Month: February 2019

Solving the wrong problem

But, It’s Renewable?

There’s nothing I hate more than pointless, feel good statements that are utterly devoid of reality. The latest is the clamor for ending evil fossil fuel and switching to 100% renewable! Yay for me, I love the planet! Let me forward a meme on the Facebook so everyone knows I’m an eco-warrior.

Here’s the percentage of renewable energy use for the major regions in the world:

Country RenewableFossil Fuel
China3%86%
US6%83%
Europe9%75%
CIS0%87%
Middle East0%99%
India 3%92%
Central America8%69%

You can be as optimistic and hopeful as you’d like… but single digit percentages are a not a bridgeable gap right now. Until some fancy new technology is invented, the U.S. is not going to generate the 4,000+ terawatt hours of annual electricity use by recycling used banana peels.

I’m sorry if this crushes your green spirit animal. Renewable energy, as it stands today, is not a viable source of sustainable energy. Period. That doesn’t mean we should abandon all hope and stop trying. Eventually (we hope) someone is going to create a fusion reactor powered by unicorn tears and used tires and we’ll all be saved from the evils of climate change.

Until then, stop with the unrealistic green campaigns and tax schemes. I pay too much in taxes already and current government spending is not sustainable. If you’d like to support green research, be my guest. Don’t just be a keyboard warrior echoing Facebook memes – you can write a check to the company or university of your choice today. You are also welcome to pay more than required this tax season. Bueller? Bueller? Bueller? Anyone? Hello?

Daily Life, Motivation

Is A Bullet The Answer?

I am not a list making or post-it note kind of guy. I am confident that I’ll remember everything. Which, of course, I never do. I’m not a planner other than some vague goals floating around in my head. As a result I’ve been feeling like I’m just drifting from day to day doing whatever task or activity seems to pop up at the moment.

I’m not unhappy with that other than a feeling that time is accelerating and I’m not really accomplishing anything. A few days ago a video popped up on YouTube about bullet journaling. I don’t know why I felt compelled to click on it, but an hour or so later I was convinced enough to give it a try.

The traditional bullet journal is an analog book and a system of tracking and planning. Looking at some of the examples people put together… they can be very artistic and clearly they have time on their hands. That not me. I’m not going to lug a book and a pen around. Way too hipster.

So yesterday I created a digital bullet journal using Microsoft OneNote. Because it syncs to the cloud, it’s available on all devices and I’ll have it available everywhere. I probably spent two hours putting the basic format together. I must admit I really liked the act of thinking about what big ticket things I wanted to get done in the next six months. But it does seem silly writing down the things I want to do today. I’m thinking about them already – why write down what I already know I need to do? I’m all-in though. I’ll keep at it for long enough to decide if it’s helping.

Is this going to make me more productive? A better planner? I don’t know. I do recognize that actively thinking about and committing to words the things I want to accomplish makes it more likely I’ll work to achieve them.

Who knows maybe a year from now you’ll find me in a coffee shop ordering a double soy no whip frap, then sitting down and opening a fancy hardbound bullet journal. Maybe.

Daily Life, Motivation

Which Path Is Right?

I’ve been on a bit of a health transformation. I finally hit a point where I said to myself, enough is enough. So I’ve been focused, made some good changes, and feel better. It started by following some inspiring people. I had literally spent a week of watching motivational videos (while eating chips) and I thought, stop being such a poser and get your ass up and start doing something.

There are a number of influencers that got me going, but the two main ones are Jocko Willink and David Goggins. Jocko is famous for “Discipline equals freedom”. He gets up at 0430 every day and works out, posting it on Instagram. The more discipline you have in getting all the everyday mundane things done, the more freedom you’ll earn in the rest of your day and life.

David Goggins is a great story. Unmotivated. 300 lbs. Decided he wanted to be a navy seal, lost 100 lbs. in 3 months. Went on to have a great career and do some ridiculously challenging stuff. He’s got lots of good pep talks around things like staring at his shoes for 30 minutes trying to get motivated enough to go for a run. I can relate. Anything is achievable if you want it bad enough.

I love that stuff. Lately I’ve been up at 0400 most mornings getting my workout in. Posting it on the IG for accountability. Strict with my diet. Feeling like life is too short to waste it sleeping in and not getting shit done.

And then I saw a quote the other day that stopped me in my tracks. Paraphrasing – “None of us are getting out of here alive… eat the delicious food, walk in the sunshine, jump in the ocean… there’s no time for anything else”.

It’s true. All this may end tomorrow. Laying on my deathbed what will I relish more – that I was disciplined and got my tired ass up at 0400 every day, or that I enjoyed good food, a cigar, and a some adult beverages? I know it’s silly but that simple quote made me wonder what, at my age, am I doing skipping meals, eating strictly, and being so sore from workouts I can barely walk? Will I really be happier five years from now?

Which path is the right path?

Like anything, balance is probably the right choice. I recognize that if I swing too far to the indulgent side it carries consequences. I won’t be able to enjoy the outdoor activities I like. I’ll probably throw a clot and become a vegetable, cutting years off my life. On the other hand, I don’t want to miss out on nachos. If I get hit by a bus tomorrow am I really going to care that I was ten or twenty pounds too heavy?

I don’t know the answer. At the moment, I have a goal and I’m going to work my ass off to get there. Once there… I think I’ll make a point of ensuring I indulge from time to time. Because it’s true – none of us are getting out of here alive.