74: Notes To Self

Yo, it’s Luke!

Recently slipped out of the habit of my mindful, slow, let-your-body-naturally-wake-up-don’t-check-your-phone-right-away-you-stupid-monkey routine. But we’re back on track. Funny how easy bad habits can weave their way back into your daily life. Gotta tend the garden!

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.

1. Chefchaouen, Morocco - “The Blue City”

Just added this to my bucket list.

2. Communication Is Just Energy Transfer

Here’s my hot take of the week: You can become an impressive conversationalist or dancer with zero formal training.

All it takes is an energy shift.

For me, seeing communication as energy transfer has been like seeing into the matrix.

Talking, dancing, sports - it’s all the same.

The best people at each aren’t rehearsed. They’re just fluent in energy.

• They know how to tune themselves to the room, to the person, to the song.

• They don’t think about moves, they just lean into the music.

• They don’t plan clever lines, they just tune into the vibe they want to give off (warm, curious).

Lately, I’ve been practicing this with a few intentional breaths and a couple hand-picked words.

Feels goofy.

But it freakin works.

3. Newspaper Readers (Thomas Jefferson)

"The man who reads nothing at all is better educated than the man who reads nothing but newspapers." - Thomas Jefferson

If this ain’t the truth. (I’d also add “is better emotionally regulated”).

4. Thinking something nice about someone? Tell them. (Derek Sivers)

AMEN! The gist:

• People don’t hear enough compliments. Even well-known people.

• They could just sit home and keep their thoughts to themselves, but instead they do the hard labor of turning their ideas into something digestable, then brave public critique in the media, all for the generous act of sharing their work with the world.

• So, I think of it as my duty, when someone has made a difference in my life, to let them know.

Recent examples:

• Texted Julian to say an essay reminded me how good he is at breaking the social script in conversation.

• Voice memo’d my sister Maureen to share how proud I am of her ability to help people.

• Emailed Jeremy to thank him for taking a bet on me a year ago.

• Texted Jacko when I saw someone wearing his sweatshirt in SF.

• Told a random person on my morning walk I liked their shoes.

As soon as I feel the feeling of appreciation, I flip over to my email/text app, tap tap tap send, and get back to what I was doing.

There really is no better use of my time, or yours.

Side note: Only about half of them reply. But that’s OK, since I’m not doing it for the reply.

5. How To Live An Intellectually Stimulating Life (Utsav Mamoria)

Take any Wikipedia article.

Now click on the first hyperlink. And keep doing that.

95% of the time, you will eventually hit the philosophy page.

Crazy!

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,

Luke

PS: you can find more rabbit holes here & my writing here.