Happy Birthday! Sounds like you have some amazing plans for celebrating it. I can never think of anything I want to do.
I'm definitely not a meditative type, but I used to hike up a nearby mountain every Sunday. I did this for a long stretch while I was writing my novel, and I think what made me do the same hike every time was knowing it would exhaust me (the last mile is a pretty intense climb) and that on the way back down when I was super exhausted, that's when new ideas would come to me.
Anyway, that's what it takes to get my chattering mind to shut up and let something new in.
Thank you in advance. I completely understand, there’s definitely something to exhaustion, but also think it’s better not to over rely on it, even as I say that as a totally ADHD type.
I have also not had any idea what I wanted to do in previous years, but since the past couple years, I decided being in wild places and really pushing myself to leave crowds behind, be self sufficient, and do things that scare me some, is a priority in life, so why wait? My goal is to do the John Muir Trail before I’m 45. It’s about 200 miles long through the Sierra Nevadas and considered to be one of the best thru hikes in the world. Being from CA, I also have a great fondness for the Sierras.
Very timely post Nic —reducing inputs, like having emptyish spaces seems to be something I can always shave down more and more — and ditto on the happy birthday wishes this coming weekend, sounds like a solid plan to kick off the 40s. I had my first ever martial arts class—aikido as well—about 10 days ago —and I will be going back. Keen to read more about that and your Taiwan gongfucha story that you mentioned will be a subject of another post. Excited for it when it the time comes.
Thanks so much for this excellent post, Nick! I really like the idea of reducing inputs. Sometimes that's just essential to avoid overstimulation which can lead to breakdowns at least for me. But in general reducing inputs or curating inputs carefully seems great for health and well being. A lot to think about. Great post!!
I agree, I have much the same experience, and thank you.
I was getting quite a kick out of how amazed you were in Japan that people were more relaxed in public spaces, crossing the street, didn't feel like people were watching you negatively etc. Japan is an outlier in many things, both good and bad, but I think you would have more of this experience in most countries, honestly. America has just become a really stressful, excessive, bizarre place.
Happy Birthday! Sounds like you have some amazing plans for celebrating it. I can never think of anything I want to do.
I'm definitely not a meditative type, but I used to hike up a nearby mountain every Sunday. I did this for a long stretch while I was writing my novel, and I think what made me do the same hike every time was knowing it would exhaust me (the last mile is a pretty intense climb) and that on the way back down when I was super exhausted, that's when new ideas would come to me.
Anyway, that's what it takes to get my chattering mind to shut up and let something new in.
Thank you in advance. I completely understand, there’s definitely something to exhaustion, but also think it’s better not to over rely on it, even as I say that as a totally ADHD type.
I have also not had any idea what I wanted to do in previous years, but since the past couple years, I decided being in wild places and really pushing myself to leave crowds behind, be self sufficient, and do things that scare me some, is a priority in life, so why wait? My goal is to do the John Muir Trail before I’m 45. It’s about 200 miles long through the Sierra Nevadas and considered to be one of the best thru hikes in the world. Being from CA, I also have a great fondness for the Sierras.
Very timely post Nic —reducing inputs, like having emptyish spaces seems to be something I can always shave down more and more — and ditto on the happy birthday wishes this coming weekend, sounds like a solid plan to kick off the 40s. I had my first ever martial arts class—aikido as well—about 10 days ago —and I will be going back. Keen to read more about that and your Taiwan gongfucha story that you mentioned will be a subject of another post. Excited for it when it the time comes.
Hah! Exciting! Tell me about your dojo, once you catch your breath. Welcome to aiki.
Thanks so much for this excellent post, Nick! I really like the idea of reducing inputs. Sometimes that's just essential to avoid overstimulation which can lead to breakdowns at least for me. But in general reducing inputs or curating inputs carefully seems great for health and well being. A lot to think about. Great post!!
I agree, I have much the same experience, and thank you.
I was getting quite a kick out of how amazed you were in Japan that people were more relaxed in public spaces, crossing the street, didn't feel like people were watching you negatively etc. Japan is an outlier in many things, both good and bad, but I think you would have more of this experience in most countries, honestly. America has just become a really stressful, excessive, bizarre place.