Walking, building, enjoying
Thinking my own dang thoughts. And, mysterious deer.
I’m going on short morning walks lately. Partly for my fitness and partly to create thinking space. Fitness gains take time. The topography around here is such that every route around here is uphill both ways. So the goal is to lock in the habit before the weather turns wet and gray.
But thinking, that part is showing immediate improvements. Walks beat desks for early morning clarity. It’s easier to avoid screens, social feeds, and other distractions on a walk than at a desk. I skip the podcasts, preferring to take in the world or even fixate on the ambient sounds. Long-hand writing in notebooks, instead of on a keyboard, closes the loop on any ideas the walk generated.
I trust these walks are sharpening my writing and thinking – let me know what you think in the coming weeks.
1. Building software
Dos and don'ts, when estimates go sideways:
AKA “Help! I estimated a project and hit every branch falling down the surprises tree.” A shocking turn of events that definitely has never happened to any of us.
The humble software shopkeeper:
Picture a sleepy strip mall: grocery store, clothing store, paint store (why is there always a paint store?), and then, improbably, a software store. Inside, a proud but humble proprietor.
“What do you have for sale?” you ask.
“One application, available on two or three platforms, you can buy ‘em all for less than $99”, they reply.
“You got anything else?”
“Nope, just this one program.”
Wherein I miss whiteboards with DO NOT ERASE on them.
2. Enjoyers
Lately I’ve written short bits on hobbies: for the car enjoyers, the Linux enjoyers, and the television enjoyers.
I was going to proudly note I managed to avoid commenting on The Bear in the last one, but it seems I misremembered and did comment on it. If I were a character in the show, my whole thing would be noting that none of the plot lines would work in a categorical comedy. 🙃
Two modes of blogging: the chaotic creator vs. the tidy taxonomist.
What is the best part of your morning routine? Hit reply and tell me.
Thanks for reading!