Work versus labor →

Published December 14, 2018  ·  All posts on Dec 14

Labor, on the other hand, sets its own pace. We may get paid for it, but it’s harder to quantify… Writing a poem, raising a child, developing a new calculus, resolving a neurosis, invention in all forms — these are labors.

~ Lewis Hyde from, Lewis Hyde on Work vs. Labor and the Pace of Creativity

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I’m alway cautious about reading clever nuances into language. Sure it makes terrific sense to distinguish between, “mindless stuff I do for money”—my phrase, not a quote from Hyde—and “heartfelt stuff I do”. But is that in the semanic definition of the words? …in the common usage of the word?

I’m not certain what to do with this; It simply struck me as worth sharing.

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Learning to say no →

Published December 13, 2018  ·  All posts on Dec 13  ·  

How to Say “No” Gracefully and Uncommit (#328)

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This is a two-chapter excerpt from a book, The Disciplined Pursuit of Less, by Greg McKeown, a book about being an essentialist.

At the beginning of 2018 I latched onto the idea that by saying, “yes,” to something I am cutting off a nearly infinite number of opportunities. Whereas by saying, “no,” I am cutting off just one opportunity and leaving space for a nearly infinite number of other opportunities. That makes, “no,” the obviously better default answer, yes?

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Marcus Lincoln | Parkour Concepts →

Published December 12, 2018  ·  All posts on Dec 12

On Castbox.fm — Marcus Lincoln | Parkour Concepts

What is the relationship between movement patterns, environmental constraints, and personal development in Parkour practice?

Discovering how Parkour integrates with everyday life and personal values.

What positions and what movements do I want to shape my body with? Or what do I want my body to be shaped by?

~ Marcus Lincoln (16:15)

The conversation considers the nuances of visualizing movement in Parkour, using concepts such as the “movement continuum” to break down and analyze motion. Topics include the biomechanical and environmental constraints on movement, as well as how practitioners can interpret and adapt to these factors. The discussion emphasizes how understanding patterns and positions can lead to both creative expression and refined techniques.

The second part focuses on actionable insights for practitioners, encouraging self-awareness and exploration of daily movement patterns. Suggestions include varying tempo, rhythm, and technique, while aligning movements with personal values and goals. The conversation highlights how Parkour principles extend into broader life practices, advocating for continuous improvement through awareness and incremental changes.

Takeaways

Visualizing movement — The concept of a movement continuum helps practitioners analyze patterns and improve their techniques.

Environmental constraints — How the environment shapes the potential for movement and influences decision-making.

Creative exploration — Using unfamiliar techniques or combining patterns to expand movement vocabulary.

Integration with daily life — Recognizing how Parkour principles affect broader aspects of life, including health and habits.

Incremental progress — The value of small, deliberate changes in movement and practice.

Biomechanical analysis — Breaking down movements into sub-phases to improve efficiency and adaptability.

Awareness of patterns — Identifying repetitive actions to build a foundation for varied and creative movements.

Potentiality in movement — Exploring the interplay between constraints and choices within a given environment.

Resources

Parkour Generations — A global organization dedicated to Parkour training and education.

Art of Retreat — A leadership and education conference for Parkour practitioners and enthusiasts.

(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)

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Forgotten super-powers →

Published December 12, 2018  ·  All posts on Dec 12  ·  

Today we use tools without even thinking about it. Without a doubt, you are at this moment surrounded by (and draped in) all sorts of tools, equipment and technology. There are probably at least a dozen items in operation right now that are making your moment much better than it would otherwise be: clothing, writing utensils, computers, chairs, clocks, desks and eyeglasses for starters.

~ David Cain from, How to Enjoy Your Forgotten Superpowers

This is definitely an aspect of my Art du Déplacement, and self-improvement journey. I regularly—almost automatically now—run the train of thought he’s describing and it invariably serves me well.

In early 2018 I attended a winter retreat. On one morning, we all went out to hiking trails along a stream and water falls. It was snowy, cold, icy and sunny. I intentionally went in wool socks and my usual, minimalist running sneakers—with the insoles removed so there’s 2mm of rubber and nothing else between my socks and the world. I intentionally set out expecting wet feet (knee-deep snow in places), and my goal was to manage frost-nip and to enjoy the day. Result: Insane amounts of fun; New friends; Lessons learned; No injury; and I experienced a true winter-wonderland in a way I had never before.

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Circumstances →

Published December 11, 2018  ·  All posts on Dec 11  ·  

People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don’t believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can’t find them, make them.

~ George Bernard Shaw

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On passion →

Published December 10, 2018  ·  All posts on Dec 10  ·  

There is a tremendous disparity between the passion and effort that goes into a work of art and the amount a person is likely to pay for it. Some areas pay better than others, and your passion may very well not create much in the way of salable value for anyone else.

~ David Cain from, What Passion Will Buy You

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This is such a critical point! Even if my passion, “comes through,” in what I create, that doesn’t necessarily mean others will value my work.

Worse, there’s always some amount of capriciousness to the valuation made by others. Even if I’m making something clearly of value, if that isn’t aligned with other people’s values, I’m still screwed. Passion is critical, but has little to do with success.

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Courage and leadership →

Published December 9, 2018  ·  All posts on Dec 9  ·  

Somewhere along the way, marketers stopped acting like real people. We substituted a new set of ethics, one built around “buyer beware” and the letter of the law. Marketers, in order to succeed in a competitive marketplace, decided to see what they could get away with instead of what they could deliver.

~ Seth Godin from, Trust and Respect, Courage and Leadership

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This dovetails perfectly with my personal directive of respect for others’ time. I’m sure there’s nothing else useful I can add here, other than to write: ‘Read this.’

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Preschool →

Published December 8, 2018  ·  All posts on Dec 8  ·  

I talked to Kelsey about some of the research for her article, and independently came to the same conclusion: despite the earlier studies of achievement being accurate, preschools (including the much-maligned Head Start) do seem to help children in subtler ways that only show up years later. Children who have been to preschool seem to stay in school longer, get better jobs, commit less crime, and require less welfare. The thing most of the early studies were looking for – academic ability – is one of the only things it doesn’t affect.

~ Scott Alexander from, Preschool

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Presented without comment. Except of course for this comment where I confess that—for the umpteenth time—I’ve read something written by Scott Alexander and had my mind broadened (in a good way.)

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Stany Boulifard Mallet: Art du Déplacement, the Yamakasi, and motivation →

Published December 7, 2018  ·  All posts on Dec 7  ·  

023. Stany Boulifard Mallet: Art du Déplacement, the Yamakasi, and motivation

What is the deeper philosophy behind Art du Déplacement, and how does it shape both movement practice and personal growth?

Stany Boulifard Mallet sits down with Craig to discuss his Art du Déplacement (ADD) journey, his practice, and his relationship with the founders. He shares how he met the Yamakasi, and the impact that they have had on his training over the years. Stany also unpacks his thoughts on the motivation behind ADD and his own reasons for training.

You can choose to be ready; you can choose to train.

~ Stany Boulifard Mallet (18:20)

The conversation explores the philosophy and practices of Art du Déplacement, focusing on its origins with the Yamakasi and their transformative approach to movement. Stany shares his personal journey, from discovering the discipline as a teenager inspired by the Yamakasi movie, to training under the founders. He reflects on the mental, emotional, and physical dimensions of the practice, emphasizing how it cultivates self-awareness and connection.

A significant portion of the discussion digs into specific training methods, such as the “be ready in an instant” exercise, and the importance of aligning spirit, body, and heart in movement. Stany also highlights the ethos of humility and humanity demonstrated by the founders, and how their teaching extends beyond physicality to deeper questions about purpose and emotional connection in life.

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Comfortable →

Published December 7, 2018  ·  All posts on Dec 7  ·  ,

We tend to think of home as a specific location — a defined physical space where we feel safe and entitled to be ourselves. But home, like so many other things that profess to be something more concrete, is really just an emotion. “Home” is the emotion of belonging you get from very familiar places.

~ David Cain from, Two Simple Tricks to Be More Comfortable in Your Own Skin

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Sometimes…
—not always, not often. I’m still a deeply flawed human being who is happy to be a work in progress.

But sometimes people tell me I’m “different” or “intense” because I move more slowly than most people, or I seem [they think I “seem”; I actually “am”] to be paying attention, or I seem [again, actually “am”] to be particularly considerate or thoughtful. Sometimes people find this really unsettling; I’ve had people physically twitch in the process of avoiding my glance. To those people, I’m sorry that a heartfelt glance was too much for you at that moment. (Not sarcasm.) But sometimes, a heartfelt “Hello! How are you today?” is just the thing people need.

Often…
—again here with the caveats.

But often I’m wondering why everyone seems to be in such a hurry. I believe I understand why they are; I’m assuming their reasons are the same as my reasons were. Often I sit down and feel perfectly at home. Often after a bit of post-just-sat-down day dreaming, I’ll have a brief moment of a sort of fully immersed realization that I’m not anywhere remotely near my geographic home. And that just makes it all the more enjoyable to feel at home.

Slow down. Relax.
If things are going badly, relax for they will not last.
If things are going well, relax for they will not last.

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