Hi All,
Here is your weekly guide of things I’m experimenting with. Enjoy.
Top Instagram Post this Week
Activity I’m Getting Back Into
Walks
After reading Digital Minimalism, I’ve made it a point to go on more walks without my phone. Just my thoughts, my legs, and the open road. Sounds super old-man-y. Like I should wear a tweed cardigan and walk slowly with my hands behind my back. But for real, whenever I go on walks, I’m always listening to music or a podcast, or answering texts. Or I see a cool restaurant and look it up on Yelp, then I see the sunset and take a cool picture and put it on my Instagram story. I’m never actually just taking it in. And it’s so refreshing to rid yourself of the information brick in your pocket.
I started leaving my phone at my desk at work too. I no longer take my phone into meetings and I don’t keep it in my pocket with me when I go out to lunch. It’s sounds cheesy but it’s actually so freeing. It almost feels like a weird weight has been lifted off ,my shoulders. I no longer have to worry about it since I know it’s not there.
It’s also just such a funny feeling you get when you realize you’re the only person not looking at your phone some place. In an elevator or at a restaurant. I get so smug and cocky looking at the stupid people. Totally undeserved but it feels great for like 3 seconds. Highly suggest it.
Show I’m Binging
I was never religiously into South Park, but every time I watch it I ask myself why I don’t watch it more. I hate when actors say this when they’re accepting awards, but South Park is truly “brilliant.” The way they’re able to take relevant, controversial topics and turn them into such foolish, trivial events is unparalleled. Each of season 22’s episodes were about school shootings, pedophelia in the Catholic church, Juul, legalized marijuana, feminism and PC culture, e-scooters, global warming, cell phone anxiety, and Amazon. The whole time I was both learning and crying from laughter.
The show has a negative stygma with the older generation (i.e. my parents) but I honestly think it’s one of the most important television shows, or creative pieces, of our lifetimes. Every American should be watching this because it is truly a microcosm of our culture, identity, and ridiculous views on the current trends of the country. Unbelievable that it’s been on air for 23 years!
Also if you haven’t watched the documentary about what goes into making an episode, it’s pretty amazing.
Book I Just Finished
This is one of those books that’s always being quoted or referenced by really smart, philosophical people. I knew it was an ancient Chinese text so I figured it would be impossible to read and full of weird limericks like “Dig the well before you are thirsty.” Which, it kind of was, but much cooler. It’s supposed to be a book on strategies of war, but it’s lasted so long because almost all of the lessons are about leadership. It was a quick, easy read and my highlighter got a lot of use. I would definitely suggest this to any coaches or people in leadership positions. It’s applicable to war, business, sports, and many other areas of life. Here are some of my favorite quotes:
- “Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak.”
- “The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.”
- “Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win”
- “There are not more than five musical notes, yet the combinations of these five give rise to more melodies than can ever be heard.
There are not more than five primary colours, yet in combination
they produce more hues than can ever been seen.
There are not more than five cardinal tastes, yet combinations of
them yield more flavours than can ever be tasted.”
Product Review
Lots of people have good things to say about this so I’m not totally writing it off. But for me, it did absolutely nothing. I took two pills every morning for two weeks and didn’t feel my energy or cognitive levels boost whatsoever. Maybe I did for a couple of days, but that easily could’ve just been the placebo effect. On the fence about buying another bottle, but probably won’t.
I’ve been taking a scoop of Athletic Greens in my water every morning and it tastes pretty good. Well, not good necessarily, but it’s easy enough to drink first thing in the morning wihout dreading it. It’s full of vitamins, minerals, and daily greens so I don’t think you’re supposed to feel anything. Similar to how I don’t feel anything when I take my Fish Oil, Magnesium, and Vitamin A, D, K but I know I’m supposed to be taking them. I would definitely continue to use Athletic Greens but the $97 price point is tough man. I’m going to look elsewhere for a much cheaper, but quality daily greens supplement. Or maybe just eat some more vegetables… But who wants to do that?
Great Reads Across the Internet
- Vivian Cherry A Lifetime Photographing New York’s Streets – in Pictures (theguardian): Really cool photos of NYC from the 1940’s and 50’s taken by a 98 year-old photographer who recently passed away
- Social Media is Ruining our Memories (vice): I rely on my phone way too much to remember and store my information. Phone numbers, passwords, credit card numbers, and even photographic memories. While I do think there is a ton of benefit to the storage capabilities, it definitely is harming our long-term ability to retain picture-perfect memories of great moments in our lives
- I Promise You Never Read a Story Like This, Mate (theplayerstribune): Jesse Lingard is a soccer (football) player for Manchester United and Team England. His story of his rise from undersized youth player to international star under the wing of the greatest coach to ever live is really cool
- 18 Breathtaking Pictures from California’s Stunning “Super Bloom” (buzzfeed)
Have a good weekend y’all
P.S.
This is what I meant when I said “wait ’til the end”
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bv0T2auB6tE/
-KB