I spend far too much time “working” inside the virtual world. When I get a chance (as I just did) to go do stuff entirely in the real-world, with scarcely a moment to check in online, I end up with piles of backlogged “work.” It’s at this point that I try to pare things down. I’d love to do zero computer work—but that’s not happening while my faculties hold out. Until then, I’ll continue to trim and optimize.
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Are you heading toward what you already understand or toward your unknown?
In a conversation exploring the depths of dialogue and presence, Craig and Jesse get into the intriguing parallels between Quaker meetings and Gurdjieff groups, revealing how these practices foster a deeply present state of mind, akin to a slow, thoughtful game of chess.
I Think that there’s a beautiful edge of curiosity here, around looking at the unknown, which is the utter willingness to show up, like dumbfounded, or stupid.
~ Jesse Danger (12:59)
[…] leaning into the asking-as-a-five-year-old, or asking-for-a-friend-meme. I also think [our] challenge needs to contain, letting go of the urge to control the result. [When] asking as a five-year-old, I’m not hiding from the possibility that people are going to respond, “that’s stupid, Craig.” I’m not hiding from that. I’m asking as a five year old because it challenges me to ask the simplest question.
~ Craig (13:41)
In the conversation, Craig and Jesse dig into the intricacies of meaningful dialogue, emphasizing the value of approaching conversations without an agenda or purpose. They discuss the concept of dialogue as proposed by David Bohm in his book “On Dialogue”, emphasizing the importance of creating a space free from authority or hierarchy. This concept aligns with Jesse’s experiences in Gurdjieff groups and Quaker meetings, where a deeply present state of mind is cultivated, devoid of ego and personal agendas.
The dialogue further explores the idea of conversations being like a slow, thoughtful game of chess, requiring patience, presence, and a willingness to engage with the unknown. They discuss the challenge of asking questions with the innocence of a child, free from the fear of appearing ignorant or the need to control the conversation’s outcome. This approach, they argue, opens up new possibilities for exploration and understanding in conversations, whether in structured groups like the Gurdjieff or Quaker meetings or in everyday interactions.
Resources
David Bohm’s book, On Dialogue — Craig references this book as an inspiration for their discussion on dialogue. David Bohm, a renowned physicist and philosopher, explores the concept of dialogue as a free-flowing and agenda-less conversation that isn’t bound by authority or hierarchy, emphasizing its potential for creative and transformative understanding.
Gurdjieff groups — Jesse mentions participating in Gurdjieff groups, which are based on the teachings of George Ivanovich Gurdjieff, a mystic and spiritual teacher. These groups focus on self-awareness and deep presence, aligning with the Quaker meetings’ approach to deep, mindful engagement.
Quaker Meetings — Both Jesse and Craig discuss the Quaker meetings’ influence on their views of presence and dialogue. Quaker meetings, known for their simplicity and emphasis on inner guidance, involve participants speaking from a deeply present and relevant place, akin to a form of spiritual expression.
(Written with help from Chat-GPT)
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A mind once cultivated will not lie fallow for half an hour.
~ Bulwer-Lyton
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On Castbox.fm — Molly Courtney | If Parkour is For Everyone, Why Doesn’t Everyone Want to Do It
How can coaches effectively bridge the gap between the benefits of Parkour and the reluctance or resistance of individuals to participate?
The discussion challenges the assumption that Parkour is universally appealing and explores why some people resist trying it.
When we stop trying to match their defense and the generalization, and try to encourage and give information, we give them space to start to think about other things, like what’s possible.
~ Molly Courtney (3:00)
The conversation addresses the challenge of making Parkour more accessible and appealing, particularly to those who resist it due to defensiveness, lack of confidence, or demoralization. It draws on psychological models like the Stages of Change to highlight why premature encouragement often backfires. Recognizing participants’ emotional states is crucial for building their readiness to engage in new activities.
Another key topic is the balance between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. Molly emphasizes that early learners benefit more from intrinsic motivators like verbal affirmations than external rewards, which can undermine their self-driven desire to improve. Techniques for fostering play and exploration are discussed, providing coaches with strategies for facilitating growth without overwhelming participants.
Takeaways
Stages of Change — Understanding where someone is emotionally helps tailor the approach to introducing Parkour.
Defensiveness and Demoralization — Recognizing these barriers and validating participants’ concerns can create space for progress.
Role of Play — Structured play fosters exploration and autonomy in early learners.
Motivation Theories — Intrinsic motivators are more effective than extrinsic ones for beginners.
Feedback Timing — Interjecting too early can harm engagement, while timely affirmation builds confidence.
Coaching Techniques — Setting clear boundaries and expectations facilitates safe and productive learning environments.
Psychological Models — Applying theories like self-determination and Stages of Change provides a scientific basis for coaching methods.
Resources
Stages of Change — A psychological model describing readiness for change in individuals.
Self-Determination Theory — A framework for understanding motivation and growth.
The Movement Park — Molly’s Parkour gym in Hillsboro, Oregon; resources for beginner and advanced movement training.
molly@themovementpark.com — For inquiries about Molly’s work and methods.
Social Media: @TheMovementPark on Instagram, The Movement Park on Facebook.
(Written with help from Chat-GPT.)
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Learning never exhausts the mind.
~ Leonardo da Vinci
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To be a digital minimalist, in other words, means you accept the idea that new communication technologies have the potential to massively improve your life, but also recognize that realizing this potential is hard work.
~ Cal Newport
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Today, a growing percentage of people find themselves alienated from any particular community, without strong bonds to any discernible group. Loneliness is on the rise. More people live alone, remain single or childless, move to new geographical locations on a regular basis, and otherwise fail to develop close ties. This is a shift that is unprecedented in human history.
~ Shane Parrish from, Muscular Bonding: How Dance Made Us Human
My pull-quote feels pretty obvious. What’s interesting is where Parrish goes in this article. There’s a lot of research and discussion around what happens to us—mentally and physically—when we move together. It’s not simply, “hey that was fun.” There’s a durable bonding that happens when humans move together.
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Good fortune has its own rules, and to the wise not everything depends upon chance. Fortune is helped along by effort.
~ Baltasar Gracián
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Fasting is nothing more than intentionally restricting what, or when, you choose to eat. Over the years I’ve posted a good bit about fasting. If this is new to you, start with my post, Ten years and About that diet.
In my battle with depression, I’ve become convinced that inflammation is a causal factor; being over-weight is generally inflammatory and then eating inflammatory foods can tip me over into an acute episode of depression. To be clear: I’m literally saying that if my weight is up, and I eat the wrong food, the following day will be a shit-show of depression.
If you have no idea what I’m talking about—AWESOME. I’m so happy for you. (That’s not sarcasm.)
…okay, you’re still reading. Here’s something new [as in: I’ve not posted this URL on my blog before] from Pilon:
I’ve found stats saying it’s the 4th leading cause of disability worldwide and that mood disturbances including depression will lead to an epidemic of disease in the 21st century in the western world. It’s clear that depression needs to be addressed more often than it currently is in the mainstream and health and fitness media. I find depression particularly interesting because of the connection with inflammation.
~ Brad Pilon from, Intermittent Fasting and Depression (an inflammation link?)
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Curious, it’s almost as if what I eat matters…
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The parents’ duty to their children is not to cram as many social advantages as possible into their first eighteen years. The parents’ duty is to make sure that when it comes time for the child to pull himself up by his bootstraps, he actually has the bootstraps to pull up.
~ Hugh MacLeod
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Silence is a source of great strength.
~ Lao Tzu
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Came into the NYC for an interview and ended the day in Central Park with great challenges with the @themovementcreative , thanks!
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The world is changed by your example, not by your opinion.
~ Paulo Coelho
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Old friends pass away, new friends appear. It is just like the days.
~ Dalai Lama
An old day passes, a new day arrives.
The important thing is to make it meaningful:
A meaningful friend — or a meaningful day.
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Specifically, they found that when bees are exposed to the enzyme p-coumaric, their immune system appears stronger—it turns on detoxification genes. P-coumaric is found in pollen walls, not nectar, and makes its way into honey inadvertently via sticking to the legs of bees as they visit flowers. Similarly, the team discovered other compounds found in poplar sap that appear to do much the same thing. It all together adds up to a diet that helps bees fight off toxins, the researchers report. Taking away the honey to sell it, and feeding the bees high-fructose corn syrup instead, they claim, compromises their immune systems, making them more vulnerable to the toxins that are meant to kill other bugs.
~ Bob Yirka from, Researchers find high-fructose corn syrup may be tied to worldwide collapse of bee colonies
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