Some thoughts on the last day of the year, looking ahead:
- Really enjoying playing the guitar; I've been trying to do daily practice since starting, but more like every other day over the Christmas period. I was surprised how quickly I picked up D, A and E chords again; it felt as though the muscle memory had lain dormant. I remember it taking a long time for me to develop the agility to switch between initial chords, but within a couple of practice sessions I was able to change comfortably. So far I think this was the right sort of thing for me to take up: it forces me to concentrate on something here and something concrete, not abstract; I have found it refreshing to play so far, rather than a chore (no doubt this will change).
- I have read some powerful books this year: Wilber, Kegan, Braiding Sweetgrass, Antifragile. If it wasn't for how heartening I found Kegan, I would make Antifragile my read of the year. I started a re-read yesterday and it is refreshing a lot of what I had already forgotten (disadvantage of reading it relatively slowly); it's funny how much more is revealed on a second pass from the understanding gained later in the book. I plan to keep reading as widely as I have this year. I know Taleb emphasizes reading classic works (Lindy effect and all that), so I would be interested in reading some original philosophical texts; Montaigne, Machiavelli came to mind.
- The recent WL5->6 and ERE1,ERE2 discussions have helped me considerably in my understanding of what I want/need to be doing next. I see now I was (and will still be) locked into an optimizing mindset. My focus had narrowed, particularly as work became very intense over the summer months. The combination of mental exertion this required, and that fact I enjoyed the work, caused me to discount the wider ERE practice. The idea of shifting focus, doing more and different things, is exciting: there's a lot to learn, a lot to try. I have been thinking over the Christmas break about ways to work on my cooking module, perhaps incorporating some food scavenging (inspired by @guitarplayer). I need more time to reflect on how to approach investments studying in a way I am confident will stick (though there is a lot to be said for trial and error). I need to remember the allotment will pick up quickly in the coming months, and that this will absorb a fair amount of time. I'm hoping this year I can keep it ticking over so as to focus on other areas of my life; that may be a challenge in itself.
- Not sure if this is because I've had a small break from work, but I feel a bit disillusioned with my field currently. I mentioned previously about writing on software architecture, but it occurred to me this week that this feels a bit forced. I'm not sure of my intentions with this module and don't want to do it because solely of a career I enjoy, yet feel I should transcend at some point in the future. No doubt my thoughts will change again in coming weeks (I go through rhythms such as this) but I can't help but feel the career can be a distraction from other things more important to me; I become too busy to remember what else there is.
I am extremely grateful I returned to my journal back in March this year and developed a habit of contributing to these forums. The clarity of reflection one gets from writing down their thoughts is only obvious after repetition. The thoughts and contributions of others here are hugely appreciated. This is a great community and I wish you all the best for 2023.