Now & Then
I’ve been trying to maintain a focal balance between what’s going on today, right now, in this moment, and what’ll happen next: where I’d like to be, what I’d prefer to be doing, where I’ll go and what that will be like.
There’s value to be had in forecasting potential futures. Doing so helps us plan, helps us muscle through momentary difficulties, and can remind us to plant seeds that will benefit later versions of ourselves.
It’s easy to get stuck in that future-facing mode, though, which limits our capacity to enjoy the moment, or even just to learn from it.
If we’re not mentally and emotionally present for what’s happening right now, we’re less likely to learn things that might benefit us, later, and if we psychologically leave our bodies when things get difficult or boring or repetitive, we’ll perhaps be less inclined to instigate positive changes, because we never fully experience the now: our current paradigm more theoretical than immersive.
On a practical level, for me, this has meant trying to be present—even for the tedious moments—and doing my best to appreciate right now for what it is.
At the same time, I give myself time each day to imagine, forecast, and plan for next steps, figuring out what milestones I’ll use to determine when it’s time to act, what my first steps will be, and how I’ll proceed once the ball is rolling.
No matter how many habits and routines I have throughout my day, throughout my week, though, this is an ever-shifting thing; the balance is precarious, the weight-distribution uncertain.
I regularly have to nudge myself back to a more stable mid-point: my mind too much here or too much there, my perspective diminished because of the reflex to either completely ground myself in the tangible now, or to live in the comforting land of Could Be, enjoying the fantasy and novelty, but in doing so reducing my capacity to get there.
Maintaining this balance is tricky and important even in the most normal and predictable of times, but it’s arguably even more vital when the ground is shifting beneath us, continuously upsetting even the firmest footing and most well-paved paths.
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Looking forward to getting back into baking (once flour is more readily available). Here’s one of my boules from when I was learning to bake and living in Memphis.
Updates
This week on Brain Lenses, I published an essay about Risk Perception and a podcast episode about Parasocial Relationships.
This week’s episode of Let’s Know Things is about Coronadivorces.
I’ve also been tinkering around with some app ideas, and I’m partway done with a concept predicated on stimulating/feeding curiosity that I’m considering putting out into the world (current name: Curiosity Gadget).
If you’re keen to check out a beta-version of it and to help me decide 1. if it’s actually useful, 2. how it might be more useful, and 3. whether it works as intended, please send me an email and I’ll send you a message about how to access it within the next few days.
Also: it’s currently a dynamic web app, rather than a strictly Android or iOS app, so you should be able to access it regardless of your smartphone brand.
Community
I set up an old-school forum last week to serve as a place to interact and respond to weekly prompts.
It’s been fun chatting with the folks who’ve signed up! If you’re keen to check it out, and/or answer last week’s prompt, here’s a link to the forum: NeverNotCurious.com/forum
This week’s prompt is to share a place you’ve always wanted to visit, and why you’re so keen to visit that place.
As always, you can also feel free to send me an email and tell me how things are going, what you’ve been up to, what you’ve been working on/are excited about, and the like.
Interesting & Useful
Some neat things worth checking out:
Picturebook Makers(behind the scenes with picturebook artists from around the world)
Virtual Tour of Pharaoh Ramses VI’s Tomb(pretty neat)
9-Eyes(photos snapped from Google Street View captures)
Fifty(photos from all 50 US states)
Open Trees(a map of maps that show where all the trees are in various cities)
A photo of me from way back in the day, looking for good shells/sand dollars on the beach: my hair will likely be that long again, soon.
Outro
One of my potential, next-step ponderings is related to where I should establish a home base once the quarantine has lifted. I’m keen to put down some roots somewhere, but to also have that somewhere be in a place where I can (and will be incentivized to) travel regularly.
I’ve been thinking about northern New York; if you live there or are from there, I’d love to know your thoughts about the area. I like my weather chilly and it seems like there might be small-town spots with decent adjacency to both the big city and remote, natural areas, and that’s sounding very appealing to me, at the moment.
How’s your week been going? Learn anything interesting, recently? Working on anything you’re particularly excited about?
I respond to every email I receive, so shoot me a message and tell me about what’s on your mind, including if you just need someone to talk to. It’s a weird and difficult time, and it’s okay if you’re not feeling okay.
You can also say hello via Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, or via video date (actually probably not via video date).
If you’re finding some value in what I’m doing here, consider supporting my work by becoming a patron of my writing, buying a book, or becoming a supporter of Let’s Know Things or Brain Lenses. You can also buy me a coffee if that’s more your thing.