Ignore advice to simply follow your intuition or gut without thinking through whether the course is likely to be fruitful and rewarding.
~ Steven Pinker
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Thinking through →
Gone already?! →
I just want to say that sometimes the things we do online have outsized consequences in the real world. It’s easy to forget that there are real people behind every screen. I forget about that almost every day but better people than me provide some good reminders.
~ Gabriel Weatherhead from, «http://www.macdrifter.com/2021/09/thank-you-this-will-be-rough.html»
My title refers to the fact that it’s only been four months, and this link has already rotted. In September 2021 I marked this for later reading, (note the /2021/09/ in that URL,) and I only just got around to reading it. I read it as a locally-cached copy in my read-later software, and then realized the link was dead when I tried to write this blog post… :(
I’m so sorry. It was a nice piece about how he had reread some Vonnegut over the pandemic year and… and… it’s already gone?!
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Discipline →
Everyone wants freedom. We want to be physically free and mentally free. We want to be financially free and we want more free time. But where does that freedom come from? How do we get it? The answer is the opposite of freedom. The answer is discipline. You want more free time? Follow a more disciplined time-management system. You want financial freedom? Implement long-term financial discipline in your life. Do you want to be physically free to move how you want, and to be free from many health issues caused by poor lifestyle choices? Then you have to have the discipline to eat healthy food and consistently work out. We all want freedom. Discipline is the only way to get it.
~ Jocko Willink
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Everything is figure-out-able →
No matter what challenge or obstacle you face, whether it’s personal, professional, or global, there’s a path ahead. It’s all figure-out-able. you’ll find a way or make a way, if you’re willing to be relentless, stay nimble, and keep taking action. It’s especially useful to remember when things go wrong, because rather than wasting time or energy on the problem, you shift immediately to brainstorming solutions.
~ Marie Forleo
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Information loss →
Our lack of perfect information about the world gives rise to all of probability theory, and its usefulness. We know now that the future is inherently unpredictable because not all variables can be known and even the smallest error imaginable in our data very quickly throws off our predictions. The best we can do is estimate the future by generating realistic, useful probabilities.
~ Shane Parrish from, The Value of Probabilistic Thinking
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It’s a good article—of course, why would I link you to something I think you should not read?
To be fair, I skimmed it. But all I could think about was this one graduate course I took on Chaos Theory. It sounds like it should be a Star Trek episode. (Star Trek: The Next Generation was in its initial airing at the time.) But it was really an eye-opening class. Here’s this simple idea, called Chaos. And it explains a whole lot of how the universe works. Over-simplified, Chaos is when it is not possible to predict the future state of a system beyond some short timeframe. Somehow, information about the system is lost as time moves forward. (For example, this physical system of a pendulum, hanging from a pendulum… how hard could that be?)
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Networking →
In creative fields, I think networking actually hurts you in most cases. Don’t waste your time socializing with people who you think can help you. Just get better, and opportunities will naturally present themselves once you deserve them. Only focus on things within your control. And if you don’t know what those things are, find someone who can tell you. Don’t network, just work.
~ Whitney Cummings
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Flow with Minh Vu Ngok →
How does one’s personal approach to movement and parkour evolve over time, balancing playfulness, training, and personal growth?
This conversation explores the evolution of a 15-year parkour practice and its impact on personal growth.
In the beginning, I used to do a lot of strength training and conditioning, like every week, or every other day. And now it’s not part of my routine anymore. Because I feel like I’ve reached a point where my strength is sufficient for the things I want to do.
~ Minh Vu Ngok (5:57)
The conversation begins with reflections on parkour practice, focusing on how approaches to movement evolve with time and experience. Early years are marked by goal-oriented training, while later stages emphasize enjoyment and personal expression through movement. Minh discusses revisiting older skills and overcoming mental barriers that arise from fear or lack of practice.
Teaching parkour is another prominent topic, including the cultural perceptions of parkour among beginners and the comprehensive programs offered by the parkour community. Minh highlights the flexibility of parkour as both a structured training activity and a broader lifestyle choice. Additionally, the balance between maintaining physical readiness and the joy of movement is a recurring theme, underscoring the idea that one earns the freedom to be relaxed and playful through disciplined preparation.
Takeaways
Balancing play and discipline — Physical preparation allows for relaxed and playful movement.
Cultural aspects of parkour — Parkour transcends a typical sport, encompassing community and lifestyle.
Evolving training goals — Training transitions from skill acquisition to sustaining fitness and joy.
Flexibility in participation — Parkour can be a casual hobby or an immersive lifestyle.
Teaching approaches — Coaches facilitate both foundational skills and deeper cultural connections.
Seasonal and personal rhythms — Energy levels and interests influence training patterns.
Resources
ParkourOne — A parkour coaching organization in Berlin offering training for various levels.
(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)
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Philosophy with Galo Alfredo Naranjo →
How does one integrate philosophical and practical approaches to movement and physicality in a meaningful and sustainable way?
This conversation explores the deeper connections between philosophy and movement in everyday life.
How do we mitigate injuries? How do you get in tune with your body, right? Versus just like, Hey, Coach, what am I doing today?
~ Galo Alfredo Naranjo (12:18)
The conversation focuses on integrating philosophy into movement and how visual thinking can aid in understanding and conveying ideas. Galo shares their journey from running a movement studio to adapting practices during the pandemic by leveraging visuals and online tools. He emphasize using philosophy to create connections and encourage meaningful practices beyond mere physical routines.
Additionally, the challenges of coaching athletes and fostering long-term habits are discussed. This includes balancing the structured training needed for athletic improvement with a sense of play to maintain engagement. The conversation also reflects on the deeper intentions behind movement and the importance of preparing individuals to sustain their practice independently after their formal athletic training ends.
Takeaways
Philosophy in movement — Embodying ideas through movement rather than merely discussing them.
Visual thinking in practice — Using visuals to explore and connect abstract concepts with tangible activities.
Balancing structure and play — Navigating between regimented training and unstructured exploration to sustain engagement.
Long-term impact of coaching — Helping individuals create sustainable practices beyond the athletic or structured training environment.
Connecting through shared values — Leveraging online platforms to build communities around similar philosophies and practices.
Intentionality in training — The importance of purpose behind physical activities for deeper engagement and understanding.
Resources
Motus Made website — A platform for newsletters and visuals related to movement and philosophy.
Ido Portal — A movement teacher whose philosophies influenced the discussion on content versus container in training.
Visualize Value by Jack Butcher — A program that inspired the creation of visuals for understanding abstract concepts.
(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)
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Deluding oneself →
Find a new topic or area or concern that has a small number of people that you respect behind it, but which has not become a culture-wide fad or conventional wisdom. If it’s already common knowledge, it’s probably too late to make a major contribution. If you’re the only one excited, you may be deluding yourself.
~ Steven Pinker
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Looping and decay →
In contrast to dramatically slowing a recording down and extending its length, artists have also explored the possibilities of repeating short recordings over and over. The history of looping in modern composing is a story of the accidental beauty of technological imperfection and decay.
~ Ahmed Kabil from, Transmissions from the Ambient Frontier
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It’s worth the click just for the first photo, which has nothing directly to do with sounds nor music. And then further down you get a photo of a tape loop—the physical device that can play a section of tape forever without interruption. Along the way is a mention of sound art created as very-old [magnetic] audio tape sheds it’s coating. Plus 5 other sound-related shifts in perspective. I read this piece over and over, as if it were itself a tape loop. I see—hear?—several magnificent halls of exploration… which I’m running away from because I do not. need. another. hobby. New genres of music to explore, a full 24hrs [uninterrupted] that I could spend on Beethoven’s 9th, …
I’m a sucker for things which gift me with any shift of perspective. That’s a big part of why I love conversation: Every encounter with another mind is ripe with opportunity for my own growth.
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