The aim of an argument, or of a discussion, should not be victory but progress.
~ Karl Popper
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The aim of an argument →
Not in our power →
And who can never be hindered? The man who sets his desire on nothing that is not his own. And what are those things that are not our own? Those that are not in our power, either to have or not to have, or to have them of a particular nature, or under specific conditions. Our body, therefore, is not our own, its parts are not our own, and our property is not our own. So if you become attached to any of these as your own, you will be punished, as he deserves to be who sets his desire on what is not his own.
~ Epictetus
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New work →
Aside from this blog, here’s some other new work I’ve done in the past week:
- Podcaster Community: How hard can it be, with Kate Field. Leading, with Johanna Patrice Hagarty. Persistence, with Bruce Devereu. Circumspection, with Carole Blueweiss.
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For all who come →
Does the road wind uphill all the way?
~ Christina Rossetti
Yes, to the very end.
Will the day’s journey take the whole long day?
From morn to night, my friend.
Shall I find comfort, travel-sore and weak?
Of labour you shall find the sum.
Will there be beds for me and all who seek?
Yea, beds for all who come.
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Evaporation →
This was a sample data set from 1996 through mid-2019, but maybe the most shocking number is the 2018 one: after just a year, one in every sixteen links from the Times’ website to an external source had stopped working. The Times already has an attribution problem; this just makes it worse. The researchers point out that URLs within U.S. Supreme Court opinions fare even worse, with about half of links not working as originally intended.
~ Nick Heer from, The Collective and Rotting Hallucination That Is the Internet – Pixel Envy
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I’m not picking on the Times nor the Supreme Court, link rot is everywhere. Heer does a nice job of laying out what’s really going on; it’s not just that the links are ceasing to work, but also that the actual contents of digital stuff is changing. (And that’s all in addition to problems with data corruption and degradation.) However, his article is really about highlighting some of the neat things people are doing to preserve things. It’s worth clicking through just for the anecdote about how “Nookd” curiously appears in one edition of War and Peace.
And on the other hand, we’re all painfully aware that our lives are becoming more public and we’re losing our privacy. If you put it anywhere on the Internet, we can generalize and assume it’s eventually going to become public. In some cases, it’d be exactly what we want for things to rot— or maybe it’d be better to say:
In some cases, it’d be exactly what we want for things on the Internet to evaporate.
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True freedom →
And say while you are training yourself day after day, as you do here, not that you are pursuing philosophy (to claim that title would surely be pretentious), but that you are providing for your emancipation. For this is true freedom.
~ Epictetus
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Merlin Mann →
Some time around 2005—if memory serves, which it probably doesn’t—I discovered the work and blogging of Merlin Mann. Back then, he was neck-deep in a project called 43 Folders: Time, Attention, and Creative Work. It’s self-described as, “[a] website about finding the time and attention to do your best creative work.” The first post there is dated 2004, and the last is gloriously frozen in place from 2011.
There are so many things to mention about that project. Ahhhhhhh, the halcyon days when we all thought “website” was a cool word. (I’m now in the “web site” encampment.) Mann is the guy who, for better [my opinion] or worse [many others’ option], brought “inbox zero” to everyone’s awareness. He also spent years experimenting with processes, and I went on a magical, multi-year journey experimenting with something called the “hipster PDA.” If forced to choose, I’d say Mann is the guy who most greatly influenced my process thinking.
There’s a phrase in cooking, mise en place, meaning to have everything in its proper place before starting. (The classic example of failure in this regard is to be half-way through making something only to realize you’re missing an ingredient and having to throw away the food.)
Well Mann is the guy who—in my opinion—has done the most to improve processes for knowledge workers and creative people. I’m not sure if he’s ever said it explicitly, but a huge part of what he did was to elevate knowledge workers and creatives by cultivating a mise en place mindset.
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Towards the pebbled shore →
Like as the waves make towards the pebbled shore,
~ William Shakespeare
So do our minutes hasten to their end;
Each changing place with that which goes before,
In sequent toil all forwards do content.
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Organic →
But then I realized a larger, unsettling truth: Much of the food grown in this country isn’t the medicine it should—or used—to be. We’re collectively getting sicker, not healthier. And for others to have the same healing I was privileged to experience; we must start with the soil.
As a man named J.I. Rodale once said:
“Healthy Soil = Healthy Food = Healthy People.”
~ Jeff Tkach from, Our Healing Begins in the Soil – Rodale Institute
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When you’re growing up, you don’t really notice where you are doing it. Your parents, (or legal guardian(s) or perhaps even the State,) chose where you were planted. Bereshith, you’re planted in a very tiny space, then gradually moved to progressively larger spaces with fewer physical boundaries. Until one day you realize there’s basically no one left telling you what to do nor where to do it. If you never really thought about it, and nothing forced you to move, you’re probably still close to that original very tiny space, and probably still close to the progressively larger spaces too.
Then one day—I really do hope—you start to wonder what’s happened before, in the wherever you are now. I’ve a litany of, “woa, that’s cool!” historical bits and pieces found in my surrounds. But that the idea of “organic”—all of it, the word, the principles, everything—originated with one guy, within walking distance of my home, that’s sort of amazing. Rodale, (the family members, and the eponymous companies,) have done a lot—some good, some bad—but I find it unsurprising they did it here, in the Lehigh Valley. There’s a lot this area has going for it.
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Flow with Claudia Velandia →
How does the creative process of hosting a podcast foster meaningful connections and insights for both the host and listeners?
The exchange examines the balance between preparation and spontaneity in meaningful dialogue.
The intention of the podcast was always just listening to flow. Let’s allow the creativity to flow through us. So now sometimes when we are so focused on our mind about what is next, what’s going to be said next, and planning ahead, we close ourselves to the possibility of allowing for the insights that can come from a deeper place, more wisdom that can bring more light to the conversation.
~ Claudia Velandia (1:46)
The conversation explores the creative dynamics of podcasting, emphasizing the role of flow and intentionality. Claudia describes how her podcast began as a way to capture the insightful, spontaneous conversations she shared with friends. Over time, the podcast evolved to include guests whose journeys provide value to listeners. She reflects on the challenges of staying present and resisting the urge to overly plan, as such planning can limit the emergence of deeper insights and wisdom.
Claudia shares how setting intentions before recording helps create an open and authentic environment. She discusses how mindfulness practices, such as meditating and grounding oneself, foster connection and creativity. The discussion also touches on broader themes of success, which Claudia defines as staying aligned with her purpose and enjoying the process. She emphasizes that even a single listener connecting with the podcast’s message makes the effort worthwhile, reinforcing her commitment to creating meaningful content.
Takeaways
The importance of flow in conversations — Allowing spontaneity and creativity to emerge can lead to deeper insights.
The role of intentionality — Setting clear intentions shapes the tone and outcome of interactions.
Staying present — Being mindful during a conversation creates a stronger connection with guests.
Evolving creative projects — Starting with personal inspiration can lead to broader engagement and impact.
Redefining success — Success can be measured by alignment with one’s values rather than external metrics.
Mindfulness practices — Techniques like meditation help in grounding and setting the stage for meaningful work.
The power of small audiences — Even reaching a single person meaningfully validates the effort of creation.
Resources
Wake Up: How to Get Out of Your Mind, Stop Living on Autopilot, and Start Choosing Your Best Life — A book written by the guest that reflects her approach to intentional living and personal development.
The Art of Living Podcast — The guest’s podcast exploring meaningful conversations and personal growth.
(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)
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