Don't Think, Just Do
I never seek flow in getting things done, I always seek detachment from my monkey mind and just execute what is in front of me. That is when I am most productive. I do not worry about the order of what needs to be done or the steps to do it or the time it may take or how I might feel. I just pick up the next task and execute.
Managing Change
I have always been one to enjoy change. Change often means good things can happen. Change often means a new opportunity to grow. Change often means growth comes with pain. We don’t get to choose our change, but we do get to seek out learning from it.
As more change is on the horizon for me, I need to work through my own feelings of change and then help communicate and deliver them to others who often like change less than I do.
Relationships vs Systems
Working in the engineering world, a common theme is to see people wanting to put systems in place when we need to cultivate relationships. It is always a mistake to think about working with other people or teams as requiring an interface and system to replace interacting with others. Long term relationships imply trust and empathy.
RIP Charlie Munger
One of the qualities that make Charlie memorable for me is his blunt wit and not his wealth. Perhaps the wealth lead to the wit, but I’d like to think not. I had Poor Charlie’s Almanac on order for about eight months and it finally arrived about a week after his death.
44 memorable Charlie Munger quotes about life and markets
Running Sucks
Stasis is Not Good Rehab
A few Sundays ago, I ended up with a spasmed muscle in my lower right back. This resulted in an agonizing day. The rest of the week became recovery from the whole right side of my body tensing and being out of alignment from the one problem. I have been diligent about keeping up my flexibility routine and stretching often throughout the day. I had tried running earlier in the week but had to temper it with plenty of walking.
The Living Room Refresh Project
We were due for a new couch in our living room after almost a decade of use and several animals. We use our living room every morning when the sun rises to drink our coffee and read. The new color palette for the room changed from red to blue. This allowed us to put in an accent color with wallpaper. We have had good luck with the Rifle Paper Company and their peel and stick wallpaper.
Winter Sunset
The sunrises and sunsets in the winter are different and delightful.
Writing Documentation for Your House
This has been something I have long thought about for my own house. Keeping a record of every change, improvement, or reference for my house. As with all things I tend to want to do, I tend to overthink it. I have kept my house records very simple. The reality is nobody cares how long your system component has been functioning, just the calculus around fixing versus replacing it. I appreciate the geek level of this linked blog post:
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert M. Pirsig
I tried reading this book towards the end of high school or just shortly after. I believe I was able to get three or four chapters in, but it never took off from there. I was also not a reader. Over the past year, this book caught my eye at the bookstore, and have heard it floating around in a few videos and lists, it was time to give it a try.