But does it work? →

Published June 2  ·  All posts on Jun 2

However, the amount of discomfort and whether people agree to the possibility in the first place are essential to ethical practice. I contend that sayings like ‘It has to get worse before it gets better’ often gloss over the reality that some meditations and therapies simply don’t work for everyone, while others are actively harmful. So, when is getting worse a sign that ‘the process’ is working, and when is it an indicator that the approach is unhelpful or even harmful?

~ Nicholas Van Dam, from In therapy or meditation, is it normal to feel worse at first?

slip:4upyie21.

I had bookmarked this a while back after reading it. I was reminded of it as I sat in a warm patch of sun meditating this morning. For me, the sort of meditation I practice—every day, as best I can—is absolutely helpful.

ɕ

A great place to start →

Published June 1  ·  All posts on Jun 1

The spot of the “QM Flow” session that I taught with Evan the weekend past at the Move NYC event. Sometimes I just take pictures where nothing is happening… yet.

ɕ

Petty hazards →

Published May 31  ·  All posts on May 31  ·  

Anybody can rise to meet a crisis and face a crushing tragedy with courage, but to meet the petty hazards of the day with a laugh—I really think that requires spirit.

~ Jean Webster

slip:4a1536.

Decisions →

Published May 30  ·  All posts on May 30

I spend far too much time “working” inside the virtual world. When I get a chance (as I just did) to go do stuff entirely in the real-world, with scarcely a moment to check in online, I end up with piles of backlogged “work.” It’s at this point that I try to pare things down. I’d love to do zero computer work—but that’s not happening while my faculties hold out. Until then, I’ll continue to trim and optimize.

ɕ

Clear the decks →

Published May 29  ·  All posts on May 29

As I’m getting ready for a road trip, I’m finishing up as many things as I can. I always say I want to spend less time at my computer. That will definitely be the case for the next five days. Yes, please.

ɕ

Right. In. My. Face. →

Published May 28  ·  All posts on May 28

I keep a board with sticky-notes. Right at eye level, right next to my most-common workspace. What’s the simplest thing that could possibly work? In this case it’s rows for day-of-the week, and date at the top. Then I just stick notes for rocks where they need to be. (The metaphor is that of putting rocks and sand into a glass jar… put big rocks in first. Also sometimes phrased as, “Eat the toad first.”)

This really works well for me. Every time I see the board I think: Am I actually doing the right thing?

ɕ

Knowledge in →

Published May 27  ·  All posts on May 27

I spend a lot of time reading—frankly, as much time as I can sequester for it. I’ve read several of Seneca’s letters, randomly over the years. A while back I bought this delightful edition from Chicago Press and I’m beginning at the beginning. (There are marks in the book where I’ve already used it for referring to some of the letters.) What knowledge are you putting into your mind?

ɕ

The view is often the same →

Published May 26  ·  All posts on May 26

The view, when I’m doing my work is quite often a notebook and a computer. I try to make it be outside as much as I can too. Show-your-work photos are booooooring, I know. But capturing and gestating my thoughts, and then tapping on a keyboard. That’s mostly what I do.

ɕ

It’s all interconnected now →

Published May 25  ·  All posts on May 25

I know tonight’s talk is supposed to be about decaying tech platforms, but I want to start by talking about nurses.

~ Cory Doctorow, from Pluralistic: With Great Power Came No Responsibility

slip:4upuuu1.

Interconnection can be good. But generally, in the tech industry these days, it’s not. Interconnection is used against us.

ɕ

Which tools you pay for →

Published May 24  ·  All posts on May 24  ·  

In the most-recent Podcaster Community campfire we got to talking about what tools and services are we currently paying for as part of podcasting. So today I put up a simple post in a few places to ask just that.

It’s one thing to talk about what we prefer, it’s another for us to have voted with our dollars. Me?

  • Hindenburg Pro
  • Zencastr (for recording podcasts)
  • Zoom (for everything except recording podcasts)
  • Vimeo (for hosting streaming video for the Podcaster Community)
  • Discourse (for the Podcaster Community forum)
  • Calendly (for scheduling, integrated with all the complexity of my personal calendar)
  • Otter.ai (for all the various audio I need to transcribe— pod recordings via Zencastr come with a transcript)
  • Podmatch.com

ɕ