Day 85/100 – qm

Published October 25, 2017  ·  All posts on Oct 25  ·  

This entry is part 88 of 104 in the series 100 Days of Training (2017)

Taking advantage of the beautiful weather! Lots of easy variations while working on moving mindfully to find “the infinite in the moment”; Noticing the warmth of the sun, the cool breeze, the texture of the court, the weight distribution on various parts of the hands, relaxing…

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The spiritual disciplines: solitude and silence

Published October 24, 2017  ·  All posts on Oct 24  ·  

The need for silence and solitude obviously seems incredibly relevant to the over-convenienced citizens of the modern world who feel saturated with the ceaseless noise that issues from every corner of their lives. But as mentioned at the start, men have in fact craved these states for thousands of years, long before anything digital, or electronic, or urban ever existed.

What accounts for the timeless, seemingly universal appeal of quiet seclusion?

~ Brett McKay from The Spiritual Disciplines: Solitude and Silence | The Art of Manliness The Art of Manliness

slip:4uaosi2.

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Day 83/100 – ru[i]n

Published October 23, 2017  ·  All posts on Oct 23  ·  

This entry is part 86 of 104 in the series 100 Days of Training (2017)

Captain Sweaty modeling the latest Bullets and matching ‘hard work’ colored t-shirt. Imagine what I could accomplish if I could master the psychology of eating! 2 steps forward, 1.9 steps backwards. every. damn. day. :/

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Day 82/100 – lost!

Published October 22, 2017  ·  All posts on Oct 22  ·  

This entry is part 85 of 104 in the series 100 Days of Training (2017)

Hiding from dogs again today. Currently in a rematch with Maya, who found me *easily* a couple weeks ago. Today I’ve gone half a mile, took a detour thru a port-a-potty, then across a bunch of open grass, over a stream… and found this bench. And LTE cell coverage. #winning (so far) Safe money is on Maya and her professional nose.

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I strive to be a Stoic

Published October 20, 2017  ·  All posts on Oct 20  ·  

“When cynicism becomes the default language, playfulness and invention become impossible. Cynicism scours through a culture like bleach, wiping out millions of small, seedling ideas. Cynicism means your automatic answer becomes ‘No.’ Cynicism means you presume everything will end in disappointment.”

Caitlin Moran on Fighting the Cowardice of Cynicism – The Marginalian

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I am not a Cynic. (…but 10 years ago, I think I was well on my way to becoming one.)

I strive to be a Stoic.

Everyone, (that I’ve ever asked for a definition,) uses the adjective “stoic” to mean: unfeeling, uncaring, showing no emotion. While it’s true that words mean whatever we all agree they mean, in the case of “stoic” that definition is a drastic change of focus from what the Stoics (a group of Philosophers both ancient and modern) are doing and thinking.

Can we back up a layer to find some common ground?

You’d probably be ok with this definition:

“stoic: adj. Of, or relating to, the school of philosophy, Stoicism, founded by Zeno, …”

…but then everyone seems to rush off to this definition of Stoicism:

“[… Zeno,] who taught that people should be free from passion, unmoved by joy or grief, and submit without complaint to unavoidable necessity.”

…and that’s where I disagree.

That’s a poor definition, because Stoics (the Philosophers) do feel, do care and do show emotion. In fact, one of the key points of Stoicism is to feel, care and show emotion in appropriate ways and to appropriate degrees. Stoics grieve, express joy, etc. They also understand the difference between things within and without their control. Described that way, doesn’t Stoicism sound pretty sane?

Now, I am a Philosopher, by definition, because I try to apply Philosophy to my daily life. But, I am not a teacher of Philosophy.

My hope?

That I’ve piqued your interest enough that you’ll go read this “Stoicism 101” about how to use the Stoic Philosophy today, to improve your life:

Stoicism 101 | How to Be a Stoic

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The Guard

Published October 15, 2017  ·  All posts on Oct 15

The Old Guard does not tell the story of when no one talked to each other for a week because of a disagreement over architecture. They don’t talk about those long 72 hours where if funding didn’t show up, they were done. They don’t tell these stories because they hurt to tell, they are shitty awful stories, but they are as important as the myths because they resulted in the construction of trust within the team. If we can get through that; we can get through anything.

~ Rands from, The Guard – Rands in Repose

slip:4uraai10.

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Day 74/100 – pour etre utile

Published October 14, 2017  ·  All posts on Oct 14  ·  

This entry is part 77 of 104 in the series 100 Days of Training (2017)

helped (ie watched) my cousin shuffle wine among several carboys (tasting each batch of course) then moved some wood pellets. Zach might have made steak fajitas for lunch using various peppers our wives grew in the gardens… yeah, life’s rough.

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