Journey

6-6 Waypoint Check-In + A New Challenge

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This is the 4th and last stop of my 11th month journey to create life-long habits for myself. The full write-up on this is hosted in the Archives.

I planned to take on this year-long trek up to December 12th (12/12) and to stop and reflect on my progress each month until then. So, how’d it go these past 4 months from February 2nd to June 6 (2/2-6/6)? Honestly, not well. In years past, I’ve spread myself too thin or chose unrealistic goals. This year it has been a lack of discipline. For example:

Nutrition & Training

I resolved to eat out less or eat healthier foods while targeting specific fitness training goals. But these have failed because I failed.

Yoga & Meditation

Non-existent due to an ankle injury that has aggravated me for almost a month.

Photography & Writing

I’ve blogged more recently, as well as journaled, but not at a pace that I’ve wanted. The past month there were a few photo walks, but I don’t think my mind or my ankle was up for them.

One Last Waypoint:

I feel like I could cut and paste these posts from one month to the next. What is the point of creating habits for yourself, checking in with supposed accountability with little progress to show in your journey?

I’ve taken an assessment now that I am about halfway through the journey, and it’s time to head back down the trail and try a different route. No more waypoint check-ins because it has not been a happy trail. So, what’s up next, then?

Well, that’s a post for another time. Thank you for joining me on the journey.

A Few Thoughts On…

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  1. Creativity and imagination needs to be constantly fed.
  2. Reading is an anytime, anywhere pastime
  3. Slow down.
  4. Excuses delay the inevitable.
  5. Make time for good conversation.
  6. Apply what you know.
  7. Chase the knowledge.
  8. Organize your desk.
  9. Make yourself so good that they don’t want to let you go.
  10. You are only as good to them as your last quarter.
  11. Do or don’t.
  12. Try.
  13. Your best effort wants to come out. Give it a go.
  14. Essentialism > minimalism
  15. Personal development > formal education.
  16. Learning > formal education
  17. Moderation in all things (sugar, salt, social media, alcohol, spending)
  18. Let the tools do their job. Your brain can take care of the rest.
  19. Pen to paper > fingers to keyboard.
  20. What is your origin story? Document your progress.
  21. Change is good.
  22. Willingness to change is even better.
  23. Laughing is a habit-forming drug.
  24. No one told you because they didn’t know either.
  25. Asking is free.
  26. Doing > over-analyzing how to do it.
  27. Your thoughts are clouded and stuck in high fructose corn syrup.
  28. Youth is a feeling, not an age.
  29. Call your loved ones.
  30. Forgive yourself.
  31. Forgive them.
  32. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and faithfulness > whatever else you are doing instead.

5-5 Waypoint Check-In

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This is the 3rd stop of my 11th month [[journey]] to create life-long habits for myself. The full write up on this is now hosted in the Archives.

I’ll be taking this year-long trek up to December 12th (12/12) and will stop and reflect on my progress each month until then. These will be known as monthly waypoints. A waypoint is a reference point that helps us know where we are and where we’re going. Whether we are walking, driving, or navigating a journey to better yourself, waypoints help us find our way.

So how am I doing so far?

Nutrition & Training
Despite poor eating habits, I’ve managed to drop three pounds since last check-in. April had me working out just about every day and I am grateful for that but I am seeing very little gains, I wonder how to correct this.

Yoga & Meditation
Non existent this month. I need to find a thicker mat because these hardwood floors HURT. I tried stacking mats together but two thin mats equal…well, only a slightly thicker mat unfortunately . It is difficult to create a tiny zen temple in your own home when your home is inflexible, just like my body is becoming.
If it was not for the hourly reminder from my Apple Watch to meditate it probably would not get done. I need to sort out how to do this without a Siri prompt.

Photography & Writing

No change to either of these, again due to stresses. So, I will simply cut/paste from the previous month as it still applies:

Other than ”snappy hour” every day before sunset, I have not photographed anything I wanted to. Again, the extreme weather is not helping. That will change, even if I have to do tech stuff laying around the office and call it ”still life.” Regarding my two decades worth of unorganized images: progress. I will get the archives organized this year. Only then can I advance in what I really want to do with them. I intend to make memories by developing physical prints, books, and even zines. I’ve also switched up my genres to focus on landscape and urban photography. A lot to learn here this year.

Writing? I’ve made a decision to do more blogging/journaling both analog and digital this past month. Blogging was hampered while consolidating my websites and moving them to my own server. Also, I’ve been reading, a lot. Two books in about seven days. Writers are readers so they say.

One Last Thing:
I feel like I could cut and paste these posts from one month to the next. What is the point of creating habits for yourself, checking in with supposed accountability with little progress to show in your journey? However, now that spring time has arrived I plan on being outdoors more frequently and this makes me happy. More hiking, geocaching, photography, disc golf, and aero photos.

Time to get back on the trail because I have a long way to go. The next waypoint check in is on 6/6. Happy trails!

Beginner’s Mind

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“It often happens that two students can solve difficulties in their work for one another better than the master can. The fellow-pupil can help because he knows less. The difficulty we want him to explain is one he has recently met. The expert met it so long ago he has forgotten.”

C.S. Lewis

When I was supervising a team of engineers, I would often train new hires but also bring in a recent “graduate” from a previous training session to sit in with these new hires. The concepts were still fresh in their minds, while I may have taken for granted what should be common knowledge because it was “basic.”

While learning how to sketch and paint here recently, I grabbed a couple of books such as “Beginning Watercoloring” or “Learn to Draw” that was absolutely worthless. I am drawing stick figures but the examples shown in the book were full on portraits in pencil that would take years to master.

If I were to ask an artist right now how do you do this or that, they may not be able to convey properly what I need to learn. No, I need someone who is at the same level to learn with and challenge each other to become better. I am ignorant and sometimes don’t know what to ask, so how can I effectively learn from a “master?”

This is a great time to document what you are doing and learning right now because eventually you can look back on it and see your progress. As opposed to making something crap, then posting for everyone to see and offer fake kudos or “likes.” This doesn’t help. The expert takes for granted all of the fundamental concepts needed because they’ve moved on. They’ve built their knowledge and their foundation and have put their own flair on it.

This applies to utility engineering, to drawing, to photography or everything else. Innate talent will only take you so far. Embrace your beginner status and learn to have fun. Document your progress and appreciate the journey.

4-4 WAYPOINT CHECK IN

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This is the second stop of my 11th month journey to create life-long habits for myself. The full write up on this is now hosted in the Archives.

I’ll be taking this year-long trek up to December 12th (12/12) and will stop and reflect on my progress each month until then. These will be known as monthly waypoints. A waypoint is a reference point that helps us know where we are and where we’re going. Whether we are walking, driving, or navigating a journey to better yourself, waypoints help us find our way.

So how am I doing so far?

Nutrition & Training
Horrible month of nutrition. I probably had a few home cooked meals but mostly have dined out. Disgusting. Prices have gone up, salt intake has gone up. Disappointing. Enough of this convenience, it is pathetic. I am still eating out more than I like because it is too convenient. Dropping the idea of paleo and keto diet and want to integrate more fruits and vegetables so Mediterranean diet.

Training? Could have been better. I have been desk-bound trying to wrap up our work contract the past few weeks. Now that this is over, I can focus on myself for awhile and I am going to do just that. More gym combined with spring time outdoor exercise and workouts at home with Apple Fitness+.

I threw out all of the tobacco pipe paraphernalia and tobacco. I was solid for two weeks until we found a stash of more and well, we couldn’t let it go to waste, right? After that, I purchased another pipe, more tobacco and here I am. I didn’t appreciate what addiction can do until then. Now I can sympathize with others. Total pounds lost this last month: Five. Pounds regained: 3.

Yoga & Meditation
My body is sore from yoga and even a few pilates exercises. Don’t let anyone think less of you for practicing these. You use muscles that you forgot you had in every session. I enjoy yoga and plan on deepening these sessions.

On meditation, I have realized it can be done anywhere at anytime there is even a free minute. This makes me happy and gives me zero excuses to not focus and relax. It can be pure joy to take a moment and just breathe. Now that I have some time to myself I can do more of this. I can relax, breathe and turn my brain off for a few moments throughout the day.

Photography & Writing

No change to either of these, again due to work stresses. So, I will simply cut/paste from the previous month as it still applies:

Other than ”snappy hour” every day before sunset, I have not photographed anything I wanted to. Again, the extreme weather is not helping. That will change, even if I have to do tech stuff laying around the office and call it ”still life.” Regarding my two decades worth of unorganized images: progress. I will get the archives organized this year. Only then can I advance in what I really want to do with them. I intend to make memories by developing physical prints, books, and even zines. I’ve also switched up my genres to focus on landscape and urban photography. A lot to learn here this year.

Writing? I’ve made a decision to do more blogging/journaling both analog and digital this past month. Blogging was hampered while consolidating my websites and moving them to my own server. Also, I’ve been reading, a lot. Two books in about seven days. Writers are readers so they say.

One Last Thing:
Now that spring time has arrived I plan on being outdoors more frequently and this makes me happy. More hiking, geocaching, photography, disc golf, and aero photos.

Time to get back on the trail because I have a long way to go. The next waypoint check in is on 5/5. Happy trails.

3/3 Waypoint Check In

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This is the first check in point of the 11th month journey to create life-long habits for myself. The full write up on this is now hosted in the Archives.

I’ll be taking this year-long trek up to December 12th (12/12) and will stop and reflect on my progress each month until then. These will be known as monthly waypoints. A waypoint is a reference point that helps us know where we are and where we’re going. Whether we are walking, driving, or navigating a journey to better yourself, waypoints help us find our way.

So how am I doing so far?

Nutrition & Training

I am still eating out more than I like because it is too convenient. After looking at Keto and Paleo diets, I want to switch to Paleo.

Next up is training. It has been an odd mixture of freezing, snowy days or 80* days this past month. Infrequent trips to the gym, a lot of walking and some workouts at home with Apple Fitness+.

Still smoking, still drinking soda, still consuming alcohol. More liquor than beer because less carbs is a better idea, yeah? Something has to go, something has to give. Tobacco is my first target, then the soda. February’s Apple Fitness challenges complete and I closed all three rings every day in February. Total pounds lost this last month: Six.

Yoga & Meditation

My body is sore from yoga and even a few pilates exercises. Don’t let anyone think less of you for practicing these. You use muscles that you forgot you had in every session. I enjoy yoga and plan on deepening these sessions.

On meditation, I have realized it can be done anywhere at anytime there is even a free minute. This makes me happy and gives me zero excuses to not focus and relax.

Photography & Writing

Other than ”snappy hour” every day before sunset, I have not photographed anything I wanted to. Again, the extreme weather is not helping. That will change, even if I have to do tech stuff laying around the office and call it ”still life.” Regarding my two decades worth of unorganized images: progress. I will get the archives organized this year. Only then can I advance in what I really want to do with them. I intend to make memories by developing physical prints, books, and even zines. I’ve also switched up my genres to focus on landscape and urban photography. A lot to learn here this year.

Writing? I’ve made a decision to do more blogging/journaling both analog and digital this past month. Blogging was hampered while consolidating my websites and moving them to my own server. Also, I’ve been reading, a lot. Four books in about seven days. Writers are readers so they say.

One Last Thing:

The home office is being remodeled with some fresh paint. Still at 85% complete. Window frames to be painted then slap on the new blinds arriving tomorrow. This has slowed down my journey but it is the little side trails that make it all worth it.

Time to get back on the trail because I have a long way to go. The next waypoint check in is on 4/4. Happy trails.