We are not privy to the stories behind people’s actions, so we should be patient with others and suspend judgement of them, recognizing the limits of our understanding.
~ Epictetus
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Suspend judgement →
Self-esteem box →
Today, two thoughts popped into my head in rapid suggestion: “Self-esteem box,” and “I’ve never pull-quoted Movers Mindset.”
Craig: So for me it’s I know if I go for a walk that’s almost, not always, almost always enough to make it so I can go back into the cave of ugliness and get back to work kind of thing. So what are some things that will help you turn that corner, brighten you up or energize you?
~ Brandee Laird from 46’30”, https://moversmindset.com/72
Brandee: Yeah, that’s a great question, because I do get very dark moods pretty often actually, because with compassion comes the pain of caring so much about all these people and all this situation, it feels very futile a lot of times, like what can I do to change this. Yeah, I get there and I have a few tactics, I basically build protocols for myself for when I get in those moods. So one of the first things I go to is my self-esteem box.
Craig: This sounds like a good idea.
Brandee: And my self-esteem box is digital, it’s a digital self-esteem box and what I have done, is I have taken screenshots and copy/pasted and just dumped in all kinds of nice things that people have said, either to me or about me over the years.
So I have this file that is just full of gratitude and compliments and just stuff that I have had to read over and over and over in order to actually believe it. So that’s actually more like last resort is the self-esteem box. If nothing else works, open the self-esteem box, look through here.
Craig: In case of emergency, break glass, right?
Brandee: Totally. Totally. So that’s something I think everyone could and should do that. I guess I’ve never really told anyone about that. But it’s a nice thing.
Craig: I think that’s a really good tactic. People talk about doing gratitude journaling, but the gratitude journaling. I mean, I know that you know what it is, but gratitude journaling is a process which you have to execute on the spot when you feel like you’re having a bad mood. But the idea of having a self-esteem box is a clever one.
Brandee: Why, thank you.
I think these two thoughts popped into my head as the photo-frame on my wall changed. One of the smartest things I’ve ever done is set up a digital photo-frame. I email it photos of things—you know, all those digital photos you never do anything with. :)
Anyway. I love love LOVE my photo-frame. It’s chock full of hundreds of great photos. It’s not quite a self-esteem box. But it generally has the same effect. Every single time I glance at it it makes me smile.
Meanwhile, ever since I had that conversation with Brandee, (in September 2019,) I’ve been toying with the idea of creating a self-esteem box. I’m not quite sure where to put it [digitally] though; Also, I really do not need to make up yet another system for myself for organizing and storing things.
But the idea keeps calling to me.
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Fine tuned indeed →
It seems almost paranormal, but I think it’s just more of nature’s evolutionary fine-tuning. Being such social mammals, it would make sense for us to have an uncanny sensitivity for detecting, another person’s sentiments toward us, even when they’re not advertising them.
~ David Cain from, How to Get Rich in the Kindness Economy
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In recent years I’ve elevated my perception of the subtleties of interpersonal communication—everything beyond the spoken word—from one of those, “I don’t know how I do that,” skills to be something I explicitly practice and notice in others. This is one of the things which makes great actors and actresses: Their ability to produce all the subtleties makes them feel very real to the majority of people who do not detect subtleties consciously. (They of course feel very real to me too. I’m saying I now better understand why and what cues are causing me to feel that way.) This is a super-power. Once you are reasonably competent at detecting what is affecting you, you can then use that information intentionally.
There’s been an enormous amount of discussion recently about facial expression, masks, posture, and intention. In effect, a huge number of people are getting a crash master-course in using and detecting all this subtlety.
I think that bodes well for all of us.
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Stretched out before me →
I was aching for what came next. I felt my whole life stretched out before me like an invisible buffet. I turned toward my future, mouth watering.
~ Amy Poehler from, Take Your Licks | The New Yorker
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Partly I simply wanted an excuse to quote some well-crafted prose.
But mostly I like the image she conveyed. The visceral potential of it all. The feeling that at any moment—but I’m not quite hurrying—I will intentionally turn a corner and I’ll be able to see down the next street. There’s nothing particularly wrong with this street of course.
But do you recall what it was like to long to look around that corner?
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Andrew Suseno: Ancestors, Parcon Resilience, and Racism →
How can movement practices like Parcon Resilience foster connection, empathy, and anti-racism in diverse communities?
Andrew Suseno’s Parcon goes beyond the physical to create community and fight racism. Andrew discusses his family, ancestors, and their role in his identity. We explore what Parcon is, why he created Parcon Resilience, and his vision for the anti-racist work it does. Andrew unpacks various pieces of racism in modern America, how Parcon Resilience addresses it, and shares why the work he does inspires him.
When somebody is Parcon’ing with somebody who might be in a chair— who might have the ability to maybe do a couple steps if they had somebody in kind of a dynamic balance with them or helping take off some of their weight— Then all of a sudden it becomes possible! There’s this invitation across ability to be able to create new possibilities for being in public, for being in the world, and it’s not just a singular thing.
~ Andrew Suseno (17:48)
The discussion explores Parcon Resilience as an innovative practice combining movement, community, and anti-racist principles. Andrew goes into the origins of Parcon Resilience, blending influences from contact improvisation and parkour to create relational and environmental somatic experiences. The practice emphasizes inclusivity, enabling people of all abilities to connect and express themselves, often in public spaces, to challenge societal norms about movement and relationships.
The conversation also addresses broader themes of racism, intersectionality, and ancestral connections. Andrew explains how Parcon Resilience helps people embody anti-racism by fostering empathy and honoring diverse experiences. Discussions include the socio-political implications of movement and the transformative potential of connecting with one’s environment, others, and ancestral history.
Takeaways
Inclusivity in movement practices — Parcon Resilience allows individuals of all abilities to engage in meaningful interactions.
Contact improvisation — The foundational principles emphasize shared weight and nonverbal communication between participants.
Anti-racism through movement — Parcon Resilience focuses on fostering race consciousness and addressing societal inequalities.
Connection to environment — Participants explore nontraditional spaces and movements to form deeper relationships with their surroundings.
Empathy and relational practices — The focus on shared experiences builds mutual understanding and challenges societal divisions.
Intersectionality in practice — The framework centers on people of color across various intersecting identities.
Cultural and ancestral connections — Honoring one’s past and culture through movement deepens personal and collective identity.
Challenging ableist norms — Activities break barriers between able-bodied individuals and those with disabilities.
Transforming public spaces — Movement activities in public invite diverse interactions and challenge conventional use of urban environments.
Resources
People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond — Organization providing anti-racism workshops and initiatives.
Andrea Smith’s article on Heteropatriarchy — A piece discussing the three pillars of white supremacy.
High Line Park — The location for one of Parcon Resilience’s public flash mobs in New York City.
(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)
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Interrupt driven →
Think about this question for a moment. The Apollo program was massive in size and complexity. It was executed at an incredible pace (only eight years spanned Kennedy’s pledge to Armstrong’s steps) and it yielded innovations at a staggering rate.
~ Cal Newport from, How We Sent a Man to the Moon Without E-mail and Why it Matters Today – Cal Newport
And it was all done without e-mail.
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Not just without email, but without computers or networks or cell phones or even hand calculators. They did it with paper, drafting tools and slide rules. Meetings, planning, and most importantly:
Communication.
All these tools that I have are only useful if I understand how they work. When you first start working in some field, you get the most basic tools—two manual, screwdrivers; one straight-blade and one Philips head. When you can tell me why the Philips head was invented, you can have a hand driver with interchangeable driver heads (“bits.”) When you can use them all… When you see a screw-head and pick the right bit… When you’ve exhausted your forearm from driving screws, then you can have a power driver. When you use the friction clutch correctly, you can have a larger power driver. And so on. (You can tell the quality of the craftsman by the way they maintain their tools. Yes, skilled persons can do great work with shitty tools. But at mastery level, the art is expressed in the tools themselves. Yes, all arts.)
So yes, you really do need to understand the different between wifi, cellular and Ethernet; between Apple’s IM, carrier SMS, and WhatsApp; between email, Google Docs, and Word.
As Carl Sagan wrote, “We live in a society…“
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Nikkie Zanevsky | Partner Games & Mobility →
On Castbox.fm — Nikkie Zanevsky | Partner Games & Mobility
How can engaging in partner-based movement games and external variables enhance physical adaptability and uncover gaps in personal movement practices?
Exploring how others shape our environment can lead to unexpected breakthroughs in movement and training.
[T]he point for me is, it’s someone else changing the environment. So you—as the person coming in and interacting with that environment—you can’t default to your patterns, because you have to react to something someone else is doing.
~ Nikkie Zanevsky (6:57)
The conversation explores the use of partner games and external tools, such as PVC pipes, to enhance movement and adaptability in physical training. The session focuses on creating scenarios where participants cannot rely solely on habitual patterns but must respond dynamically to changing environments. This approach draws from disciplines like Parkour, fighting monkey, and natural movement practices, aiming to challenge participants’ movement in new and unpredictable ways.
A significant emphasis is placed on the value of collaborative practice, as working with others exposes blind spots and encourages creative adaptation. The discussion highlights specific drills involving throwing, catching, and navigating around PVC pipes, with variations that challenge agility, coordination, and responsiveness. The role of environmental context, whether in natural outdoor settings or urban spaces, also plays a crucial part in shaping how participants engage with the exercises.
Takeaways
Engaging with partners — Training with others exposes blind spots and reveals movement weaknesses.
Environmental adaptability — Changing environments forces practitioners to break habitual patterns.
Simple tools — Objects like PVC pipes serve as effective catalysts for complex movement challenges.
Play and competition — Incorporating game elements enhances learning and makes repetitive drills engaging.
Collaborative learning — Observing and imitating peers enriches personal practice and encourages creativity.
Unpredictable variables — Introducing randomness through partners or tools helps improve reaction time and adaptability.
Softness and flow — Learning to soften and receive energy during partner exercises enhances movement fluidity.
Resources
getwildlyfit.com — Official website for Wildly Fit, offering movement-based coaching and resources.
Get Wildly Fit @getwildlyfit — Nikki Zanevsky’s movement coaching practice, showcasing partner drills and movement games.
Art of Retreat — Organization hosting leadership and education retreats focused on Parkour and movement disciplines.
(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)
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No and yes →
Because we can’t say no—because we might miss out on something if we did. We think “yes” will let us accomplish more, will give us more of what we want, when in reality it prevents exactly what we seek. All of us waste precious life doing things we don’t like, to prove ourselves to people we don’t respect, and to get things we don’t want.
~ Ryan Holiday from, How To Say “No”: Advice From The World’s Most Powerful Man
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Accepting and rejecting are two sides of the same coin. A lot—I contemplated writing “all”—of my problems came from being unable to intentionally say, “yes,” or being unable to intentionally say, “no.” When completely lacking the skill from either side of this coin, I’m a puppet for others. I’m one of those doormats that says, “WELCOME,” come on in and use me.
But simply developing both of the skills is not enough. I needed to learn to balance the skills; To balance the requirements of life with the pursuits of pleasure, leisure, and creativity. That requires a finer control of these, “yes,” and, “no,” skills.
I occasionally encounter people who speak of, “always saying, ‘yes and…’.” That’s utter nonsense. One can only say once to the pan-handler on the street asking for money, “yes, and take my house.” Or to the myriad of people clamoring for one’s attention online, “yes, and…” scrolling scrolling scrolling and… the whole hour is lost.
The mastery level of, “no,” and, “yes,” is to go beyond reacting to life—figuring out which tool to deploy in this situation—to intentionally using, “no,” and, “yes,” to navigate life.
Distraction, Busyness, Hurrying: No.
Discovery, Reflection, Efficacy: Yes, and…
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Desire and aversion →
Desire and aversion, though powerful, are but habits. And we can train ourselves to have better habits. Restrain the habit of being repelled by all those things that aren’t within your control, and focus instead on combating things within your power that are not good for you.
~ Epictetus
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Equipment matters →
I have a confession to make: even though I love sound, I don’t really like sound equipment. […] Unfortunately, my bad attitude clashes with an important truth about audio storytelling: your equipment matters.
~ Andrew Wardlaw from, Recording Kit Tune Up
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Today, more of a bookmarking post than deep thinking. If you do anything with recording interviews—or even if you just own ONE cable to charge your phone—this article is chock-full of neat ideas.
…of course, if you’re into recording, I recommend handing your cash/cards over to someone you trust before reading it. I confess I was off on a few sites hovering over the buy button on a few new toys. ;)
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