The benefit is precisely in the bureaucracy of it.
~ Matt Webb, from Beaches are for people who enjoy the bureaucracy of going to the beach
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Webb isn’t really making a point about beach-going.
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On this day
January 21stJanuary 21, 2024 — #68
Reading time: About 5 minutes, 1000 words
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This issue is https://7forsunday.com/68
Derivative
I write a lot about “looking back”. (A lot: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 21 more posts, plus “looking back” has another 17 posts.) I clearly believe—I really do—that looking back is best for assessing things.
And yet… stress, unhappiness. (Important: Words left unsaid.)
By all objective metrics, I’m as successful today as I could hope to be a decade ago. I’m happily married, well inside the richest 1% globally, have found my tribe and earned some respect in it. I should be able to relax and take some satisfaction in my current situation. And yet the thought that in 5 years my life will look exactly like it does today fills me with dread.
~ Jacob Falkovich from, Unstriving
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My title is a nerdy reference to a small detail in the article. But it’s also a nerdy reference to how I feel that everything I write is simply derivative. Nonetheless, I’m looking back. I’m assessing my progress. I’m making some plans and I’m cutting red tape.
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Uncertainty
If man were never to fade away like the dews of Adashino, never to vanish like the smoke over Toribeyama, but lingered on forever in the world, how things would lose their power to move us! The most precious thing in life is its uncertainty.
~ Yoshida Kenkō
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Freedom with Brandon Sandén
How does movement, particularly parkour, serve as a reflection of one’s mental and physical state while fostering personal growth and community connection?
Movement reveals the intricate connection between physical challenges and mental states.
One thing I really love about parkour, and what it’s been for me, is that it’s kind of a perfect mirror—I think, Dan Edwardes spoken about this a lot—but it’s a perfect mirror of who you are right now at this very moment.
~ Brandon Sandén (1:28)
The conversation explores how movement, particularly parkour, reflects one’s current mental and physical state. Movement is described as a mirror, revealing the moment’s truths, independent of past achievements. Parkour’s emphasis on adaptability and creativity helps individuals step beyond their mental barriers and embrace challenges.
The discussion also highlights the role of community in fostering a love for movement. Through initiatives like Sunday Jump Days, participants build inclusive spaces, transcending organizational boundaries. Teaching parkour is revealed to require a blend of structure and flexibility, reflecting the dynamic nature of the discipline. Lastly, the value of flow states, both in movement and teaching, underscores the deep connection between physical practice and mental clarity.
Takeaways
Parkour as a mirror — Movement reveals one’s mental and physical state in real time.
Adaptability in parkour — Success depends on responding effectively to one’s environment and circumstances.
Freedom and creativity in movement — Practices like dance and parkour offer an outlet for self-expression.
Community building through movement — Organized gatherings foster inclusivity and collaboration across diverse groups.
Teaching strategies in parkour — Effective teaching requires adaptability, engagement, and innovation.
Importance of flow states — Achieving deep focus in movement is both fulfilling and essential for personal growth.
Challenges in community leadership — Sustaining events requires coordination and shared responsibility.
Resources
Urban Jumpers @urbnjumpers — An app for parkour enthusiasts to discover spots and organize jams.
Quality Movement — A parkour organization in Stockholm focused on coaching and events.
(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)
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Fun with Michelle Muri
How do podcasts serve as a medium to address critical issues in nonprofit work while fostering personal and professional connections?
The conversation reveals how fostering dogs during the pandemic opened unexpected emotional and social doors.
Nonprofits and foundations like to think of themselves as loving and nurturing, but their roots were not built in that.
~ Michelle Muri (7:48)
The conversation explores the transformational role of podcasting in addressing structural inequities within the nonprofit sector. It reflects on how a podcast like The Ethical Rainmaker brings awareness to the complicity of nonprofits in systemic racism and highlights strategies for change. The discussion also showcases the importance of prioritizing diverse voices and topics often overlooked in mainstream conversations.
Michelle recounts the personal risks and rewards of creating a podcast, including sacrificing health insurance to hire the right talent and subsequently reaching a significant milestone of 50,000 downloads. She discusses how her work resonates in classrooms and professional spaces, extending their podcast’s influence beyond the digital realm. The conversation underscores how authentic, voice-driven storytelling can build meaningful connections and inspire change.
Takeaways
Creating a podcast can be a powerful platform — to address systemic issues and inspire institutional change.
Authenticity in podcasting — builds trust and connection with listeners and guests.
Nonprofits must confront their historical roots — in upholding systemic racism to foster true equity.
A podcast can double as an educational tool — when integrated into academic curricula.
Financial risks are often necessary — to achieve transformative goals in creative projects.
Diverse perspectives strengthen storytelling — by giving voice to underrepresented communities.
Effective communication is not just about content — but also about tone, energy, and delivery.
Resources
Community-Centric Fundraising — A content hub that centers people of color’s voices in nonprofits.
The Ethical Rainmaker — A podcast discussing systemic issues in the nonprofit sector.
Nonprofit AF Blog — A blog by Vu Le addressing nonprofit and fundraising issues.
The Alpaca Tribe Podcast — A podcast by Steve Hetherington.
(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)
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Perspectives with Cara Ooi
How do audio content and podcasting serve as tools for professional communication, engagement, and self-discovery?
A concise podcast series evolves into an unexpected resource for professional and personal growth.
The podcast series is geared towards teens because that’s who I’m talking to most of the time. But I have to say, there’s been a lot more interest from the adults.
~ Cara Ooi (3:08)
The conversation discusses the evolution of a concise podcast series intended as a resource for teens and their parents, focusing on sleep-related challenges. It explores the unexpected audience engagement among adults and the learning experience derived from experimenting with audio content in a TikTok-dominated era. Practicality and efficiency in delivering reusable advice also emerge as significant outcomes.
The dialogue transitions into the reflective impact of podcasting on professional and personal growth. Cara highlights her preference for conversational formats over solo recordings and the transformative experience of revisiting recorded conversations. Topics include the power of self-discovery in audio content and the effectiveness of allowing audiences to engage with material at their own pace.
Takeaways
Podcasting as a reusable resource — Audio content allows professionals to efficiently deliver detailed advice without repeating themselves.
Unexpected audience engagement — A podcast aimed at teens gained significant traction among adults and professionals.
Impact of format and length — TikTok culture influences how bite-sized or lengthy content is received by younger audiences.
The power of conversational podcasts — Conversations create natural, impactful insights compared to scripted monologues.
Audio as a self-discovery tool — Listening back to one’s words enhances understanding and application of ideas.
Challenges in production — Podcasting requires significant effort but offers opportunities for outsourcing.
Importance of audience-led discovery — Audiences value content they find and consume independently over being directly instructed.
Flexibility of on-demand content — Recorded sessions provide convenience and engagement through adjustable consumption speeds.
Resources
(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)
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The hero within
Going inward. That’s the real work. The solutions are not outside of us. Get to know who you really are, because as you search for the hero within, you inevitably become one.
~ Emma Tiebens
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Reflection: Day 21
CHOICE — “For there are two rules we should always have at hand: That nothing is good or evil, but choice; and, that we are not to lead events, but to follow them. “My brother ougth not to have treated me so.” Very true, but it is for him to see to that. However he treats me, I am to act rightly with regard to him. For this is my concern, the other is somebody else’s; this no one can hinder, the other is open to hindrance.” ~ Epictetus, 3.10.18-9
Reflection. Inward-facing. Intentional awareness of our own thoughts.
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Arrived in the middle? Visit the first post, Where to begin?
(The entire series is available to download as a PDF ebook.)
Nobody cares
Nobody cares. Do it yourself.
~ Hugh MacLeod
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This is a terrific splash of cold water. I interpret this not as a pessimistic, “people suck.” But rather, a catalyst to, “simply start.”
Nobody cares in the same way one cares about one’s own projects and ideas. Obviously nobody cares like that! But why do we—ok fine yes I’m projecting my behavior onto you… Why do we look outward for the external validation? Certainly, the real world is the ultimate arbiter of truth. (As opposed to one’s thoughts.) But no amount of external data is going to create or destroy your true passion. If you have a project that you cannot put down because you’re passionate about it to the extent that it consumes your life, then whether or not you have external validation is irrelevant.
Do the thing. Make the art. It doesn’t matter that nobody cares. Do it yourself.
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On reading
In this age, which believes that there is a short cut to everything, the greatest lesson to be learned is that the most difficult way is, in the long run, the easiest. All that is set forth in books, all that seems so terribly vital and significant, is but an iota of that from which it stems and which it is within everyone’s power to tap. Our whole theory of education is based on the absurd notion that we must learn to swim on land before tackling the water. It applies to the pursuit of the arts as well as to the pursuit of knowledge. Men are still being taught to create by studying other men’s works or by making plans and sketches never intended to materialize. The art of writing is taught in the classroom instead of in the thick of life. Students are still being handed models which are supposed to fit all temperaments, all kinds of intelligence. No wonder we produce better engineers than writers, better industrial experts than painters.
~ Henry Miller from, Henry Miller on Reading, the Life of the Mind, and How to Fix Education
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This reminds me of how moving seems to be the only way to sort myself out. Studying movement won’t do.
I often remind myself to always “deploy forward.” Assess. Make a choice. Move. (That would be a move “forward” by definition, since “assess” and “choose” are how I figure out which way “forward” is.) Except in the most extreme cases—so rare as to be almost not worth mentioning—never try to undo (what programs would call “roll-back”) a step. Simply assess, choose and move from the new position.
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90 days out
Looking ninety days out, you have a good idea of what you can actually get done in that time frame, so your capacity estimations are about right and yet you can make some very substantial progress towards a big goal. It leads to moving faster without compromising strategy – being more agile. Having goals and visions for three or five years down the line is valuable, but it’s often not very helpful to try and plan out concrete steps—there’s just too much that has to get done which feels overwhelming and leads to inaction.
~ Taylor Pearson from, Why Successful People Plan Their Lives 90 Days at a Time
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I certainly find that if I spend a large amount of time planning way far out… that ends up never working out. For this year (2018) I’ve a few “visions” — some big picture things I’d like to work towards, but I’m trying to keep my plans/planning on a smaller scale. Makes it much easier to have daily successes too.
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What’s up for 2016?
(Part 41 of 72 in series, My Journey)
I’ve recently started thinking about 2016 goals. These aren’t “New Year’s Resolutions”; When I pick up a goal, it’s only after a lot of thinking and planning. Most importantly, I only commit if I believe the result of reaching the goal is worth it.
I’m considering things like the following:
- Hip/ankle flexibility: Achieve being able to sit, relaxed in a full squat. (I’ve been working on this for 3 months already.)
- Reach a lower weight; I’m thinking 210 is probably a good goal for about 6 months out. (Currently about 223.)
- Run 10 minute miles; Maybe run a 5K in 30 minutes in October. (I think this would be pretty easy if I was 210.)
…and then a bunch of non-physical training things:
- Become fluent in French. (A big challenge!)
- Develop a solid writing habit.
- Develop a solid reading habit. (I already read a lot; It’s consistently finding/making the time.)
Allez! Allez!
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Salvia Leucantha
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What’s lost as handwriting fades
Cursive or not, the benefits of writing by hand extend beyond childhood. For adults, typing may be a fast and efficient alternative to longhand, but that very efficiency may diminish our ability to process new information. Not only do we learn letters better when we commit them to memory through writing, memory and learning ability in general may benefit.
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Mercy does not exists without more severe options
I certainly don’t doubt for a minute that O Sensei could have devastated his training partners. Their ukemi demonstrate their respect for that potential. But I’m told that Saito Sensei opined that without mercy, ukemi is impossible. Certainly that is not to imply that practicing severe forms and injuring people has a place in the dojo. Practicing the severe forms short of injury, however, may be fundamental. Without that, how can you personally claim to be merciful? You, whatever your mental state or intentions, would be constrained by your limited technical knowledge.
~ Charles Warren, from «http://blog.aikidojournal.com/2012/07/15/on-mercy-by-charles-warren/»
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One’s legacy
Therefore when we build let us think that we build forever. Let it not be for present delight nor for present use alone. Let it be such Work as our descendants will thank us for and let us think as we lay Stone on Stone that a time is to come when those stones will be held sacred because our hands have touched them and that men will say as they look upon the labor and the wrought substance of them, ‘See this our fathers did for us.’
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That’s sure has a nice ring to it. We need more people with a rock-solid work ethic, who are self-starters, able to be detail oriented, capable of anticipating problems and acting in advance, and who can think things through. These are things worth striving for.
All men’s miseries derive from not being able to sit in a quiet room alone.
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The time-sink of video games, the distraction of mindless television, the constant interaction with others (twitter, text messages, etc) without real communication, the seeking of incessant stimulation without actually feeling anything, the inundation with information with no chance for finding knowledge; These things we can do without.
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