January 2021 – Creating Systems for Success, Satisfaction and Stillness.

Remember 2020 MAXX? Feel old yet?

Here is a quote from me on the year that was two thousand and twenty,

“… Interestingly enough, If I can survive what… a full year of this? psychological torture? I think that I can get through anything.”

As with every year I was able to cross a small selection off of my to do list / to be done list, I am experimenting with some new systems:

  • Daily walk / Nightly walk
    • brings step count up to 10,000+ (tracking with Garmin)
    • on these walks I have been recording stream of consciousness conversations with myself that have helped me work through a lot of thoughts, problems, emotions etc.
  • Daily language learning
    • using Duolingo (my profile)
    • this works an interesting part of my brain that otherwise would remain unused, currently experimenting with Japanese, Chinese, Spanish, German and Russian.
  • Limiting pocket screen use
    • Just based on feel, if I want to completely disconnect temporarily my OnePlus has Zen Mode
  • Books
    • Attempting to read one NEW book a month, regularly find myself listening to the same books and this is an attempted solution
    • Currently using Goodreads to track this (my profile) but I would like something self hosted / that integrates with WordPress

Pondering

A conscious effort is made to try and think of new ideas for me instead of just recycling all of the same ideas

  • Yiannis Kouros
    • Greek ultramarathon runner
    • “Kouros says that his secret is that “when other people get tired, they stop. I don’t. I take over my body with my mind”
  • Bushido
    • Bushido is best used as an overarching term for all the codes, practices, philosophies and principles of samurai culture.”
  • Yukio Mishima
    • Japanese author who had controversial views but was one of the most physically and mentally disciplined people i’ve read about in recent memory

Actionable

  • Complete some articles / posts that I have in my backlog / drafts
  • Add self hosted tracking functionality into WP to replace Goodreads / Letterboxd
    • Integration with QuantiPy
  • Try to be less self-critical
  • Do more creative things
  • Action more, don’t overthink
  • E-mail newsletter for this blog

Grateful – List of things I am grateful for to remind me.

  • The unwavering support of my wife to be
  • The good health of my children
  • The ability to provide for my family
  • The luck / blessings that have graced me directly and indirectly

That is all for now, happy trails


Posted

in

by

Tags: