Book 7-the War of Art

I have heard of this book many times as a must read for anyone who is creative or desires to be creative. Tim Ferriss and many others talk about reading this book before any big project as a way to get their mind right.

What shocked me was how different the book is laid out, then what I was originally expecting. I’m not sure why, but the short chapters, with short and interesting illustrations caught my attention as they were much more adventurous and characterized than I was prepared for.

Pressfield, puts the procrastination battles into evil forms and describes the battle as a life or death situation, vs the expected prescription of get up, get coffee and write in 15 min blocks etc etc etc. Of course, I shouldn’t have been surprised, as this is much more engaging, and absolutely more motivating to get into the space and go kick some tail, otherwise you will be destroyed.

This short read, does need to get picked up more often that not, as it is fun, and motivating. I get it now. This is a must read, for everyone, creative or not.

Book 6-Yes to Life

Viktor Frankl is a man that has inspired and challenged many throughout the years. This book is actually transcripts of several speeches that he gave post release of his capture in concentration camps. If you have read is book, A Man’s Search for Meaning, then you will know the gist of these speeches. With that being said, regardless of your familiarity to his work and perspective, each reading of Frankle truly is challenging. Coming from a man that lost almost everything, he continues to inspire and push his listeners to their limits with a humility that is breathtaking. Finding just little moments, or focuses to get you through a tough situation is challenging, but he demonstrated it can be done. Those motivations are what he tries to portray as important focuses on day to day living, that can make Life so worth Living.

Everyone should read Frankle, and if I’m honest we all should read him more often. I know I get caught of in details, and complaints at such a minor level that it tends to eat away at the joy and blessings that I do have in my life each and everyday.

I hope to continue to be thankful for each day, each blessing and each opportunity set before me. And if I’m not, I better just start reading Frankl some more!

Book 5-Endure

You have to be a geek to actually enjoy this book. I at times believe I fit in that stereotype, at least on a few subjects. Running has become one of those subjects. So ultimately, this book was interesting, but I did feel like I had to slog through some of it. Not because the writing was bad, but because I realize that high end performance running isn’t really my jam. I am into the pushing the boundaries, exploring the edges and experiencing my own soul, vs can I squeeze off 2 minutes off my marathon times.

Ultimately, I loved how he ended the book in the concept of mind is more of a powerful tool and unknown subject than any VO2 max or stride rate. Somewhat what I have come to understand in the Ultra races I’ve done, on a baseline physical is needed, but really the races are done in your head and can you push through to the other side.

I’m sure I will take some of the tests, and studies and incorporate them into my life, but really I think I was more emboldened to pursue my personal exploration in my body and mind vs trying to get some measured goals. Not a bad conclusion to have in my opinion.

Book 4-Foster

Claire Keegan is a good writer. One of those that I believe most book people would agree with. The amount of power and purpose that comes through in her novellas is really quite impressive.

The story of a little girl who stays with her grandparents over the summer, while her mom is having another baby is simple in concept, but the grip of emotions that come through is palpable. Being a parent, or a child, (so everyone) will be able to place themselves in any of the characters shoes and honestly ask, “What would I do?”.

One aspect of her books that is interesting for me, is that she doesn’t ever explicitily say what exactly is going on in the characters minds, or communicates exactly what has happened. You are left thinking, questioning and somewhat coming to your own conclusions on what is trying to be conveyed. I wish I was smart enough to figure it all out on my own, but I didn’t. I immediately asked my wife about the ending and what exactly happened.

I won’t tell you what she said, or what I thought about it, because I don’t think it matters. Really, take an hour or two and read this book. You won’t regret it.

Book 3-Never Finished

Of course, I had to get this. Goggins is someone that continues to inspire and push me to be better and do better. Although, many of the experiences and stories don’t come as much of a surprise as the first book, the tone of vulnerability he shares is rawer than ever before. The audio book, has the Podcast supplements in between the chapters, which add so much flavor and depth to the stories that I can’t imagine reading his stuff any other way.

Every time I see or hear David Goggins I am left with 2 feelings. 1. He is beyond inspiring and impressive with his discipline and perseverance. 2. I feel for him with all the trauma he has experienced.

His story is insane. His motivation is uncanny. I hope I can instill that grit and determination for myself, and family so they can build that in themselves putting them through so much pain and abuse that David Goggins has recieved in his life. Ultimately, he does motivated me to #Stay Hard

Book 2- A Walk in the Woods

This one has been sitting in the, “too be read”, stack for over 2 years. My assumption (we all know what the saying is about assume), was that this was a more technical, diary approach to the magic of hiking the AT brought. Although, Bryson does have some of that, I was surprised to find the wit and humor that he so freely writes with. The stories and pictures you get from these 2 guys, hiking in the woods and how non “woodsy” they seem to be was very refreshing.

Of course, the transformation, the passion and the communication of what an experience like this does do to you does seep out in the words he puts down on paper. Especially how he just can’t seem to stay away, even when he is supposed to be waiting (driving day trips), gives a glimpse of what a long walk in the woods would do to someone.

I finished this book feeling that everyone has a journey, and even if we walk the same path, we have different experiences along the way. Slowing down, physically moving and surviving on what you can carry, or find along the way is something that I fully expect our family to do someday. I’m not sure if the entire AT is even a portion will be our trail, but I do want to continue to seek out experiences, such as what Bill Bryson did, and maybe even talk about it someday:)

Book 1-Weird

Of course, I would like a book with this title. My name is Weirdo Daddy, so basically the book is about me. Well not exactly. I do think that the author, Olga, has a unique but likely common experience of living in this world and not quite fitting in. Her experience from moving to Midland, then Dallas area as a Russian Immigrant carried some painful memories of how she grew up and how those experiences effected her, still to this day. Her vulnerability of her own thoughts and feelings as well as the numerous other individual who had their own “weirdness”, does make you think who feels like an outcast in each group you are in. This outcast feeling most of the time brings a pain and a hidden stance to others, so that they can blend in, but the sadness occurs when those individuals do not get to experience the fullness of themselves in this world and all that they can bring to the table.

Biases are real and we all have them. The key take away for me is to better understand where my biases lie, how they can be uncovered, and the boldness to pursue those that may be on the outside. I also loved the fact that true breakthroughs in society only can come when unique perspectives, thoughts and action plans can be brought to an issue. Through diverse opinions, we likely will be able to come up with dynamic results that are well rounded and well thought out.

Ultimately, I recongize my weirdness is mild. I am white. I am male. I am straight. I am married. I am middle, to upper middle class. There are true “weird” people in the sense of how they barely check off any one box let alone multiple. Those people are beautiful, they deserve full respect, they deserve love and appreciation and I can be a factor in their acceptance.

Strong book, strong message and worth contemplating.

New Year, Same You

I love New Year’s. My wife and I geek out over reflecting on the previous year, the books we read, the success or failures of previous goals we made, then thoughtfully dreaming about how we want the New Year to play out. I know a lot of people do Resolutions but this is way more than that for us.  It is truly our most favorite time of the year and it has blossomed to this, because I believe our ritual has become more authentic and less superficial.  As an adult, I recognize that most relationships are built on “should be” similarities.  We should like the same food, drink, political affiliations, financial goals and parenting philosophies.  We should all like the same vacations, movies and bands.  But what happens when what I should like, I just don’t?

Have you been authentic with your coworkers about your love of middle school fiction? Or your kids room mom, that you  oppose buying crappy chocolate to raise money for a new Projector and would rather buy organic craft made chocolate at the farmers market because its good and kids need to just have longer at recess.  Or would you dare put a Trump and Biden sign in your yard and say you like both?  I don’t think many of us would.

As a parent, I get a front row seat to see this evolution of humanity happens in real time.  The absolute innocence of babies and toddlers expressing exactly what they like and dislike.  The way to fast recognition when they realize they are different than others.  The move to suppression of characteristics that don’t morph into the “popular group”.  To the expressed desires that now start to feel group think.  I sit here wondering is this healthy and good.  Is it inherently a part of our survival instincts to fit into a group or is it something that is pushing us to live a false narrative that will put our kids into a massive deconstruction phase of life (a midlife crisis isn’t just cliché, but real).

So today, I speak to all of us.  Rekindle that uniqueness.  Dust off those interests and desires and build on them.  You, and those around you will be better because of it.  And as you recognize that its ok to be different, remember to accept those differences in others as well.

New Year, Same You.  And that is really exciting to think about!!  

Fear

Snakes, spiders, public speaking and death all tend to illicit the same feelings. The fluttering heart beat, hair on the back of your neck flight/fight/freeze. Why does this occur? Besides the fact genetics and evolutionary growth have ingrained certain responses to life threatening or dangerous items, you tend to realize that most of these reactions are overblown. The situations are typically harmless or ineveitable outcome (sorry I have no solution to death, so you might as well start to embrace it).

Snakes and spiders really want to avoid you and public speaking rarely is so bad that someone will not have a cup of coffee with you if you ask. So this inate reaction can be recognized, and worked through (talk to Dr. Godfrey about this as he is more of an expert than I https://discoveryourtruecourse.com/ ) to logically and effectively react to those stimuli to live a more fearless life.

As obvious a practice that this will serve you if you are leading a guerrilla operation in the rainforest of Brazil, these examples actually are just examples versus actual practical fears that I observe in lives around me (including myself). Choosing to date, get married, have kids, pursue a job, invest in a stock, buy a home, start a company or reconcile with past hurts to just name a few. Fear of making the wrong decision, or not making the best decision, can lead to paralysis by analysis and many times the rigidity in the subjects decision making actual causes the decision to fail, not because it was wrong, but because you snapped during pressure. You became frozen, you fled or you just fight all the time….because you are scared.

Have you ever observed a tree. Small to giant alike, pushing down to establish their roots while reaching towards the sky to fulfill their destiny. They must continue their pursuit no matter what comes their way, and those obstacles bring advancements, flexiblities, outer shell protections, which allow them to literally bob and weave through the chaos. They have a plan, understand they are not in complete control, and literally live with the results. There are a lot of different trees, and each one serves a very important role in their neighbor trees as well as the ecosystem around it. The flat out need for our trees to continue to do what they have done since the beginning of time is sometime the most overlooked issue of our day. But enough of the climate soapbox. Let’s just observe how trees handle fear and what we can gleam from it.

Those trees should inform us that fear of failure should never stop you from planting roots, spread your seed and grow. Sure a lot of trees fail to grow, but they are not ever wasted. The seeds still feed animals, still enrich soil and still give hope to their brothers on the same journey. The middle aged tree that just could make it past the lightning, did not waste their life, but actually became a bed and furtile ground to allow the next generation to get a heads up in life. And of course the famous granddaddy of them all. They get the accolodades, the protections and the glory but their role isn’t any different in the balance of the ecosystem than any other tree. Imagine the tragedy of all the trees of the world not sharing their seed or reaching for the stars because they don’t think they can last like General Grant

Fear responses are inherently not a bad thing. They do serve to protect us when we need protection, but too oftern the fear of failure is developing a deficit of human potential that creates an apathy and depression that is harmful. The individual as well as the community around them suffers when we lose the joy of pursuit of planting, nurturing and growing.

Dig a little hole. Plant a seed. Water it. Nourish it. Don’t worry what you will look like, but give yourself to something and see what actually grows.