happiness and satisfaction. I can only note that the idea of, “I am satisfied” or “I am not satisfied”, is a necessary part of feeling satisfaction. Have I ever been and felt satisfied? Yes, I’ve definitely experience that. But how is that different from happiness?
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All I insist on, and nothing else, is that you should show the whole world that you are not afraid. Be silent, if you choose; but when it is necessary, speak—and speak in such a way that people will remember it.
~ Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
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If you want these crazy ideas and these crazy stages, this crazy music, and this crazy way of thinking, there’s a chance it might come from a crazy person.
~ Kayne West
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My deepening dive into conversation will continue for the foreseeable future. I’m still in the phase of learning where, the more I read and listen (explicitly to podcasts but also just to conversations in life in general) the more I discover that I don’t know. I’m definitely in the epoch of “study the masters” and “learn the state of the art.” But still, sometimes things snap into a clear relationship to things I already know.
On the whole, you could say that if you are defending your opinions, you are not serious. Likewise, if you are trying to avoid something unpleasant inside of yourself, that is also not being serious. A great deal of our whole life is not serious. And society teaches you that. It teaches you not to be very serious – that there are all sorts of incoherent things, and there is nothing that can be done about it, and that you will only stir yourself up uselessly by being serious.
But in a dialogue you have to be serious. It is not a dialogue if you are not – not in the way I’m using the word. There is a story about Freud when he had cancer of the mouth. Somebody came up to him and wanted to talk to him about a point in psych-ology. The person said, “Perhaps I’d better not talk to you, because you’ve got this cancer which is very serious. You may not want to talk about this.” Freud’s answer was, “This cancer may be fatal, but it’s not serious.” And actually, of course, it was just a lot of cells growing. I think a great deal of what goes on in society could be described that way – that it may well be fatal, but it’s not serious.
~ David Bohm from, On Dialogue
Everything, everywhere, in every moment does not need to be serious. That’d be exhausting. But if there’s too little in my life that is serious, my behavior starts to polarize. Moments where others want to introduce some levity become to me strident and annoying. I’m finding there’s a balance—but that’s not quite the right word because I’ve not yet discovered how to actually balance this…
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Individually and collectively, men have always been the victim of their own words […] Taken too seriously, symbols have motivated and justified all the horrors of recorded history. On every level from the personal to the international, the letter kills. Theoretically we know this very well. In practice, nevertheless, we continue to commit the suicidal blunders to which we have become accustomed.
~ Aldous Huxley
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Society is not some grand abstraction, my friends. It’s just us. It’s the words we use, which are the thoughts we have, which determine the actions we take.
~ Umair Haque
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How does personal growth through creativity, movement, and coaching shape individual identity and inspire community connections?
I want to see the world and get a well-rounded view of what’s happening… You can read the news, watch the news all day, but you’re going to get a biased opinion.
~ Evan Beyer, 12’23”
Discover Evan’s desire to break free from the confines of his hometown and venture into different cultures, with Italy as his potential next destination, as he seeks to expand his perspective and embrace new challenges.
The way that I feed my creativity is actually out of curiosity… It’s like how does a doorknob work? Well, take it apart!
~ Evan Beyer, 1’54”
Evan Beyer shares his transformative journey from a rebellious teenager to a passionate movement coach. He discusses how his insatiable curiosity drives his creative pursuits, from woodworking to metalworking, and how he challenges societal stereotypes with his unconventional appearance. Evan reflects on his bold decision to leave his hometown and pursue coaching in Boston, where he found fulfillment and a deep love for teaching movement. He also expresses his aspiration to explore different cultures, particularly Italy, as he continues to seek personal and professional growth.
Living your whole life in one town is like looking at the cover of a book. You don’t know what’s in the pages until you travel.
~ Evan Beyer, a bit of wisdom heard in his childhood, 12’23”
Takeaways
Curiosity and Creativity — Evan emphasizes the importance of nurturing curiosity and allowing it to drive creative pursuits. By exploring new things and constantly seeking to understand how they work, individuals can unlock their creative potential and find inspiration in unexpected places.
The Power of Perception — Evan discusses how people often misjudge him based on his appearance, emphasizing the need to look beyond stereotypes and preconceived notions. It serves as a reminder to not judge others solely based on their outward appearance, as it may not reflect their true nature or intentions.
The Fulfillment of Coaching — Evan shares his personal journey in coaching and highlights the deep satisfaction that comes from imparting knowledge and helping others. Coaching is more than just physical training; it requires a unique set of skills and the ability to convey information effectively.
Embracing New Cultures — Evan expresses a desire to explore different cultures and gain a broader perspective of the world. His aspiration to live and work in different countries reflects the value of immersing oneself in diverse environments, embracing new experiences, and challenging personal boundaries.
The Importance of Community — Throughout the conversation, Evan acknowledges the influence and inspiration he derives from the parkour community and the support of his mentors and friends. He emphasizes the significance of fostering connections with like-minded individuals who share similar passions and can contribute to personal growth and development.
(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)
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