The acquisition of riches has been for many men, not an end, but a change, of troubles.
~ Epicurus
slip:4a780.
Change of troubles →
Perspectives with Andy Day →
How does photography intersect with movement and identity, and what responsibilities and privileges come with its practice?
Parkour and photography share a symbiotic relationship in challenging barriers and fostering connection.
Photographing parkour in these spaces was giving these monuments kind of new narratives and demonstrating that beyond the history, there is the potential to make something new that brings people together.
~ Andy Day (6:45)
The conversation explores the interplay between photography, movement, and identity, particularly through the lens of parkour. Topics include how photography informs the practice of parkour and vice versa, the evolution of creative expression in urban landscapes, and the role of privilege and access in documenting and engaging with spaces. The discussion emphasizes the ability of photography to give new narratives to contentious historical monuments and to encapsulate communal experiences.
The conversation also addresses broader societal issues, such as the responsibilities that come with privilege in accessing spaces and creating narratives. Reflecting on the dynamics of representation, Andy and Craig go into how capturing and sharing images contributes to personal and collective identity. The dialogue concludes with thoughts on being both part of and separate from a community, offering insights into the role of an observer who participates critically.
Takeaways
Photography and movement — A reciprocal relationship that fosters exploration and understanding of spaces.
Historical monuments and narratives — Controversial monuments can be reimagined through photography and parkour.
Privilege in representation — Awareness of privilege is crucial in both movement and photography.
Role of photography — A tool for identity construction and validating effort within communal contexts.
Community and critical distance — Being both part of and apart from a community provides a unique perspective.
Intersection of arts and culture — Parkour and photography converge to challenge barriers and unite diverse groups.
Evolution of practice — Growth in creative endeavors often involves cycles of learning and unlearning.
Resources
Andy Day’s website — Features articles and photographs detailing various journeys and projects.
Zofia Reych’s book, Born to Climb — Explores the cultural history of climbing.
Photographs and articles on former Yugoslavia’s war monuments — Provides insights into the project’s journeys and discoveries.
(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)
ɕ
Love →
The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.
~ G. K. Chesterton
slip:4a778.
Via negativa →
Like nature, which removes mistakes to progress, you can remove things to not only survive but thrive. (This is one of the ways we can apply via negativa, an important mental model.)
~ Shane Parrish from, Friction
slip:4ufowa2.
It’s a semi-interesting, but short, article. But this bit about via negativa made me down-shift. Because I’d never heard that little latin phrase. I wrote a blog post about how not to mess up endings of conversations… and then went directly to a bookmark on that Parrish article and realized that via negativa was exactly what I had just been writing about.
Via negativa is simply the idea of improving by studying what one should not do. Addition by subtracting one might even say.
ɕ
Maggie Spaloss: Coaching Journey, Transitions, and Consulting →
How does the experience of transitioning between different roles—such as coach, business consultant, and relationship coach—shape perspectives on community, creativity, and personal fulfillment?
For Maggie Spaloss, transitioning from coaching parkour into coaching relationships and intimacy felt like a natural progression. She discusses her connection parkour, and how it’s evolved from mom, to coach, to business consultant. Maggie shares her thoughts on coaching, and her transition into relationship and intimacy coaching. She describes her work on Kiskeya Athletics, and how she stays passionate about parkour and giving back to the community.
I do want to also say, as a mom, that I think I can appreciate from a different perspective these kids whose lives were really very deeply impacted by parkour. Where they were able to develop, some self confidence, and some sort of identity with kind of a tribe they could relate to.
~ Maggie Spaloss (30:00)
Maggie Spaloss is a coach, project manager and mover. She has over 10 years of coaching experience including certifications as a personal trainer, parkour instructor, behavioral change specialist and relationship coach. Maggie is also project manager for Kiskeya Athletics, a multi-sport facility currently under construction in South Texas. Maggie splits her time between managing the development of Kiskeya Athletics and helping people build stronger relationships and deeper intimacy.
The conversation explores the journey from parkour coaching to relationship and intimacy consulting, reflecting on the influence of embodiment and community. Maggie discusses how her experience in parkour, from her origin story to coaching and gym management, shaped her ability to foster connections and build supportive environments. A recurring theme is the importance of adapting to physical and mental challenges, particularly as they evolve with age.
Another focus is the creative and collaborative aspects of parkour, both in training and in broader projects like gym design and event planning. The discussion highlights the shared obstacles within parkour as a metaphor for building camaraderie and fostering vulnerability. Maggie also touches on the transition from personal training to a more holistic, life-oriented coaching approach, emphasizing the importance of balancing personal passion with professional responsibilities.
Takeaways
Embodiment in practice — The guest emphasizes the value of being in tune with the body to guide decisions and uncover limiting beliefs.
The transformative power of community — Parkour’s tight-knit culture fosters vulnerability and mutual support.
Creativity in movement — Training parkour is described as an inherently creative act, akin to art.
Adapting with age — Challenges with physical limitations prompt a recalibration of expectations and approaches to training.
Balancing roles — Navigating multiple professional identities offers insights into personal fulfillment.
Integrating passions — A unified approach can merge interests in movement and relationship coaching.
Parkour’s broader potential — Expanding the sport’s reach through innovative projects like the Kiskeya facility.
Resources
Maggie Spaloss’s web site and @cultivate_movement on Instagram
Kiskeya Athletics — A planned parkour and athletic facility in South Texas, incorporating innovative design and community programs.
Lorena Abreu @lorenaparkour — Parkour athlete and collaborator on the Kiskeya project.
Unf*ck your brain — Podcast mentioned
Brandon Douglass — Designer of the parkour gym layout for the Kiskeya facility.
Art of Retreat — A gathering for parkour professionals and enthusiasts, instrumental in knowledge-sharing.
NASM Certification — The certification pursued by the guest for personal training expertise.
(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)
ɕ
Breakfast →
All happiness depends on a leisurely breakfast.
~ John Gunther
slip:4a779.
Obstacles →
Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off the goal.
~ Henry Ford
slip:4a777.
That’s a moiré →
“You don’t need [machine learning,]” Bryan said. “What you need is inverse Fast Fourier Transform.”
~ “Shift Happens” from, «https://www.getrevue.co/profile/shift-happens/issues/moire-no-more-688319»
I stumbled over a blog post, containing a pull-quote where someone mentioned inverse Fast Fourier Transform. (A mathematician named Fourier invented a fast way to do a certain sort of transformation that comes up a lot in science; It’s called a Fast Fourier Transform. There’s also a way to undo that transformation, called “the inverse”. Thus, Fast Fourier Transformations (FFT) and inverse FFT. Well, FFT/IFFT is the first thing I can recall that I could not understand. It was shocking. Every other thing I’d ever encountered was easy. But there I was, 20-some-years-old, in graduate school, and I encountered something that was beyond me. I think I had it sorted about 6 times and every time, the next morning, upon waking, it had fallen out of my head. Holy inappropriately long parentheticals, Batman!)
Anyway. Blog post. IFFTs. Time machine to the early 90s. Emotional vertigo.
…and then I clicked thru to the magnificent post which is brilliant. And then I realized the by-line was, “Shift Happens.” o_O This entire thing. I’m in nerd heaven.
ɕ
PS: Sorry, what? Oh, you read my title, heard the Italian word, “amore,” and wanted a, That’s Amore! pun? Okay, here: When an eel climbs a ramp to eat squid from a clamp… Yes. Really.
Far more control →
We have far more control in our lives than many embrace. We create or co-create our experiences in life, and each day is a new opportunity to be fully engaged in the present moment. It’s the present moment where glimpses of our potential are revealed and expressed. A living masterpiece is not drawn on a canvas or etched in stone or inked by pen. It’s the pursuit and expresssion of applied insight and wisdom.
~ Michael Gervais
slip:4a775.
Control →
We have far more control in our lives than many embrace. We create or co-create our experiences in life, and each day is a new opportunity to be fully engaged in the present moment. It’s the present moment where glimpses of our potential are revealed and expressed. A living masterpiece is not drawn on a canvas or etched in stone or inked by pen. It’s the pursuit and expresssion of applied insight and wisdom.
~ Michael Gervais
slip:4a775.
I disagree with, “[w]e have far more control…” because clearly we actually have no—absolutely no—control. If that strikes you, I suggest you pause. Imagine something you have control of. Now imagine the scenario where your control is taken away. I’m not trying to scare you; there’s nothing here you don’t already know. All of the “control” is fleeting; that’s not actually control. That an illusion of control.
If I could change that quote I’d just quibble with that first, “control,” and suggest it be changed to “choice.” Because the rest of that quote is frickin’ powerful. Literally every person has choices. For me, my “worst case” choices are quite rosy. (“First World Problems” is the meme.) There are certainly people who are literally only able to choose among various evils.
The illusion of control is toxic. But the reality of choice is empowering.
ɕ