Monday, January 15, 2018

Monday Workout: Ropes!


Why yes, I do like using all my toys when I plan workouts.  This week we are playing with the battle ropes.  I like the way the ropes compel us to use our core muscles and the way we get to learn about shoulder stability as we work our arms.  Three rounds.

rope double slams
30
bench press
20
dips
10


rope alternating slams
30
flies
20
renegade rows
10


rope circles
30
lunges
20
roll out abs
10

Friday, January 12, 2018

Friday Book Report: The Life of the Mind


I continue to read along my semi-self-directed way through various books on mind, from philosophical and physical perspectives, stopping off to visit evolutionary theories, cybernetics, and whatever else comes up along the road.  As a result, I have spent the last few weeks reading Hannah Arendt’s book The Life of the Mind.  It was a little like eavesdropping on the adults from the kids’ table, if the adults happened to be particularly smart and inclined to discuss big questions.

She divides her topic into two sections, thinking and willing, and traces both ideas through time.  A third section, on judging, was projected, but Arendt died before finishing it.

I have mentioned before that I enjoy philosophical writing to a point, but when that point is reached I tend to feel like I’ve just been playing a very pointless mind game.  What keeps this book from crossing that invisible line is the writing itself.  Arendt has a gift for getting the gist of things across with appropriate humor.  Take, for example, this summary of a Stoic philosopher: “Anyhow, Epictetus considered himself a philosopher and he defined philosophy’s subject matter as ‘the art of living one’s life.’ This art consisted mainly in having an argument ready for every emergency, for every situation of acute misery” (p. 74).


Anyone interested in tracing the history of thought, in digging into the implications of who we are, how we think, and what it all means will find an engaging guide and teacher in Arendt’s work.

Thursday, January 11, 2018

Out, darn clutter...


I admit that I’m fascinated with the concept of decluttering.  I like the idea of having the right amount of stuff, not so much that it overwhelms me and fills all available space, but not so little that the world is cold and boring.  I often even enjoy the process of decluttering—out with the ugly sweaters, the dissatisfying books, and the lidless containers!  Except.

There are things that are harder to let go of.  And many of them are both unwieldy and invisible.  Here are some I want to pitch; maybe you’ll join me:

• Comfort eating.  I do not need to clutter up my body with a cookie just because it was a Bad Day.

• Cooties.  Sometimes objects are so reminiscent of a time or relationship that has gone (or gone wrong) that even though the objects are perfectly usable, they loom and fester and bring us down.  Yes, I get space from ditching the things, but I get more space from ditching all the weight of memory.

• Mean thoughts.  I do not need to get up in the morning, look in the mirror, and say, “Gee, I look horrible/fat/tired/ugly/weird/old.”  It does not help me feel motivated.  It weighs me down.  I’m not suggesting that I lie to myself and say, “Hello, there, Miss America!” to my reflection, but rather that I treat myself like I would treat a friend.

• Comparisons.  As many writers have remarked, comparisons are odious.  There will always be someone smarter, stronger, cuter, and more talented than I am.  There will also always be someone less fortunate than I am.  Wasting time measuring is silly.  I need to get on with the actual work.


Got more ideas?  Tell me!