Sunday, May 30, 2010

Enjoy what you're doing... while you do it

I heard a great Ted Talk by Barry Schwartz, author of The Paradox of Choice. I have embedded the talk below. In the talk, he shows a really entertaining (and enlightened) cartoon. I wanted to share it with y'all as a reminder to enjoy what you're doing while you're doing it.
Outside of this cartoon, Schwartz makes a compelling argument for the psychological influence that choice has upon our actions and lifestyles. I have not read his book, but this might hook you into doing so. Enjoy.


Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Finding Resolve

As a noun, resolve is the state of having determination and being firm in purpose and will.

In the summer of 2006, two outstanding events engendered this feeling of resolve in me. First, I read John Krakauer's book, Into the Wild. Inspired by both the saga of Chris McCandless* and the prose of Krakauer, I wrote out the purposes of my life and a detailed map of where I wanted to go. The second event was a trip to Colorado with my dad and sister, Naomi. While also entertaining, unpleasantly fragrant, and spontaneous, the accomplishment and beauty of summitting eight 14ers was inspiring and catalytic. In my college journal, I remarked how important it would be maintain this impetus and drive.


Four years later, I am proud to repeat my own history. I just completed John Krakauer's book about the tragedy of Pat Tillman. Like Into Thin Air and Into the Wild, Where Men Win Glory is both tragic and motivating (See an NPR spotlight here). Most know Pat as a football player who volunteered to serve in his country on the frontlines, but the Pat Tillman story is one of grit, principle, introspection, success, and tragedy. Also, in a less than a week, I will reunite with my dad and sister to scale a few more mountains in the Colorado backcountry. Records will not be broken, and feats will be feasible for many, but I expect the same feelings of drive and purpose to result. Thus, much like 2006, I am experiencing another summer of catharsis and resolve.

Create Your Own Momentum.


*Importantly, it was not the actions of Chris that I admired, but his yearning for something more-- a conversation for another time and venue.

Saturday, May 1, 2010

No Problemo

You have all heard about the Arizona immigration law. Here's a humorous, biting commentary about the issue from Stephen Colbert.


The Colbert ReportMon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
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