I should probably change my blog location to wordpress or something, so people can make comments. On the other hand, I kind of like the comments being broken. I don't want the added time and stress of content moderation. There was a period in my life where I argued with people on forums or email groups, and I don't think anything positive came out of it, and it took a LOT of time. Plus, the only people reading this as far as I know, are a few friends and family, so it doesn't seem to make sense to pay $10 a month for that. (which I assume is what wordpress costs? OK $4 a month. Still seems like a lot if I'm just giving updates to friends and family and/or musing out loud.
The break is quite busy for a break. It makes me think of this Calvin and Hobbes comic:
Bill Watterson was so so good.
Anyways, there is just so many things I want to do. And I'm doing a bunch of them. But also, not doing like 90% of them. I don't think that's my inefficiency, I think that's just having a list that can't be done in X amount of time. It strikes me every time, the poignancy of how short my life is, even at its longest projection, vs. how much I want to do in this life. It highlights the importance of choosing wisely. I can't just choose good things to do, I have to choose the very best, because even with that, there won't be time for all of it.
There's the old trap of thinking that therefor every moment of the day needs to be packed with high intensity objectively high leverage activities, but I don't think that results in the best life. I think some of the fallacy is that it's the 'things' you do that are the only important bit. I think how you do whatever you are doing, is at least as important. Do the dishes in a good way, so to speak. And humans are designed to work in cycles, so it doesn't end up being healthy or happy, if you are super on and intense all the time. We need cycles of rest, we need times when we can let our mind relax, we benefit greatly when we can be in a timeless wandering state (especially in nature.) without destination.
On the other hand, I was just reminded of the research about goal setting, and how much more powerful goals are when they are challenging, as well as specific. When they make us streatch.
I kind of want to do the exercise of clarifying what my goals are, for the year, for the next 10 years, for this life. maybe for the next quarter. I don't think "enlightenment" is a sufficiently measurable and specific goal though, for goal theory's tastes. I wonder how much it can be specified, and if it even should be?
Anyhoo:
Tonight: cleaning for tomorrow's Hanukkah party. Then going to someone else's Hanukkah potluck. Tomorrow: more cleaning and cooking for our Hanukkah party. This is 100% Suzannah's doing. I don't think I ever have or ever would throw a Hanukkah party, but I very much appreciate her ability and drive to create community via get togethers and events. But it is a huge amount of work. She is running around frantically today, and I'm sure will be tomorrow, and has been working on it in bits and pieces over the week.
Given how long she's lived here, it ends up being a bit of a superpower, because she knows and is well liked by so many people here. Really well developed roots and power of place. Something you can only create by staying in the same location for a long time and taking the time to invest in relationships, while in that place (it's not something that automatically happens, it takes ongoing effort and energy).
Alright, that's all for now, I should get back to helping.
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