We judge our thoughts too harshly and our actions too leniently.
Author Archives: John
Music Describes Life
Music language is great for describing life. Grace notes, accents, codas, forte, variations on a theme, diminuendo, crescendo.
What elements of life can’t be described by music?
Movement
If we were our pets’ pets, I’m sure they would comment on how little we moved. Much can be learned from a dog’s sprints or a cat’s stroll.
Solitude
Solitude is furiously sought when gone and furiously abandoned when found.
Thus, solitude must be cultivated with intention.
Permission Paradox
Attempt to restrict what you buy and what you eat, and the impulse to over-consume grows stronger.
Give yourself permission to buy any clothes or eat any foods, and your desire to buy and eat decreases.
Deprivation eventually leads to obsession. No diet works over a century.
Construction
If you find knowledge work paralyzing, try working near a construction project. Procrastination gets put into perspective when you see a building built in the time it took to do one writing.
Conversations In Cars
Car conversations are the most intimate and comfortable, the perfect balance between presence with another and truth to yourself.
Spaces
The best spaces are ones you can randomly go to and have a reasonable expectation of seeing someone you know. Cultivate these spaces. They’re the best blend of spontaneity and community.
