The Portland trip took a lot out of us. The trip was great, but planning and then recovering took a bunch of extra time before and after the actual time off. And then we followed it with a jaunt to San Diego right before school started. Travel is fun, but it eats into “free” time for sure.
,
quack quack
sexy selfie sandwich
How did duckface became a social media phenomenon? I guess every era needs its thing.
,
we don’t see our
mythology
I went light for a white on white vibe. Then reversed it.
,
somewhere we assemble wonder moon
meet rich star light award
fall and honor sun girl
I had some fun with extended italics as I wrapped up February.
,
lamp
with a fresh genie
The flat brush runs fine, but I’ve continued to have trouble with cursive with a pointed brush. The Pentel brush pen works great, but I’ve never gotten the hang of normal pointed brushes.
,
touching
hands
through
a
loupe
I had purchased a collage by Duane Toops and zoomed in with a jeweler’s loupe. Collage is a tactile art, I could see his hand in the cuts and ridges of paper on paper.
The cursive looks like it has regressed, it might be time to add it back on the list as a monthly focus.
,
Again, it feels like I’m trying to just get something in before another month disappears. Things have been super busy at work. But it’s a good busy. I’m doing good work on great projects.
I just need to slow down the pace. As much as I hate to admit it, things at the airport can wait, especially as time with the wife and kids continues to drip away.
I didn’t get this posted in time for August, and then my body revolted to put September on hold for three weeks.
Even worse, after returning from the hospital with my liver abscess, another family member went to the ER after dropping a bunch of weight and experiencing serious discomfort in the gut.
The family is going through a bout of organ revolts. We’ve had a good run, so I guess we were due.
Health shouldn’t be taken for granted, and yet, that is exactly what we do during the good times. One can’t live on permanent high alert, but I need to cultivate a practice of gratitude to savor the quiets between the storms.
Cya next time!
,
PS—The Mentor Leader, Tony Dungy, 2010
In 2021, I stopped reading self-help books—I got what I needed out of them.
After starting a work-related newsletter, I tried to restart the habit to grab some professional ideas to go with my artistic interests.
Naww, I’m past peak Self-help.
There’s nothing wrong with this book. This book matches Tony Dungy’s public persona—a quiet dude who makes everyone around him successful.
I blasted through the book at 2x speed. His main point is that a mentor leader should be humble. Being humble means receding into the background; success is found in elevating those around you.
I dig it! I bet I’m less humble than I’d like to believe, but I appreciate the appeal of his message.
Tony goes heavy on Christianity, but given my recent forays into ancient wisdom literature, that’s fine, even as an atheist.
Worth a quick listen if you’re in the mood for a generic leadership book, though you might remember nothing from it four years hence.
,
PPS—The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, Mark Manson, 2016
It’s kind of amazing to listen to a self help book and have nothing to say about it, even after trying to come up with an interesting take for a few days.
Just standard tough love, self-help fare, with a lot of F-bombs. The title is perfect for this book. If you pick it up, you’ll most likely dig it.
I didn’t disagree with Manson’s main points. There are only so many ways to approach life and his recommendations match how I see things, in spite of his crass delivery.
- Pick your priorities (chose your f’s).
- Control your reactions.
- Owning your world is better constantly being the victim of your own psychodrama.
- Avoid highs—chemical, relational, any type. They’re temporary and the crash only gets worse the longer you delay.
- Commitment is freedom. It creates depth versus breadth.
- Don’t pursue the results, pursue the process. Or if you don’t enjoy the process, give up on the results and chase what you enjoy doing.
The unconvinced will not be persuaded, but the book is fine if you want another take on such riffs. Another listen for 2x speed.
,
PPPS—Practice
.