Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.
~ Lao Tzu
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Everything is accomplished →
Sometimes things happen →
People’s lives are a reflection of the experiences they’ve had and the people they’ve met, a lot of which are driven by luck, accident, and chance. The line between bold and reckless is thinner than people think, and you cannot believe in risk without believing in luck, because they are two sides of the same coin. They are both the simple idea that sometimes things happen that influence outcomes more than effort alone can achieve.
~ Morgan Housel, from The Psychology of Money
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This is a long read. It was worth every minute that it took me to read it twice.
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A call to action →
( In late 2016 I began a small discussion with a few friends about an idea. Eventually the project became a web site [now gone] and this series contains the posts from that site. The project continues in the Parkour Forum. )
Originally published Feb 2, 2017
“A statement of principles and a bold, sometimes rebellious, call to action,” is the perfect description of what I intend for this project.
Hopefully, eventually many others will contribute generally to the discussion, but I feel it’s important to start by explaining a bit about what this actually is. There are a few others helping with behind-the-scenes meta-work, but all the discussion of the contents of the Manifesto will occur in the open.
Please begin by reading the About page. ( …that is to say, the next part of this series. )
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Action’s ecstasy →
Action’s ecstasy is instantaneous and compounding: even if for the millionth time, it works its magic. Its trigger is sure: All you do is peel your ass off the bottom of whatever hole you’re in, and climb.
~ Bryan Ward from, The #1 Drug For Dads
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I can vouch for the potentcy of this drug. And it’s method of action is clear: With each small action which demonstrates one can affect one’s environment, the pattern of learned helplessness is broken.
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A brain in my head →
With a brain in my head, and feet in my shoes, I can steer myself any direction I choose.
~ Dr. Seuss, in Oh, the Places You’ll Go!, (1990 book)
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Where is the discussion? →
( In late 2016 I began a small discussion with a few friends about an idea. Eventually the project became a web site [now gone] and this series contains the posts from that site. The project continues in the Parkour Forum. )
Originally published Jan 27, 2017
I’m glad you asked. There is a dedicated forum in the Parkour Forum
https://parkourforum.world/viewforum.php?f=8
As things get discussed, concensus is reached or decisions are made, things will find there way here to this web site.
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A tweak to the name →
( In late 2016 I began a small discussion with a few friends about an idea. Eventually the project became a web site [now gone] and this series contains the posts from that site. The project continues in the Parkour Forum. )
Originally published Jan 25, 2017
A Tracer’s Manifesto
After some discussion about translations – this entire project is intended to be made available in as many languages as possible – I decided to use the English word “tracer” in the title. When we translate to French, for example, we’ll use “traceur”, etc.
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Vonnegut in rare form →
When I taught in Iowa, University of Iowa, I had a writers workshop… Is I’d tell my students to go to the public library there in Iowa City and take out a novel that hadn’t been taken out for twenty years… And geezers they found some knockouts. It doesn’t surprise me at all.
~ Kurt Vonnegut from, Kurt Vonnegut Live in Second Life on NPR’s “The Infinite Mind.” – YouTube
…and when I say “in rare form,” I mean that literally. This is a YouTube video, of a live interview in Second Life on NPR’s “The Infinite Mind.” The video is of two avatars, (in front of a live audience of avatars,) having a virtual, live interview… and it’s all Vonnegut gold.
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A first attempt →
( In late 2016 I began a small discussion with a few friends about an idea. Eventually the project became a web site [now gone] and this series contains the posts from that site. The project continues in the Parkour Forum. )
Originally published Jan 1, 2017
A Traceur’s Manifesto
My Proposal
I’ve veered to using the word “traceur” in the hopes that people who self-identify with Parkour/freerunning/ADD will “recognize” it and will identify with it at least partially, while not being an instant lightening rod of diviciveness. (Using the masculine form in English, because that’s how English works. In other languages, we’ll use the appropriate default gender, which is also masculine as far as I know. eg, French.)
My choice of “manIfesto” is intended to be stirring; This entire project is meant to make people *think*, not actually to achieve changing their minds/opinions. So I feel “manifesto” comes from the moral high road by shouting out a declaration and a call to action. (Obviously, it has to be written so as to actually achieve those goals.)
The use of “A …” implies this manifesto is not presuming to be “The …” one true version of things. Also, “A Traceur’s …” can be interpretted to mean “the traceur who wrote the manifesto”, as well as to mean “this manifesto is for those persons who are traceurs”.
I remain open to being talked out of my opinions. But, after months of thinking about this. I’m convinced this is the best name *I* can come up with. So I’m leaving it here to provide an opportunity for you to talk me out of it.
Presuming it stands, I will build “infrastructure” to actually begin the project; a domain name, web site, google group for discussion, etc.
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Respond intelligently →
Respond intelligently even to unintelligent treatment.
~ Lao Tzu
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