Each Wednesday at 11am, my wife and I lift weights. Hitting “the big steel” is a time-effective way for us to check in with each other.
This week, I blasted myself with leg press (525 lbs, not bad for a skinny guy), pull ups and front squats. So I was very relaxed during our post session coffee break. Very gently, she let me know that my writing had been a little heavy. Readers would have noticed a month-long purgue of everything that’s been on my mind.
A kite-surfing buddy had sent me a note to similar effect earlier in the week. Generally speaking, he has a rule against offering advice but he bent his rule to send me three words, “let it go.”
I have a rule that when two close friends tell me something…
…pause, consider and pay attention.
A quick review of my drafts folder made me laugh out loud. Here’s what’s in the hopper:
- Anabolic steroids
- Anger management
- Death
- Benefits of higher education
- Emotional blindness
- Making money from leverage
- Making serious money (from other people’s money)
- Tax reform
- Mitt’s IRA
- Becoming emotionally untouchable
- Screwing up my son
- Feminine Beauty
- Gordo’s gratitude list
- How I lost $20,000,000
- Overcoming guilt
- Family strategic review template
- Problems of the elderly
- Coping with successful friends
- Happy toddlers
- How to give a time out
- Gangsters and frauds
- Difficult conversations
- Conditional love
- New, old, ancient, nature
- Embracing volatility
- Travel and tribalism
- The free-est man I know
I might have to postpone publication of a few topics!
She said, “hey, it’s spring and it’s been a tough winter. I want to be uplifted. See if you can help me out.”
I’ve often said that we can use our (super)powers for good, or for evil. She’s asking me to help-a-sister-out. I’ve been hitting her, and you, with a lot of serious stuff.
As a parent, I shoot for nine positive interactions for each correction I need to give my daughter. People stop listening if we go all negative.
So for April, I’m going to give it a shot. Courageous, uplifting, funny or useful.
I’m also going to take a break from pro cycling and the twitter feeds of the haters. I’ve been dipping into the feeds of the angry – seems that this is not good for me (especially when my training volume is low).
To offer moral support, my wife’s taking a month off Facebook.
Now off to ride on a beautiful day in Boulder.