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The Observe and Rapport Newsletter
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A weekly guide of my favorite books, articles, products, and lifestyle habits.
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January 5th, 2023 | by Kyle Brennan
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Thought of the Week
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Becoming is better than being.
In her book Mindset, Carol Dweck explains that there are two types of thinking that inhabit our minds.
In the fixed mindset, setbacks label you. While the growth mindset allows people to value what they’re doing regardless of the outcome.
The view you adopt for yourself profoundly affects the way you lead your life.
I often think about that quote quote, becoming is better than being, because when I look back on most of the things I accomplished, it isn't necessarily the moment of achievement that I cherish, but rather the grit and grime of clawing my way to get there in the first place.
I don't think about crossing the finish line of the race, I think about waking up at 4:30 am before work to run 9 miles in the rain. It fucking sucked at the time, but that's what I'm most proud of - the fact that I took myself from a person who would say "screw that, I'm sleeping in," to a person who said, "Let's get after it."
Achieving the goal won't make you any happier. You already achieved the goals you said would make you happy.
Becoming is better than being.
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What I'm Reading
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Elizabeth Zott is a brilliant, highly trained chemist who hasn’t gotten farther along in the world simply because she’s a woman. It’s 1960 and there are certain “expectations” for women in the workforce.
Lessons in Chemistry is a novel set in the 1950s and 1960s. The central protagonist is the smart and beautiful Elizabeth Zott, a single mother and research scientist, whose passion for science has her seeing the world and people through the lens of chemistry.
Unfortunately, she lives in a time when women have no place in science.
But Elizabeth Zott doesn’t allow other people’s opinions and stigmas to limit her. She isn’t afraid to act and live differently, challenging society, politics, and religion.
The book has been turned into a TV series on Apple TV featuring Brie Larson, which I just started last night and seems really good so far
Rating: 4.8 / 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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My Latest Article
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Would we truly cherish happiness if it were never-ending?
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Perhaps, in some fucked up way, life throws us these hardships to imbue it with a deeper significance; to make finite that which we wish to be permanent.
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When someone in our circle faces danger of any kind, it magnifies our interconnectedness, making us all feel a bit more necessary than usual.
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What I'm Watching
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A buddy at the fire department told me about this new show on Netflix. It was created by the Broken Lizard guys who did Super Troopers and Beerfest, so I knew it was bound to be funny.
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They took the spirit of Super Troopers, added some new talent, and created something both familiar and decidedly new. It's a little corny at times, but definitely a good show to provide some quick laughs as you're winding down for the night.
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Song I'm Listening To
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I can't get enough of Jose Gonzalez. I don't listen to it for enjoyment, but when I write, his music takes me into a magical trance I can't quite put into words. It resonates perfectly with the mood I'm trying to get myself into.
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My 5 Biggest Health & Fitness Lessons from 2023
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Gym Bag I'm Using
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After a solid 10-year run with my old gym bag, it was time for an upgrade. I received this North Face bag from a work partner for Christmas and I absolutely love it.
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I recently started doing Jiu Jitsu regularly so I needed a larger bag to fit my gi, belt, tape, mouthguard, bandaids, gauze, sandals, toiletries, towel, and a change of clothes. It also has backpack straps so it's much easier than slinging it over my shoulder than most normal gym bags.
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Quote I'm Pondering
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“If you think adventure is dangerous, try routine; it is lethal.”
— Paulo Coelho
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Keith and Kyle sit down to discuss the recent senate chamber scandal, the societal influence of various political philosophers, "Time Confetti", and answer a reflective end-of-the-year question.
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Books Mentioned in this Episode:
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Check Out My Amazon Favorites Bookstore
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Browse my favorite book selections hand-curated by me. I also earn commissions so if you buy anything, those earnings get reinvested right back into this fancy newsletter ;)
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Kyle's Published Work
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33 Life Lessons on My 33rd Birthday
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Thirty-three was a big one. Mostly because I became a dad. Our daughter was born on New Year’s Eve — a fitting arrival for a kid destined to reset everything. It’s been a beautiful, if slightly sleep-deprived blur ever since. I’ve only been “Dad” for less than ten months, but if I’m being honest, I’ve been preparing for the role for over …
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Depth Over Downloads: Why Spending Time with Books Still Matters
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Everyone wants faster information. But no one asks if faster information leads to better understanding — or a better life. In the age of AI and tweet-sized wisdom, we’ve confused information with transformation. But there’s a massive difference between knowing what a book says and being changed by it. The Delusion of Instant Learning In a recent interview, political journalist Ezra Klein admitted he once believed …
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The Jack Reacher Approach to Never Being Caught Off Guard
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There’s no difference between a pessimist who says, ‘Oh, it’s hopeless, so don’t bother doing anything,’ and an optimist who says, ‘Don’t bother doing anything, it’s going to turn out fine anyway.’ Either way, nothing happens.” —Yvon Chouinard, Founder of Patagonia I don’t read much fiction, but I’ve always been hooked on Lee Child’s Jack Reacher. He’s not your typical …
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