- Notes To Self
- Posts
- 70: Notes To Self
70: Notes To Self
Marco Polo Facts, Julius Caesar Story, Underrated Conversational Skill, On Living Deeply, My Random Airplane Thoughts
Luke Clancy
August 01, 2025
Yo, it’s Luke!
Went to Alaska last week. Let me tell ya. I’ve been to a lot of beautiful places (Switzerland, Canary Islands, Yosemite, etc). But Alaska in the summer is the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen. I highly, highly recommend.
That said, here is your weekly dose of 5 noteworthy ideas & things I learned about last week. Click on the blue links to dive further on that topic.
He was the first European to document travels to Asia after 24-year voyage.
In China, the Polos befriended Mongol leader (and Genghis Khan grandson) Kublai Khan.
Polo brought back stories of paper money, an unknown concept in Europe at the time.
Christopher Columbus got FOMO about Polo’s travels, and this was one of the major reasons he became an explorer.
Caesar was a cool dude.
When he was captured by pirates and held prisoner once earlier in his life, they demanded twenty talents of silver for him as ransom. He interrupted and insisted they ask for fifty instead, which they then received.
After they freed him, he got his fleet together, chased the pirates down, took back the money, and crucified them—something he told them he was going to do when he was in their captivity and they had laughed at him.
I’m listening to a top tier book on the art of seeing others deeply called How To Know A Person.
One chapter I really liked was on “accompaniment”. Here’s my notes:
Accompaniment is the act of walking alongside someone through their struggles — not to fix them, but to be present, listen deeply, and bear witness to their life.
It can feel like “not enough.” But, accompaniment is not about fixing or changing another person. It’s about entering their world, walking alongside them, and letting them know they are not alone.
It’s being an active participant in helping someone else make their own music.
When accompanying someone, you are playing. Attuning to their energy. Doing stuff, together. And, over time, building trust.
What people often need most isn't advice, insight, or even encouragement — they need to feel deeply seen and safe.
So show up, especially when they need it the most. Not to give great advice. But to simply show that you’re there.
4. A Poem On Living Deeply (Me)
I’d like to grow old and grow deep.
Not buried beneath the arbitrary constraints I’ve inherited from myself and from society.
Far too often, you see people who are already dead:
They’ve taken their last lively breath.
Spoken their last truly free word.
As if aging meant surrendering the soul, not just the body.
5. Airplane Thoughts (Me)
On my plane ride back from Alaska, I wrote down a smattering of ideas that had been bouncing around in my brain.
Thought you may like them :)
Nothing better than leaving your phone at home.
RV summer in Alaska is a MUST.
Doing 1 new thing each day is a hack to extending time. Each day has it’s own unique stamp.
We talked a lot about the state of America—and damn, it left me feeling pretty pessimistic. A lot of people won’t be okay. And there’s a real chance our kids will inherit a country worse off than the one we grew up in. The trend lines aren’t good. The government can’t get its act together because the incentive structures are broken. When I sit with those thoughts, two things hit me: First—fuck. Second—I have to do something about it. Right now, I’m in the building phase of my career: sales, connecting people together, sharpening the engine. But in a few months, I’ll start layering in public works of some form. And a few years from now, I plan to spend serious energy on “reshaping culture” and doing my part to help course correct American politics.
Bringing back religion (in some form) will cure a lot of issues in society rn.
I love playing life at full speed. I love go go go. I don’t want to slow down. I want to do it all. But sometimes, I must slow down and let my soul + mind catch up. Nothing can take the place of time needed to process.
Thanks for wanting to know more today than you did yesterday! If you liked this edition, send it over to a friend who would like it too 🤝
Cheers,