This is excellent. I think I built off of a similar concept on my joint piece with Daniel Nest on Lenses. We are the easiest to fool, even those of us who don't have brain cancer. I have to calibrate my own viewpoint regularly, and I find that I'm still missing all kinds of stuff other people see.
I also feel you on the "time to catch up" being a useful measure of mortality. I think about this in my own family's context vis a vis dementia and aging. I've seen cognitive decline right up to the edge of a cliff enough times to understand what it looks like.
Lately, I've struggled with the "signs of aging" part of it. Like, am I really getting old or am I sicker? I need to get more comfortable with the transition to weird old codger as its the more preferable of the two. Might as well enjoy it.
Felt the last part. I often find myself doing everything but listening to phone calls when I’m on them. My friend has started gauging our catch ups on whether they were “substantive” or not. And while I kind of hate it, it gets me to step into the moment (and always ends up better).
This is excellent. I think I built off of a similar concept on my joint piece with Daniel Nest on Lenses. We are the easiest to fool, even those of us who don't have brain cancer. I have to calibrate my own viewpoint regularly, and I find that I'm still missing all kinds of stuff other people see.
I also feel you on the "time to catch up" being a useful measure of mortality. I think about this in my own family's context vis a vis dementia and aging. I've seen cognitive decline right up to the edge of a cliff enough times to understand what it looks like.
Lately, I've struggled with the "signs of aging" part of it. Like, am I really getting old or am I sicker? I need to get more comfortable with the transition to weird old codger as its the more preferable of the two. Might as well enjoy it.
I sometimes wonder what's wrong with my body or mind, but then I remember: old.
Yeah, being in the moment and truly paying attention is something that's extremely easy in theory and so incredibly hard in reality for most of us.
It's good that your mind's tricks have had the effect of helping you live up to it more. Because... what was that?! Squirrel?! I'll be right back!
Squirrels are the worst when it comes to focus. That and laser pens.
And don't even get me started on squirrels wielding laser pens!
Felt the last part. I often find myself doing everything but listening to phone calls when I’m on them. My friend has started gauging our catch ups on whether they were “substantive” or not. And while I kind of hate it, it gets me to step into the moment (and always ends up better).
Always great to end on a bucket of shit.