We’re not going to make every shot we take.
By the time we’re good enough to make them consistently, we’ve typically logged more misses than we can count.
Then why shoot at all?
Because not-shooting yields the same dull outcome as missing, and at least a missed shot provides an opportunity to learn.
There’s a large team of us out for a walk together.
We need to get from one side of the street to the other.
How might we mitigate the involved risks?
TEAM WALK RULES:
— Use a crosswalk if there’s one nearby.
— Nominate a director/leader to give ‘wait’ and ‘walk’ orders.
— Traffic Checking System: Look left, then right, then left again.
— Don’t dilly dally while crossing: maintain a reasonable pace
— Stick with the group, and follow the rules
That looks like a solid list… if traffic injury was what we were trying to avoid.
None of that protects us from getting struck by lightning or swept up by a tornado, though.
Hmm…
A narrowly focused Risk-Aversion-Plan is just asking to be blindsided by a rare, devastating crisis.
Everyone knows to look both ways before crossing the street, but looking up? Checking for storm clouds before venturing out?
That takes a little extra effort, and a little effort is what separates them from us.
What usually hurts us the most are the things we didn’t see coming, but we’re going to see those things coming, think critically, and act accordingly.
Look early.
Look all around.
COVID-19 has a lot of people worried about their future. A healthy concern is ok, so long as it drives some positive action. Just remember, while everyone’s looking left and right, the ones that are truly going to come out of this crisis on top are the folks that thinking deeper about every angle and every possibility. Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Let’s figure this thing out.
Yesterday was for the fools.
But, who’s the fool?
The one who’s fooling? or the one who’s fooled?
Who cares.
We would all benefit to laugh a bit more.
It’s probably a good thing, though, that we only dedicate one day per year to the pranksters and the jokers of the world.
An entire month of it would get tiresome.
Humor is effective in a few, potent doses — once a year is good.
Work Ethic is effective in many, small, consistent efforts over time — like, 364 days in a row of it.
Don’t rush or panic, but don’t joke too much, either.
The Tortoise wins the race.
April 2 … let’s get back to our craft, fools.
Of the dividers, be wary.
Of those that poke and prod, but smile and nod,
then point and blame, but have no shame.
They play the game, they play the game.
We are all more similar than we are dissimilar, but the divider’s don’t understand that.
We are all, to some varying degree,
confused,
inadequate,
flawed,
emotional… people.
But we are all people.
We all love our children.
We all yearn for meaning in our lives, and we all wish life was fair.
We all bleed red.
There is no ‘us‘ and ‘them’, there is only us,
But us is vast.
The bigger us gets, the harder it becomes to understand folks on the far ends.
So, we shout.
It’s not always shouting-in-anger as much as it is shouting-to-be-heard that we, in the middle, hear flying over our heads all day.
If we can help people understand that this is the noise we hear and see, we’ll all be better for it.
The dividers, though?
They like it this way.
So have not a doubt.
They, in shadows, cultivate the crop
— ‘Divide and Shout’.
I know,
that you know,
people like this.
Pay them no mind,
and spend no time,
playing in their games.
We mustn’t play in their games.
Our attention
is their lifeblood.
What’s the problem with wine bottles and beer growlers?
Most people don’t save any for later.
The winemakers and brewers take no issue with that. Our folly is their delight!
For the consumers, the folks dancing with indulgence, only having “1” is not the problem.
The problem is that “1” is a mirage.
1 cookie won’t make us fat.
1 cigarette won’t give us lung cancer.
1 is a pleasure… until it is not.
Then 1 is a warmup… and 2 is a treat!
Then 2 is routine… so why not have 3!?
The habit grows, and as it does, the joy depreciates and the consequences compound.
We know the basics of addiction, and we also know, all too well, what sort of things we’re personally addicted to… porn? anger? lazy behavior? bread? jealousy? social media? recognition? lying? sugar? blaming others? — We trade these things for temporary relief or immediate pleasure, but that’s a shortsighted plan.
It’s too easy to mollycoddle the monkey brain.
It knows what it wants, especially when the systems that we exist in provide easier access.
Week 1 = 1 Growler lasts 5 days
Week 5 = 1 Growler lasts 1 day
The problem with beer growlers?
After we’ve had our 1, the 2nd is now only a few steps away, rather than down the street at the store. That’s poor system design if all we planned to have was 1.
The only time heroin is ever just a “1” time thing is when there’s absolutely nowhere else to get heroin for a 2nd time.
If our standards and our systems allow for 1 inch of engagement, we know damn well that some of these things will demand a mile.
Years later, trying to kick a terrible habit, we’ll wonder why nobody told us that 1 was too much.
If none of this resonates with you, I’m glad.
If you read this and felt like somebody was carving out your heart with a blunt blade, we likely have more in common than you’d think, and I’d be willing to spend some time chatting with you about it — don’t feel shy or ashamed to send me a message.
Much love, Jakob
JAKOB'S JOURNAL