[WITI No. 72] Inspiration from unusual places, re-listening to an audiobook five years later, Easter: squirrel vs. child, downward spiral - not NIN
Guten Abend. Night time now, and I’m going through my weekly writing exercise called What is the Information? I’m still in the midst of the #podcastbet (search Twitter.) There’s less input here because I’ve decided to spend more time trying to finish my book. If you’re interested in a being a beta-reader, reach out!
Update on my transition to another newsletter provider. I scrapped the plan. I found a setting that requires subscribers to double opt-in. Sorry for the drama.
Currently listening to/reading:
I haven’t been reading much this week. I don’t mean to make excuses but it was the tax preparation deadline and generally, there’s some extra attention that clients need around this time of year. Also, soccer season and my daughter’s birthday - kept me away from my books…so don’t have much to report there.
I was able to listen to Tim Ferriss interview Cal Newport. Cal is interesting character - he wrote and published two books while still in college and his approach makes a ton of sense. I was surprised to learn he has already published 7! books, of which I was only familiar with four titles:
How to be a straight A student
So Good They Can’t Ignore You
Deep Work
Digital Minimalism
Newport tips on writing reminded me about Morgan Housel who recently published The Psychology of Money which I enjoyed reading. Also, I thought it could be a useful framework for a reworking of my own book. I’m recommitting to get it done over the next 30 days. I want to have a draft by June 1st, 2022. Tonight, I cranked out 1200 words, so between 30,000 fresh words and 70,000 old words, I should have a first draft that will start to take shape.
I started listening to Robert Wright’s Why Buddhism is True again tonight, according to my notes, I listened to this in 2017. Religion is always a rich topic but there are nuggets in here that just hit differently today.
Ultimately, happiness comes down to choosing between the discomfort of becoming aware of your mental afflictions and the discomfort of being ruled by them. - Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche
Word of the week: Pusillanimity
I encountered this word. An analyst was referring to the hesitation of NATO to provide heavy offensive weapons to Ukraine. We’ll see if Ukraine has what it needs to push back the Russian invasion from the east. It was a pleasant surprise to learn the Ukrainian army was able to sink the Russian Black Sea Flagship Moskva using homegrown, Neptune surface-to-sea missles.
Find of the week: Ants on the death march
Real world consequences of following blindly…
and this squirrel stealing some eggs from our Easter egg hunt for some empty calories himself…
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Tell me what you’re working on! Tell me what you’re struggling with! Are you blindly following? What’s caused you to be inspired?
Thinks someone might be interested to hear the opinions of a husband, father, tax debt studier, voracious reader, and continuous writer and podcaster?
I have no more for you tonight! Tschuss!
-George