Archive for January, 2012
Are You Following Paths or Blazing Trails?
Jan 31st
I mentioned that in my house, we’ve “gone primal.” We’re 14 days through the 21-day challenge, and the results are impressive. I’m ten pounds lighter, my belt is a notch tighter, and I feel better. Part of the routine is, of course, exercise. This is something I’ve always been bad at, because I can’t make the time. But being primal doesn’t mean killing yourself on a treadmill 60 minutes a day. That’s actually counterproductive. The principle form of recommended exercise on the Primal Blueprint is to “move frequently at a slow pace.” That, I can handle.
I’ve carved out about 30 minutes every day at lunch time to go walking. I eat at my desk every day anyway, so it’s a welcome break to get out of the office for a bit and get moving. And I’ve discovered that despite my office not being in the most aesthetically pleasing part of Fairfax, there are some decent trails behind the building that allow me to do a couple of laps before heading back to the grind.
The trail behind my office.
Usually, I listen to audiobooks while I’m walking. Yesterday, though, I was audiobook free. I had not only just completed Neal Stephenson’s epic new book, Reamde, but I also forgot my headphones. So I was left with nothing to listen to but silence. And in the silence, I realized how much and how often I distract myself.
Why do I distract myself? Because life often feels out of my control, so I’d prefer escapism. I’d rather listen to that book, watch that show or movie, play that video game, read that article, waste that time on Facebook – you name it. The busier I am, the less bandwidth I have to think about the dissatisfaction that I often feel.
So there I was, walking along, my mind humming. Thinking about where I am in my career, what I need to do differently, what steps I need to take in order to grow. These were good, constructive thoughts, despite how long I seem to have been avoiding them. Change is hard, especially when it involves personal or professional development. Because that kind of growth is often painful. But I found that taking the time to just think things through, I was filled with a new energy. I had new ideas, and a new sense of direction. These were just the first steps, of course, but as the proverb says, the longest journey begins with just one step. So why not take it?
Nothing to see out there. Keep your eyes on the road ahead!
As I walked the trail, I found that the kind of metaphors I was looking for were unfolding in front of me, so I pulled out my phone and started snapping pictures. I knew that there was a story being told right in front of me, perhaps even being told to me, and it was a story I wanted to share.
I think that many times, we feel like we have no choice in life. We have to go to this school, take this job, live in this town, follow this certain, prescribed path. We feel as though circumstances have forced our hand. And once we’ve committed to something we felt we had to commit to, we feel like there’s no turning back.
But with very few exceptions, we have a great deal more freedom than we think. We believe we have this narrow road we are forced to go down, and there are no exits in sight. And there’s a reason why we believe that. Because we’re told.
Follow the rules of the road, or you will be penalized!
In rhetoric, we’re told that the argument from authority is the weakest argument. But in reality, we know how strong those arguments can be. We’re raised by parents who use their authority to instill a way of life into us. If we are religious, our faith in God dictates certain precepts that are non-negotiable, and others that are highly recommended if we want to be happy or reach the prize. And frankly, our willingness to submit to authority isn’t entirely a bad thing. Except when it is. We need rules to live productive, happy lives, but we also need to exercise critical thought and independent judgment to live productive, happy lives. But because our earliest impulses are shaped by authority figures – parents, priests, teachers, police, the IRS man – you name it – we are, I think, by nature more prone to doing what people tell us, as long as they can stamp their orders with an official seal. We are less likely to question what we’re told and find out if there might just be a better way.
And that can be a big problem if we really want to achieve our potential. I was listening to the radio yesterday morning, and the DJ was talking about some medical issue. He said, “They say the two people you should never lie to are your doctor and your lawyer…” and as I was listening, I was thinking, “Yeah, he’s probably right. You should…wait a minute. What if I don’t want to tell them everything? What if I don’t appreciate their probing questions? What if I don’t feel like telling them that I have three drinks a night (I no longer do, but I used to) or that I’ve switched to a somewhat controversial high fat, zero-grain diet because I don’t want them harassing me? What if I don’t want to tell them that yes, I may just have another kid even if they think I’ve had enough?”
But my first impulse, the impulse that’s just bred into me, was the desire to do what I was told. As far as I’m concerned, that type of instinct is a huge liability.
Rules are for people without pocketknives.
Sometimes, the rules keep you safe. Sometimes, they keep you trapped. You need to develop the wisdom to know which thing is true, and when. But you also need to develop the ability to break the rules that need breaking. To step off the path and blaze a trail. To do something different than the thing you feel like you are under an obligation to do.
I’m not advocating irresponsibility. I’m not giving my blessing to leaving your wife for your favorite intern at the office. I’m not saying you should stop feeding your kids, or going to church, or trying to live a virtuous life.
I’m simply saying that if you feel trapped by choices you’ve made, opportunities you’ve missed, and forks in the road you didn’t take, stop and figure out if you can do things differently. Pull your eyes of the narrow path and look for a shortcut through the woods. Carve your name on a tree. Golf where you’re not supposed to golf – if you’re into that sort of thing. You may be pleasantly surprised with what you can accomplish.
And if life tells you a story, pull out your phone and take some pictures. Write down that story, and share it with other people. It’s probably good advice, which is the kind of thing you should never just keep to yourself.
Going Primal
Jan 28th
The title of this post is about as cliché as it gets for people doing what I’m doing. Google “going primal” and I can only imagine how many blog hits you’ll get. But I can’t think of a better word for it.
After reading about it from Tom Woods (oh look, he uses the same post title!) I decided to look into the book. It didn’t take many reviews before I realized this may really be something worth checking out. I won’t spell out the whole thing (if you want to, check out some of the articles here) but the basic premise, as I understand it, is that our bodies aren’t designed for the diet we eat in modern American life. Known pejoratively as the “Standard American Diet” (or SAD, natch!), our bodies are being cram packed with complex carbohydrates derived from grains, processed or not, and even legumes, which cause insulin spikes, increase appetite, exacerbate inflammation, and even cause conditions like heart disease and diabetes.
Going primal means going back to a diet our ancestors would have recognized. And when I say ancestors, I mean way, way back. Meat, fish, fowl, veggies, seeds, nuts, berries – hunter/gatherer stuff. And since, as the theory goes, our bodies are designed to burn fat, not carbs, all this carb eating is making us get fatter because we can’t deal with all the rapid energy sources we’re putting into our faces. It’s too much pure fuel, and we don’t need it. It’s also bad for us.
Also novel is the idea that saturated fat and cholesterol are really not bad for you, provided they’re not eaten in conjunction with massive amounts of grains. So not only should you have that steak and eggs (with yolks) that you’ve been craving, but go ahead and cook them in butter or coconut oil. Go ahead, it’s good for you.
Considering that fats play a vital role in brain function and in appetite suppression, I can tell you from experience that you don’t need to eat nearly as much as often. And when you need a boost, veggies are what you should reach for. They have the carbs you need in a way you’re meant to process them.
I’m 14 days into the program as of tomorrow. I’ve lost about 9 lbs., though the first 3 came off the week before I started when I went all crazy almost vegetarian for a week just because I was craving natural, non-jalapeno popper foods. I’ve experienced days with huge energy boosts and massive mood enhancement, and I’ve had days when I’ve been headachy and irritable as all hell. I’m walking every day for 30 minutes to an hour, and I’m also throwing in minor amounts of strength exercises, which I rarely seem to find the time or energy for. I have not yet adopted the entire fitness regimen that is part and parcel to the program, but I’m working toward it. What I like about it is that it’s attainable for someone like me.
When I say “someone like me,” I mean it. I’m a big guy, and I’ve never been very active. I have a desk job, and a sedentary life. The government says that at 6’4″, I should weigh in at about 190lbs. I can tell you from experience that 190 is way too skinny on me. My ideal weight is about 220-230lbs. That’s where I was when I started college. When I left college, I was at 245. A year after college (my first year sitting behind a desk) I was up to 275. A year after that, I hit 295. 295 is where I still am today, 8 years later. I’ve gone up (as high as 312 lbs.) and down (as low as 260 lbs.) but I’ve never consistently been able to manage weight and fitness, and much of this owes to the fact that I’m non-athletic, don’t care much for sports, and have always had very low energy levels. I used to always joke that I don’t even have a metabolism.
It’s my hope that this will finally improve, because this isn’t a diet, it’s a life change. Though much of what this way of living recommends contradicts conventional wisdom, the more I read, the more convinced I become that much of what we take for dietary and health science is actually junk science – lots of correlative relationships spun into causal assertions. By and large, this country is full of people eating “healthier” and exercising more than they ever have, and obesity keeps going up. Something isn’t working with the way we’re being told to take care of ourselves.
Time will tell how big of an impact this will have on our lives. I’m not the only one doing this – Jamie and the kids are on board too. I’m seeing changes in everyone – Jamie has seen the most drastic uptick in mood and energy – and I think it’s worth giving this process more than the initial 21 days to assess the final impact.
For my part, I do miss some of the pasta, rice, bread, and sugars, but I’m slugging along. I’m also not drinking much alcohol at all, and seem to be doing fine without it. It’s tempting sometimes, but I’ve noticed the ways in which it sets me back, so I’ll forego it and drink plain ol’ tea.
Or like this morning, I’ll have a decaf coconut milk latte. Not bad. Not bad at all.
2012 Goals – Writing
Jan 18th
I haven’t made the time this year for goal setting. Not personal goal setting anyway – work requires it, so I’ve already turned those in. But there are certain goals floating around in my head, just waiting for the right precipitate so they can coalesce.
One of the things I’ve neglected in the long creative drought that ensued following Arizonageddon at the end of 2010 is my writing. I didn’t have a single thing published in 2011. I barely touched the blog. I failed at NaNoWriMo (though I was moving into a new house, so perhaps that’s a valid excuse.) It was a good year in some respects, but a bad year for getting personal agendas accomplished.
2012 is going to be better, because it simply has to be. If I’m a writer (which the preponderance of evidence suggests that I may very well be) then I have to, in fact, write.
I came across some interesting quotes from Hemingway today. On writing, he says,
First, there must be talent, much talent. Talent such as Kipling had. Then there must be discipline. The discipline of Flaubert. Then there must be the conception of what it can be and an absolute conscience as unchanging as the standard meter in Paris, to prevent faking. Then the writer must be intelligent and disinterested and above all he must survive. Try to get all these things in one person and have him come through all the influences that press on a writer. The hardest thing, because time is so short, is for him to survive and get his work done.
And that’s not enough. Hemingway identifies the silver bullet:
The most essential gift for a good writer is a built-in, shockproof shit detector. This is the writer’s radar and all great writers have had it.
Now, working backwards, I can state with confidence that I have a built-in, shockproof shit detector. Surviving, per se, is less of strong suit for me, but it’s within the realm of possibility. Intelligence isn’t really a problem (for all that it’s worth) but disinterest likely is. Who creates art because they’re disinterested? We’re all compensating for some insufficiency, perceived or actual. We want the validation of not only our loved ones, but total strangers. If possible, we want the validation of a paying audience. Surely, if someone is willing to put down hard-earned cash for the work of our pen, it must be worth something.
As for conscience? I have one, but it’s never served me particularly well as a writer. It tends, more often than not, to vomit up moralistic tripe as I’m attempting to work and therefore just gets in the way.
Discipline? I know the meaning of that word about as well as I could name the works of Flaubert himself (Which is to say not at all. Wasn’t he some sort of impressionist? I’m so poorly-cultured.)
Talent? Yes, I think I can say so without engaging in embellishment, though for what it’s worth, it’s a rather unrefined talent. And it’s all the worse for wear due to the lack of any sort of exercise in the last couple of years. The writing muscle is no different than a bicep or a quadricep. It get gets flabby and unsightly if it’s never used. Let’s face it – Twitter killed the blogio-star. Micro-blogging has been the death of a lot of longer-form writing from undiscovered or otherwise unappreciated talent. It’s easier, it’s lazier, and it gets the endorphins pumping just the same. (For heaven’s sake, I have a higher Klout score than the CEO of Klout, whatever that means.)
The point of all of this is that I need to hone in and get back to basics. To that end, a 2012 goal for me, as a writer, is to write something every day. I can’t overstate how simple this sounds and how difficult it is. I have five kids and a fairly demanding day job. I am burned out. But I also am suffering from the deep dissatisfaction that comes with not creating, not doing the things that are at your core. Writers write not necessarily because they want to, but because they have to. And I’ve managed to tune that out.
So watch this space. I won’t only be writing here – I have some stories and personal items to work on – but writing every day this year is only going to happen if I have an outlet. And even if it’s only a few sentences, a paragraph or two, something is better than nothing. Of course, I’ve been known to make pie crust promises on this topic before. I highly recommend that you don’t trust me on this.
I’m sure there’s an applicable Japanese sword proverb or something about constantly perfecting or slicing cleanly through bone or some such, but I don’t have time to Google one. My kids are calling, and I need to read them a bedtime story.
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