Doing things consistently and daily for a long time enables you to notice nuances, which increases self-awareness. Since I have a six-day exercise cycle that I begin on the first of each month, in months with 31 days, I like to vary what I do with the extra day. In December I did two things. Sorry for the long post, but what I describe below felt like a meaningful experience[…] Keep reading →

I was 40 years old when I did my first burpee in 2011. Today I’m 54 and haven’t missed a day. Now I do more than burpees in what I call “my twice daily burpee-based calisthenics.” Daily burpees helped me develop the sidcha concept, which I consider one of the most important developments of my life. I’ve come to see sidchas as the most effective way to reach one’s potential.[…] Keep reading →

I got my annual checkup yesterday. They took my vital statistics. Reading 1: the blood pressure machine As usual, my resting heart rate was lower than they’re used to. The nurse taking my blood pressure saw my pulse was showing 42 bpm while the blood pressure machine was doing its pressure cycle. I was looking forward to taking a picture of that rate, when she started asking me questions, the[…] Keep reading →

I’m constantly thinking of how to make my next book as accessible as possible. How do I write something so people want to read more, want to change their lives. Usually I write ideas by hand on paper, a mode that feels like there’s less between me and what I write. Then I transfer it to my files by typing it into the computer. I also write here as a[…] Keep reading →

I’ve thought of several book ideas lately. Since I can only work on one at a time and don’t want to distract myself, though I’ll keep up the sidcha of posting daily here, I’ll post some titles, sketches, and outlines here when I think of them. I welcome feedback. Draft ideas Title: How Not to Fly: How to make your most harmful activity feel repugnant and easy to quit Chapters[…] Keep reading →

I wrote in August about a couple personal bests in my lifting practice, Two personal bests in a week: Freedom, and last month about the risk of injury in exploring your physical limits. Why form is important in lifting weights, especially Turkish Get-Ups. First, the personal best on the bench press, or more accurately floor press, since I don’t have a bench. My last personal best was to do three[…] Keep reading →

I’d been meaning to write a post like this since what I’m about to describe happens every now and then. Part of the value of a sidcha is developing the skill of integrity. As with any performance-based activity, we learn to practice integrity through practicing the basics. There are probably many basic practices for integrity, but sidchas are a good one. I can think of few things more valuable to[…] Keep reading →

Regular readers know my sidcha to pick up at least three pieces of litter from the northwest corner of Washington Square Park. While most of my sidchas I haven’t missed, that one I’ve missed, maybe one or two times per year. The park could use more people picking up litter. No, the point of picking up litter isn’t just the temporary removal of litter. Picking up litter makes not buying[…] Keep reading →

This morning’s calisthenics involved four sets of burpees. I noticed a funny thought as I started the third set. I had barely done a tenth of a burpee in that third set when I thought, “Only one set left.” That’s an odd thought. Since I had barely started the third set, I had closer to two sets left. Why did I think I had one set left when I actually[…] Keep reading →