Growth can be pretty uncomfortable. You’re stretched and not sure you can do something, perhaps on unfamiliar ground, certainly a bit out of your depth. It’s scary to commit. Pushing on with what you don’t want to do might feel very similar. There’s discomfort and uncertainty. Your commitment is probably lacklustre. How to discern if you’re growing or merely troubling yourself? Ask if it lines … Continue reading The right discomfort
I’ve fallen in love with this song. I find it soothing and energising. Perhaps oddly, at the same time. My favourite part: “As if in each of usThere once was a fireAnd for some of usThere seem as if there are only ashes nowBut when we dig in the ashesWe find one emberAnd very gently we fan that ember… blow on it… it gets brighterAnd … Continue reading From that ember, we rebuild the fire
In the mailbox of the day job, I get a ‘daily briefing’ email that’s an automated bunch of arguably useful suggestions. After a weekend the email starts with “hope you had time to recharge”. I was struck by the implicit acknowledgement – that work is a thing we must recharge from. That, for a lot of people, work isn’t energising. It takes a lot from … Continue reading Hope you had time to recharge
It’s been a heck of a week for various reasons. I’ve felt pushed and pulled in all directions and ill at ease for much of it. The best of the week, indeed the antidote to it as I reflect on the demands on me, was giving something away. At a time, some years ago, when I had very little money, I bought lots of little … Continue reading The priceless gift of giving, not cost counting
He wanted to put it down, throw it away. He was compelled to carry on reading. This book, The Fountainhead, is creating a reaction I’d describe with the same turns of phrase that I’m irritated to read inside it. That I agree and so violently disagree, at the same time and in stark constrast, is a sure sign it’s making me think. Not a sign … Continue reading The Fountainhead
When I was younger and heard the phrase “it’s character building”, I’d roll my eyes perhaps, perhaps give a half-hearted chuckle, and work through the difficulty. Usually quite ungraciously. Now, I see the truth in it. Those parts of my character that I’m most proud of, have been built on experiences I wouldn’t have chosen for myself or others. Those parts of my character are … Continue reading Those nourishing things I could wish hadn’t happened
I finished my first read through of The Daily Stoic yesterday, and found a helpful reminder at the end. “…philosophers warn us not to be satisfied with mere learning, but to add practice and then training. For as time passes we forget what we learned and end up doing the opposite…” Every day for the last year, I’ve learned a little. The real challenge is … Continue reading Learn, practice, train, consistently apply
Reflecting briefly on 2021, and the feedback I’ve had at work, suggests I’ve done really well. I’ve done so well without really pushing myself. I’ve put in some good graft, for sure, though I’ve not given it nearly my all. I’m not beating myself up about this – it feels like I’ve subconsciously chosen a year of recovery and reconnection. Still, I’ve done really well. … Continue reading And if you pushed for excellence?
I love Focus Mode on the text editor (SimpleNote, currently) that I write my blogs in. Would that there were a way to quiet the mind so easily. There is, at least for me – it merely requires some discipline. Not discipline at the time I need the focus, but ahead of that to regularly make time to meditate. Thereby, to train the mind. The … Continue reading Focus mode – it’s really a prior engagement
I enjoyed learning a little more about what data scientists do today. In summary it’s about creating insight that has a positive impact. Software development isn’t really about writing code, it’s about programatically solving a problem. Improving a product or creating opportunity. As a support analyst, the ticket logging and SLA juggling is merely a means to influence the situation positively when things have gone … Continue reading Never mind your job description
Sometimes You Learn 