Week #49, 2024
Week 49 of 2024 has arrived. Oh man... We're getting so close. I can already hear the band warming up to Auld Lang Syne... "We'll drink a cup of kindness yet..."
Time to walk over to your 4K Weeks poster and fill in another square. Done?
Controversial Opinion: I would encourage you not to set New Year's Resolutions.
Hot Take: New Year's Resolutions don't work, and they are loaded with other baggage... unless...
...you were going to make them happen anyways. And if that is the case, START NOW!
There is nothing magical about the New Year. Today is the first day of the New Year too.
The unique thing about the New Year is it's the one time that most people consider where they are in the course of their life. Are you most people?
If you want to be the captain of your ship, you need to ALWAYS be double checking if you are headed the right direction. Captains don't check their trajectory at the beginning of the journey and only again at the end.
As a bit of a nudge, I will offer you this... We don't do sales, Black Friday or otherwise. But, for newsletter readers this week here is a one-time 20% off coupon for your order. (When you click this link it will automatically add the coupon to your cart.)
Get to it!
P.S. When you are ready, the best way I can help you is likely in the 33 Day Foundation Accountability Group. Order the 33 Day Foundation and join us!
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Remarkable Weeks
Week 49 of 1955, Rosa Parks started the historic bus boycott when she refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on the bus. She was 2,234.86 weeks old (42.86 yrs).
Week 49 of 1977, Jean-Bédel Bokassa declared himself Emperor of the Central African Empire in an extravagant ceremony that cost $20 million, consuming a third of the country's budget. He was 2,962.71 weeks old (56.81 yrs).
Week 49 of 1980, Annie Leibovitz held a photo shoot with John Lennon, making her the last professional photographer to capture him before his tragic death that same day. She was 1,627.14 weeks (31.20 4rs).
This Week's Quote
"Difficulties are things that show a person what they are." - Epictetus
Man, I sure needed this reminder this week.
I was sitting on the couch next to my 14 year old, grumpy as all get out. Out of the blue I told her, "One thing I am not good at is being injured."
Earlier that day, I was on the last of seven sets of squats, when I felt what I thought was a cramp in my ribs. (Turns out I slightly compressed a thoracic disc!) So, I called it good on the squats and loaded up the bar for deadlift.
Sets one and two went fine. I had to focus on bracing quite a bit more because my ribs hurt, but... PUSH THROUGH, WIMP!!!
And then, on the third set, largely due to my focus on my ribs, I lightly pulled a hamstring.
If you are over the age of 35 and you exercise vigorously, regularly, you know the fear of an injury. Healing takes longer, the likelihood of permanently lost ability is real... it just kind of sucks.
And yet... what is all of this, what is exercise, what is work, what is art, what is love, what is growth, what is life... if not the facing of difficulties, maintaining your mentality, and growing?
I can check the box of "Can you push through pain?".
But I want to be unflappable, even when surprised with an injury. So that is the difficulty that I needed to show me where I still have work to do.
(Also, I am fine. 2 weeks of no weighted back squats, and extra hamstring warm ups before basketball. Thanks to all the work I have been doing, the recovery should be quick!)
What I am Consuming This Week
Alchemy, Rory Sutherland. I have been listening to this book off and on now for two months or so. I bought the book and also the audible version, but I just love Rory's voice so much, (and his manner of speaking) that I mostly listen to the audio. It is a very good catalyst to thinking about things differently. Every time I listen for a hour or so, I find myself questioning my assumptions more... which is almost always a good thing.
Against the Rules, Michael Lewis Oh man, I am a sucker for almost anything Michael Lewis. He is just SO good at spinning a good story around some crazy part of modern life. This season is about online gambling...NOT A FAN. It seems to be rigged like the claw game. This is an area of life where my gentle libertarian streak runs afoul of reality. I suppose I think gambling, and booze, and THC, etc. should be legal... Do What Thou Wilt... but they are undoubtedly bad for our society. With sports gambling added to modern data analytics, of course they would only let the losers keep betting big.
Inner Cosmos, David Eagleton. Why do your 3,000,000,000,000 cells feel like a self? This is a great discussion of why our constantly evolving collection of cells feels like a consistent "me". As hard as I tried, I couldn't shake the feeling that I have always been this version of me, even though I know that not to be true!
The 5 Minute Journal. I started my daily journaling habit 10 years ago with this journal. Then I printed my own personal journal for awhile, and then I had a custom ReMarkable template for a while, and since my ReMarkable died, I have been flailing. I figured going back to the basics would be good. I'm on day two.
This Song by Gabe Dixon. "All Will Be Well." We were watching Parks and Recreation as a family, and this song played over the ending credits. The first line is exactly what we are doing here. It goes: "A new day dawns, and I am practicing my purpose once again."
Insta Nuggets:
What I am Thinking About This Week
Attachments.
In the afterglow of Thanksgiving, we all get a little sappy and thankful for everyone and everything in our lives.
But it will all turn to dust, we can live without it all, and one day we will have to.
We went around our table of 16, and everyone said something they are grateful for. My mom happened to go last and started crying as she said she was grateful for the memory of my dad. And it made me sad to realize that I hadn't given much thought to the first Thanksgiving in 47 years that I spent without him.
Earlier in the week I had been rearranging the basement, and in doing so I moved my Lego build table and collection. It is large and so it was a big job, and it all needs to be dusted, and I thought to myself, "I should just get rid of everything".
And have you ever daydreamed about your house burning down, as long as everyone was safe and sound, then just getting a check and starting over fresh at zero?
Every attachment has a weight.
Every person, every thing, every idea in our lives weighs on us in measure to how dear we hold it. Some are worth carrying forever, some only for a while, and some were never worth carrying.
I will hopefully remember to bear the weight of my attachment to my father's memory forever. As Stephen J. Wilson, Jr. says, It's "the kind of pain I pray don't fade away" My dad and I were different in a lot of ways, but his memory is an anchor, a stake in the ground that ties me to a boy I was in a world I want to keep safe. I am my Father's Son.
I'm going to bear the weight of the Lego for a bit longer, my son and I still build together occasionally, and I am hoping I blow some future grandkid's mind one day.
The rest... I'm not sure.
I have a house full of stuff, and 2500 square foot shop full of sculptures, tools, memories, two Jeeps, stuff, stuff, and stuff... most that I use regularly... But it's hard to know what is worth the weight of its attachment.
What attachments are you holding on to?
Are they setting you free or weighing you down? Are they keeping you from landing, or are they grounding you?
Have a friggin' spectacular week.
Until Later,
Spencer
P.S. I'm serious about the 33 Day Foundation. It works, and in the nascent 4K Weeks Community, I am happy to help you define your goals and stay accountable.
P.P.S. If you read this whole email, here is your reminder reward.
Dad Joke O' The Week
Why was Cinderalla so bad at soccer?
She kept running away from the ball.
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