Each night as you lay down to sleep, you embark on an extraordinary journey – not through space, but through the shifting terrain of your own consciousness. This transition, known as the sleep-onset period, is not a simple flick of a switch from wakefulness to slumber, but a gradual, nuanced shift that suspends you between two worlds. Long regarded as a mere prelude to sleep, recent studies suggest there is far more to this fascinating twilight period.
Peoples’ desire to have an opinion far exceeds the number of things that need to be opined on. “I don’t know” is a phrase that should be praised for its honesty, not belittled for its detachment.
Collaborative Fund is an investment firm so everything there is about investing. Mostly about investing. Well, actually, it turns out that investing is at its core just people doing stuff for reasons. Posts like this one from Housel read like investment (or “financial”) advice, and their lessons directly generalize. I’ve already mentioned that “I don’t know” is how how I avoid making the mistake of trying to have an opinion about everything. There are several other nuggets in there too.
I continue to practice shifting my perspective. Instead of “pain” and “pleasure” though, I struggle with “failure” and “success.” The danger of setting clear goals, is that it’s equally clear whether or not they are achieved. Not reaching a goal is clear, and real. And to pretend otherwise is foolish.
The trap is that I forget that each goal contains a degree of arbitrariness. Success (reach the goal) and failure (not reach the goal.) Do not admit of shades of grey. But I systematically make the error of moving those adjectives onto my own self-assessment. Did I reach that goal? No. Then: I’m a failure.
A friend of mine once said that it takes a special person to be able to set a goal they cannot achieve. The cleverness—in my opinion—in there is that to be that special person, you have to set a goal that you believe you can achieve… and then discover your belief was wrong. I had a belief—some piece of a model of reality, a map of a territory, a piece of knowledge—and I’ve now realized, as I fail to reach a goal, that I was wrong. That’s literally learning.
…so really, every time I fall short on a goal, I’m literally learning and getting better. Every time I set a goal and “succeed,” not so much.
If anyone ever says to you, “your password must contain one capital, a digit,…”, you can be certain that they are an idiot, and that they do not understand security. If you encounter such requirements in software, then it was written by an idiot—or it was written to a standard which was written by an idiot.
I’m serious. This is not hyperbole. Anyone who says such things truly has not even the most basic understanding of computer security. You should immediately stop trusting them with anything related to computer security.
To begin to understand why this is true, please enjoy this wonderfully explanatory cartoon from XKCD: Password Strength.
The cartoon is fun, but its core point about the critical feature of your passwords being the amount of entropy they contain will make you smarter than the vast majority of people.
What are the essential elements for forming and maintaining successful partnerships in the Parkour community, and how can individuals avoid common pitfalls?
Successful partnerships in Parkour hinge on clear communication and defined responsibilities.
One of the biggest takeaways I wanted to talk about was this idea of death from 1000 cuts— when Parkour gyms or coaches or athletes, will try to chase down every single opportunity
~ Dylan Polin (1:05)
The conversation focuses on the key principles behind forming successful partnerships in the Parkour community, covering the roles of athletes, coaches, and gym owners. A significant point of discussion is how partnerships can enhance credibility and provide necessary resources for growth. The analogy of a lion chasing mice versus antelope is used to illustrate the importance of prioritizing high-value partnerships over numerous small, less impactful engagements.
Another key topic is the importance of communication when structuring partnerships. Emphasis is placed on defining responsibilities clearly to avoid misunderstandings that could lead to partnership failures. Additionally, the concept of sunk cost fallacy is highlighted, encouraging individuals to recognize when a partnership is no longer beneficial and to exit gracefully if necessary.
Takeaways
Forming partnerships — Partnerships are vital for growth and credibility in Parkour.
Opportunity management — Pursuing every opportunity can drain resources without yielding significant returns.
High-value partnerships — Focusing on impactful partnerships can provide long-term benefits, even if they require more effort.
Communication clarity — Clear, upfront communication and responsibility division are critical for partnership success.
Partnership pitfalls — Miscommunication or undefined roles can lead to partnership failures.
Exiting partnerships — Recognizing the need to exit unproductive partnerships is key to sustaining long-term growth.
Sunk cost fallacy — Avoiding the trap of continuing partnerships that no longer serve their purpose prevents unnecessary resource depletion.
What draws people away from conventional careers and into lives centered on movement, manual labor, and holistic living?
Chris Moran discusses his unique path from personal trainer to farmer, and the relationship between movement and farming. He shares his insights on chronic pain and pain theory, as well as how his training and coaching has become deeply rooted in permaculture. Chris ends by describing his continuing passion for film making and creative projects.
Stay outside. It’s not, go outside, it’s stay outside. Should have never went in, in the first place.
~ Chris Moran (37:40)
The conversation explores the journey of transitioning from urban life and personal training to farming and manual labor. It highlights how engaging with nature and physical tasks provides fulfillment beyond traditional fitness routines. The discussion touches on the serendipitous path that led to farming, the connections made along the way, and how these experiences reshaped views on movement and training.
Key topics include the relationship between manual labor and physical movement, the philosophy of holistic farming practices like permaculture, and how immersive experiences can alter perspectives on wellness and pain. The dialogue also reflects on the challenges of chronic pain, the psychological factors contributing to it, and how shifting to a lifestyle focused on play and practical tasks helped alleviate it. The conversation closes by touching on filmmaking and community building as extensions of this holistic approach.
Takeaways
The role of serendipity — Unplanned encounters and connections can lead to life-changing career shifts.
Movement in manual labor — Engaging in physical work offers a different but equally fulfilling form of movement compared to traditional training.
Parkour as a mindset — Movement practices like Parkour shape broader approaches to life, even when not practiced formally.
Pain science insights — Understanding pain through a biopsychosocial model can alter how chronic pain is managed and perceived.
Permaculture and sustainability — Farming practices rooted in sustainability and regeneration foster holistic wellness.
Community around food — Building community through shared labor and food ties people to place and each other.
Teaching through play — Guiding adults and children in play-based movement fosters deeper engagement with physical activity.
Filmmaking as storytelling — Documenting farm life through film creates a lasting record and strengthens community bonds.
Resources
Cherry Valley Cooperative — The farm where the guest lives and works, practicing permaculture and holistic wellness.
Cherry Valley Films on YouTube — Monthly videos documenting farm life and seasonal changes.
I’m not sure that’s worth linking to. But it is the article that sparked the thought that became this post. So, hat-tip where hat-tip is due.
You’re probably familiar with the common definition of the word “doldrums”: A period of stagnation or slump, or a period of depression or unhappy listlessness. But the common definition comes from the actual doldrums, which is a place in the Atlantic Ocean, more generally referred to as the “Horse Latitudes.”
Here’s the thought I had: I’m in the doldrums.
I’m not in the internally-generated, mental state, that the common definition implies. I’m in a place in my life which is the doldrums.
Old-timey sailors discovered a huge area of the Atlantic Ocean where the winds and sea are unreliable. Once a few explorers got stuck there, “in the doldrums,” on sailing ships, they shared the knowledge with others. Everyone quickly learned to avoid the Horse Latitudes because that place made things difficult.
Long ago I developed the twin skills of self-awareness and self-assessment and set about a long—and ongoing!—journey of self-improvement. But these days, I seem to be stuck in my journey. Why? I’m in the doldrums. I’ve navigated myself to a place which makes things difficult.
Bonus: How did sailors of old get out of the doldrums? When faced with mass dehydration, (it doesn’t rain much in the doldrums,) they’d tie their huge sailing ships to their tiny row-boats, and take shifts towing the ship.
If you ask anyone who’s read [Fahrenheit 451], that hasn’t read it in like 20 years, “What do you remember of how that came to be in the book?” They’d say, “There’s this totalitarian government.” The truth is, it was the people. It was the people who decided that any dissenting opinions that would offend specific groups in society, ought to be burned. So it was self-inflicted. I think that’s what we are doing right now. We are slowly torching the first amendment and free speech by, basically, going on these witch hunts. I think it’s the most dangerous thing in the U.S. right now.
What lessons does the practice of Parkour teach about community, personal growth, and resilience?
Adam McClellan discusses his work with Parkour Generations Americas, the parkour community in America, and his local community. He goes into his transition from martial arts to parkour, before delving into goal setting and how he motivates himself. Adam finishes by sharing people he draws inspiration from and why coaching parkour is so important to him.
A rising tide lifts all boats, and through events like Art of Retreat, we’re realizing we can all benefit by working together.
~ Adam McClellan (0:53)
The conversation explores the broad implications of Parkour on personal growth, community development, and coaching philosophies. Adam discusses Parkour Generations’ work in creating partnerships with various organizations, emphasizing trust-building and long-term collaboration. He highlights the growing unity within the American Parkour community, describing a shift toward collaboration and shared growth over individual competition.
On a personal level, McClellan shares his journey from martial arts to Parkour, driven by the transparency and humility inherent in Parkour’s practice. He reflects on the physical and mental challenges of advanced training courses and the value of failure in pushing boundaries. The conversation also delves into his coaching philosophy, advocating for spreading Parkour’s core values effectively and inclusively.
Takeaways
Strength, touch, and spirit — Core elements that define Parkour as a practice, blending physical, mental, and community aspects.
Community collaboration — The rising trend of cooperation within the American Parkour community, fostering mutual growth and shared opportunities.
Transparency in movement — The unique quality of Parkour, where skill is immediately visible and ego has no place.
The role of failure — Viewing failure as a necessary and valuable part of growth in training and life.
Parkour coaching impact — Emphasis on making Parkour accessible and inspiring to others through intentional coaching methods.
Transition from martial arts — A shift from a field driven by appearances to one defined by authentic skill and humility.
Building community spaces — The dream of creating a hub for Parkour practitioners to train, connect, and grow together.
Adapting goals — A preference for broad, flexible objectives over rigid benchmarks to encourage creativity and exploration.
Resources
Parkour Generations — The global organization involved in Parkour coaching, partnerships, and community development.
Art of Retreat — A gathering of Parkour coaches and community leaders in the U.S.
A couple years ago I started this project of scanning slides. About 3,000 slides in, I thought I was done… and then more slides were found. So, this is, I think, really and finally the end of scanning. I am now working through tagging the digital images to figure out which ones I’ll be posting.
Strauss and Howe argue that the last five centuries of Anglo-American history can be explained by the existence of four generational archetypes that repeat sequentially in a fixed pattern every 80-100 years, the length of a long human life, or what the ancients called a “saeculum.” These generational archetypes are: Prophet, Nomad, Hero, and Artist. Each generation consists of those born during a roughly 20 year period. As each generation moves up the ladder of age and takes a different place in society, the mood of the culture greatly changes.
