If you see that some aspect of your society is bad, and you want to improve it, there is only one way to do so: You have to improve people. And in order to improve people, you begin with only one thing: You can become better yourself.
~ Leo Tolstoy
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And I typed that title with trepidation. I’ve been saying forever, “You know what you call an optimist with experience? A realist.” I suppose at some point in the past, I must have had the rosy-eyed optimism of youth— but I don’t really recall that. Also at some point, I realized I had a solidly pessimistic position. I simply spent too much time dealing with broken technology; technology is always broken. I always seemed to end up having to fix it. But lately, my mood has certainly shifted. Is that because my “outlook” shifted, or is it vice versa?
The first time I saw speculative futures used to shape cities, I was standing on the work. It was an April evening years ago, and I was headed to a client meeting. I hustled from my car toward the building in question, my arms full of rolled paper, when I noticed a series of questions chalked in block letters on the sidewalk below my feet.
~ Johanna Hoffman from, What If The Best Times Are Still To Come?
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I once QM’d 2km across the Williamsburg bridge. A fellow adventurer had started the morning by buying a croissant with the express intent of not eating it. (Aside: In the French origins or Parkour, they used to say [but in French of course] “…it’s okay, head home, put your feet up, and have a croissant.” As a way of hazing each other into pushing themselves a little harder.)
We had each taken a piece of sidewalk chalk with us. When we were ready to quit (ie, stand up and walk) we planned to write our “excuse” for stopping on the bridge pathway… and then continue on in QM, moving over and beyond our excuse.
I was over the middle of the river, pretty alone, in the chilly October drizzle. And thinking about quitting. And thinking about getting out my chalk… when I crawled—inconceivably! since the pathway is like 12 feet wide—directly over a freshly chalked hashtag… I was so tired I didn’t look up to read, I just stared straight down and read it as I crawled along what had been written…
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It made me laugh. It reminded me that my friends were there too. It reminded me why we were doing the challenge. Thank you Kristen. I hope you read this.
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What strategies and practices can be employed to effectively balance physical, emotional, and mental well-being in personal and professional life?
Craig Constantine and Alex Lukens discuss movement practices and personal growth as they explore the notions of finding balance, and the importance of doing less in order to achieve more.
Doing less is okay and it’s still effective… There’s an identity attached to overdoing, overachieving, and winning.
~ Alex Lukens
Craig and Alex explore the realm of movement practices and the quest for balance. They discuss the challenges of adopting a heart-centered approach and the fear attached to doing less in personal pursuits. Alex introduces the idea of developing a maximally efficient and minimally effortful movement practice by combining the philosophies of Chinese kung fu and Judo.
Your movement practice can be maximally efficient and minimally with minimal effort as long as you put the work in and the discipline up front.
~ Alex Lukens
He draws parallels between movement practices and other disciplines, such as music, emphasizing the role of repetition, simplicity, and discipline in achieving profound results.
(more…)Many stupid things are uttered by people whose only motivation is to say something original.
~ Voltaire
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What are the primary creative and technical challenges faced in podcast production, as discussed by experienced podcasters in terms of editing, scheduling, client management, and creative mindset?
Explore the interaction of audio and video, as Craig and Jason discuss the crucial importance of nonverbal cues, the frustrations of unreliable Wi-Fi, and the irreplaceable value of face-to-face interactions in the world of podcasting.
I had that [imposter syndrome] with my clients too… They can’t start their first episode because they don’t like the sound of their voice.
~ Jason Tieri
In a captivating conversation, hosts Craig and Jason dive deep into the realm of podcasting, sharing their personal reflections and experiences. They explore the reasons behind their aversion to listening to their own work, discovering the mix of imposter syndrome and the fear of uncovering mistakes.
I’m always surprised at actually how good [my episodes] are.
~ Craig Constantine
I think I just don’t want to listen to [my own work] for a third time.
~ Jason Tieri
With a humorous touch, they discuss the perils of vocal quirks and mouth noises, shedding light on how some hosts may unintentionally overlook these aspects. They also touch upon the significance of video in podcasting, highlighting the benefits of nonverbal cues and the challenges of unreliable Wi-Fi. Ultimately, their discussion serves as a reminder of the constant learning and growth that podcasting entails.
(more…)I beg you, to have patience with everything unresolved in your heart and to try to love the questions themselves as if they were locked rooms or books written in a very foreign language. Don’t search for the answers, which could not be given to you now, because you would not be able to live them. And the point is to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer.
~ Rainer Maria Rilke
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Hedonistic adaptation ensures that I continuously cycle back and forth between, “If this isn’t nice I don’t know what is!” and rage-quitting all my self-assigned should’s. Two things help temper my intemperance: Journalling provides me with some—albeit subjective—perspective, and reading about the reality of people’s actual lives and work ethics relaxes my self-criticism.
A truer answer would have been that he was fiercely private and deeply caring. He often let other people talk, entering a conversation with a single considered sentence. He didn’t smile unless he was really pleased, and his biggest laugh was a small chuckle. His eyes would squeeze shut and his head would tip back and after he chuckled, he would look at you with delight.
~ Alison Fairbrother from, Lessons in Writing and Life from My Grandfather, E.L. Doctorow
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Without Internet cheating, I can’t name a single one of E. L. Doctorow’s works. But I have this diffuse idea that he is (was?) A Real Writer. Someone who got things written, and maybe had a few ideas worth sharing. Darn it if reading Fairbrother’s piece didn’t tug at the ‘ol heart strings, and I might have gotten something briefly stuck in the corner of one of my eyes.
But I came away with a recalibration: I now have this diffuse idea that he was A Real Writer, got things written, had a few ideas worth sharing, and it was made possible by his family and his work ethic.
(Also, maybe help this autodidact out by hitting reply and telling me one thing of Doctorow’s I must read.)
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On Castbox.fm — Justin Taylor | How to Run a Members-Only Competition
How can a members-only Parkour competition benefit both gym communities and business growth?
Find out how structured competitions drive engagement and long-term membership.
I realized: How is this benefiting me? I’m just throwing a competition for the sake of watching awesome athletes do awesome things. Which I have no problem with— that I have the West Coast Parkour championships for awesome athletes to come and push themselves. But that doesn’t push my gym, that doesn’t push my culture, that doesn’t help retain my students.
~ Justin Taylor (11:31)
The conversation explores the concept of members-only Parkour competitions designed to foster community, improve retention, and generate revenue within gyms. Unlike traditional competitions that attract elite athletes, these events focus on inclusivity, offering challenges that cater to all skill levels. Justin emphasizes the importance of creating a supportive environment where everyone has the opportunity to feel accomplished, even those who might finish last. Through tailored categories and multiple opportunities for recognition, these competitions build confidence and engagement among participants.
The discussion also highlights how such events extend their impact beyond the athletes. Parents build friendships and deepen their connections to the gym community, while participants develop personal growth, resilience, and teamwork skills. By incorporating preparatory challenges in regular classes and promoting participation through a structured framework, gyms can create a sustainable model that supports both personal and professional growth for all involved.
Takeaways
Running members-only competitions — A gym-focused approach encourages participation and builds confidence among members.
Avoiding participation trophies — Alternative reward structures can ensure every participant feels valued without diminishing achievement.
Strengthening community bonds — Competitions create opportunities for parents and students to connect socially.
Improving retention — Regular, inclusive events keep members engaged and returning to the gym.
Introducing competition circuits — Successful local competitions can serve as a gateway to regional or national circuits.
Building personal growth — Challenges in competitions can foster resilience, sportsmanship, and overcoming fears.
Focusing on inclusivity — Age-specific and skill-level-based categories ensure every participant has a fair chance to succeed.
Resources
Firestorm Freerunning & Acrobatics — A series of Parkour gyms offering classes and competitions.
West Coast Parkour Championships — A competition series for athletes of all ages and skill levels.
Parkour Professor — Instagram profile for consulting and updates related to Parkour.
FirestormFreerunning@gmail.com — Contact for inquiries and information.
(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)
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After a long conversation, stop and try to remember what you have just discussed. Don’t be surprised if many things, sometimes even everything you have discussed, were meaningless, empty, and trivial, and sometimes even bad.
~ Leo Tolstoy
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Never, in peace or war, commit your virtue or your happiness to the future. Happy work is best done by the man who takes his long-term plans somewhat lightly and works from moment to moment… the present is the only time in which any duty can be done or any grace received.
~ C.S. Lewis
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