It is wonderful to take a pause from the frenetic pace of day-to-day life. I relish when I have a blank page on my daily planner. I often use that day to catch up on those things I promised I'd "get around to someday". Those days feel like an eighth day in the week. Those days are best enjoyed with minimal sound. I really do love when I get that eighth day in my week. I think I should pencil those days in more often. Some might call that establishing boundaries in your schedule.
I’m retired. As such, I am on “sabbatical” all the time. I have an easy life, frankly. My wife has given me an office at her medical practice. So a few days a week I loosely organize my day into “whatever” in the morning and some productivity of some kind in the afternoon (eg writing, studying). In return I go get coffee for us twice a day. That’s little of her to ask, and I get 2 walks in a day. On these jaunts I observe our city neighborhood just as you do your area. As for the highlights of your piece for me? 30 years ago I trained for and ran my only half marathon. My goal was to finish before the officials stopped their timekeeping so I got my name in the results. The mission was accomplished! Good luck with yours! Oh, and thanks for conveying the knowledge that alcohol is the poop of yeast. Now I have something to reflect on with my wife at restaurants. She loves shrimp, but she doesn’t love their digestive tract because it contains shrimp poop. (I never knew this before I met her.) She asks the waiter to have the digestive tract removed before the shrimp is served. Anyway, glad your back. I missed you!
About 2.5 years ago, I suffered a pretty intense concussion. Right after my sister was dog sitting for you, I believe.
Now I take a sabbatical every summer for 6-8 weeks. And barely work compared to what I was doing pre-head injury. It's wild to me to think, as you mentioned, how much I strived for back then. And how much that motivated me to produce.
I mean, I'm still a 3...but I can now ask myself "is it worth it?" and answer honestly.
Anyway, like you, no wisdom or stone tablets. Just saying hi. Congrats on the much needed break. I'm now inspired to go for a walk.
Jeff - I love watching how, over time, as you do inner work and find a life that fits with your design and calling, you are becoming a better writer.
This essay reminded me of the style of Robert Pirsig in "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance." He digs into the particulars of the natural world and the way things work. And then he corrolates them to his own personal journey and the truths that he is learning. We, his readers, join him immersively in his journey, and we ingest his perspective and conclusions in a way that feels participatory.
I read Pirsig's book when I was 22 and it has stuck with me all this time. Fascinating in its construction and in the "real time reporting" of his own psychic struggle.
Whatever else you're doing, this process of deep reflection that you're going through is bearing fruit. I see you (the real you) emerging from behind the various selves that others have told you that you had to be. Keep following this path you're on - I believe your process is righteous and will bear great fruit for those following you.
Thank you, Seth. I feel that blessing and want to honor it. Also, I started reading "Zen" during a silent retreat last year but haven't picked it up since. I loved it and want to get back into it. Thanks for the nudge.
It is wonderful to take a pause from the frenetic pace of day-to-day life. I relish when I have a blank page on my daily planner. I often use that day to catch up on those things I promised I'd "get around to someday". Those days feel like an eighth day in the week. Those days are best enjoyed with minimal sound. I really do love when I get that eighth day in my week. I think I should pencil those days in more often. Some might call that establishing boundaries in your schedule.
I love this idea.
Enjoyed this very much, as someone who is on a slightly enforced sabbatical, I need to dig deeper into those moments of calm.
Try to enjoy it, Alex. :)
Loved waking up to this this morning. You have been missed. This piece is worth the wait.
Miss you too, friend! Let's meet up in Europe soon.
I’m retired. As such, I am on “sabbatical” all the time. I have an easy life, frankly. My wife has given me an office at her medical practice. So a few days a week I loosely organize my day into “whatever” in the morning and some productivity of some kind in the afternoon (eg writing, studying). In return I go get coffee for us twice a day. That’s little of her to ask, and I get 2 walks in a day. On these jaunts I observe our city neighborhood just as you do your area. As for the highlights of your piece for me? 30 years ago I trained for and ran my only half marathon. My goal was to finish before the officials stopped their timekeeping so I got my name in the results. The mission was accomplished! Good luck with yours! Oh, and thanks for conveying the knowledge that alcohol is the poop of yeast. Now I have something to reflect on with my wife at restaurants. She loves shrimp, but she doesn’t love their digestive tract because it contains shrimp poop. (I never knew this before I met her.) She asks the waiter to have the digestive tract removed before the shrimp is served. Anyway, glad your back. I missed you!
Haha. Your wife is smart. Any good restaurant will remove "the mud vein" ahead of time. We had shrimp last night. ;)
About 2.5 years ago, I suffered a pretty intense concussion. Right after my sister was dog sitting for you, I believe.
Now I take a sabbatical every summer for 6-8 weeks. And barely work compared to what I was doing pre-head injury. It's wild to me to think, as you mentioned, how much I strived for back then. And how much that motivated me to produce.
I mean, I'm still a 3...but I can now ask myself "is it worth it?" and answer honestly.
Anyway, like you, no wisdom or stone tablets. Just saying hi. Congrats on the much needed break. I'm now inspired to go for a walk.
Beautiful, timely piece very relevant to my own life at the moment. Glad you’re back, Jeff.
“I felt some inner state within me coming back.” Delightful, thanks for inviting us in!
You bet, Chuck. Thanks for reading.
Jeff - I love watching how, over time, as you do inner work and find a life that fits with your design and calling, you are becoming a better writer.
This essay reminded me of the style of Robert Pirsig in "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance." He digs into the particulars of the natural world and the way things work. And then he corrolates them to his own personal journey and the truths that he is learning. We, his readers, join him immersively in his journey, and we ingest his perspective and conclusions in a way that feels participatory.
I read Pirsig's book when I was 22 and it has stuck with me all this time. Fascinating in its construction and in the "real time reporting" of his own psychic struggle.
Whatever else you're doing, this process of deep reflection that you're going through is bearing fruit. I see you (the real you) emerging from behind the various selves that others have told you that you had to be. Keep following this path you're on - I believe your process is righteous and will bear great fruit for those following you.
Thank you, Seth. I feel that blessing and want to honor it. Also, I started reading "Zen" during a silent retreat last year but haven't picked it up since. I loved it and want to get back into it. Thanks for the nudge.
That’s my man 🥰
This was like a refreshing walk. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks, Chris. That means a lot, and you're very welcome. :)
A lot to say about not answering a question.
Lol. I mean, "fine"?