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WTF ARE WE DOING THIS WEEK?
Stoicsm & rest: because those cats from 2,000 years ago always have something smart for us to consider
Two great podcast deep dives: because you’ll have the time and probably will be looking to “check out” a little bit
Running notes: because I’m battling an injury but I’ve been putting in the work
Images of the season: You know, you know, you know.
WHAT THE STOICS SAY ABOUT REST
“The mind must be given relaxation,” Seneca said, “it will rise improved and sharper after a good break. Just as rich fields must not be forced… so constant work on the anvil will fracture the force of the mind.”
From the Daily Stoic, lean into that rest in the days ahead.
The word leisure, in Greek, is scholé—that is, school. In antiquity, leisure meant freedom from the work needed to survive. It was the freedom for intellectual or creative pursuits. It was learning and studying and the pursuit of higher things. It was Marcus’ warning, “to not be all about business.” It was Seneca reminding his friend Lucilius, “The mind must be given relaxation. It will rise improved and sharper after a good break. Just as rich fields must not be forced…so constant work on the anvil will fracture the force of the mind.”
Try to find the ways to disengage. And enjoy it. I know for me, as someone who is always running and gunning, it’s a little bit hard for me to just unplug. That’s why I try to have a book close by. Currently reading Die with Zero and The Courage to be Disliked.
TWO GREAT DEEP DIVE PERSPECTIVES | PODCAST PRO TIPS
As we’re at a midpoint in the year, it’s always great to peel back the onion a little bit. One recommendation below is a deep dive into culture, technology, entertainment/art, and writing, a really enlightening conversation with Ted Gioia and Dave Perrell. The entire episode is very good but it gets really interesante around the 1:07:00 mark on to the finish. I’ve listened to this interview 5x now. It’s that interesting.
“Someone shared a video of me on Instagram and it got viewed by 2M people but it doesn’t transfer to my readers because you can’t engage with people. You can with conversations at length like this. You can with my writing. When things are at high-level you can engage with people. But you work into the distraction culture, all you have is your 10 seconds of fame. Enjoy it but you can’t build on it.” - Ted Gioia
This Podcast epsidoe dropped in 2022, but I’ve been revisiting the exercises Rabbi Leder puts forward in his book FOR YOU WHEN I’M GONE. That experience in itself is profound. Writing down notes and thoughts to those I love the most for when I’m gone is an enriching and thought-provoking exercise. What do you want your epitath to say? What is love? What are your regrets? How do you want to be remembered?
NO ONE WANTS TO THINK ABOUT WHEN THE LIGHTS WILL GO OUT I.E. WHEN WE WILL DIE but….the more you actually explore it. The more you actually think about what you will leave behind. The more you think about how you’re spending your time right now. The more you can actually live. This deep dive is with Erin & Sara Foster (The World’s First Podcast) with Rabbi Steve Leder is a juggernaut of an episode. Give it a listen, better yet go get the book and get to writing those notes.
RUNNING NOTES
Right now I’m on a running hiatus until my NYC marathon training begins in a few weeks. After crushing the BK Half, I continued to shred 20 - 30 miles a week. That started to bother my Achilles and feet. Oopsies. The discomfort is actually something that started back in the LA Marathon in March. But, there was no pain, so I just ran through it.
I’ve nearly ran 700 miles by midyear, tracking towards 1,400 miles for the year. Wow-woe-wee-wah. That’d be +40% YoY increase BB! Can’t be mad at that.
Injury recovery is the worst. You can’t go run, you have to take it easy, rehab the muscles around the injury. Yada, yada, yada, yada. Wish me luck. Have to get ready for 26.2 in NYC in November. P.S. I’m raising money for +Pool., and you’ll be hearing about that soon.
IMAGES OF THE HOLIDAY SEASON
A collection of mid-year moods.
Go forth.
Stay safe.
Ride the wave.
-Mitch
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