My stepfather dying was a bit of a wakeup call, I knew it was coming, but after spending his last week and a half with him and my mom, seeing him die, a voice in the back of my head said -
`Adam], you need to get your house in order.` Metaphorical house in order that is.
So I`ve been revisiting all the material that I thought was wise so that I could get myself on track. The results so far have been extraordinary.. when I was walking the Camino in Spain I had this tremendous sense of swing, I invented a term for it called `running clean.` Just feeling like a muscle car cruising down the highway in a perfectly tweaked engine.
I re-read Ramit Sethi`s Will Teach You To Be Rich, which is probably one of the best financial get your shit together books for 20-somethings I`ve ever read. I`ve automated my paycheck to pay debt, bills, save, invest, and it takes me about 5 minutes of work every 2 weeks. When you see in this space where I make a debt free post I`ll be dancing like a motherfucker.
I`ve re-enacted my previous commitment to eating Paleo, found in Robb Wolf`s The Paleo Solution. I know from experience it plainly just makes me feel better and my body so much stronger. Plus I`m halfway (2 weeks) before it`ll be a month and then just be an automatic habit. Once I get more freezer space, I`m also going to be ordering meat from a local organic farm in bulk purchases. Easier to stay focused when you have a house full of good food. Fortunately in Quebec, there`s tons of amazingly made local produce that`s made in environmentally conscious ways. A tad more expensive, but I think the improved food quality and saving the planet is worth it, no?
Keeping with that, I`m been taking Tim Ferriss` advice from the 4 Hour Body and using some basic yoga postures and kettlebell swings to help improve fitness. I`ve also found an amazing deal (16 bucks a month) for an amazing gym (new, clean, lots of classes, 24/7) near my place to help do some different kind of workouts in those sedantary winter months.
You thought I was done? Boy, I`m just getting started.
To get myself better organized I`ve been immersing myself in the work of badass motherfucking productivity
genius David Allen. I`ve been simultaneously re-reading the now-classic Getting Things Done and listening to the audiobook of his new book Making It All Work. I remember when I first read GTD it felt like algebra to my brain, but I guess I`ve levelled up in brain juice because now it seems to all just make a lot of fucking sense. I say with no irony that I bought a filing cabinet and I`m proud of my system.
I`ve also been wanting for awhile to move into my own apartment, my roommate`s making some changes I don`t really like, so I`m keeping my eye out for apartments in the Jean-Talon market area. Parc Ex (around Jarry Park), Villeray, Jean-Talon, Little Italy, Petit Patrie. If you hear of cool 3 1/2 or 4 1/2s in those areas let me know. I`m not on the lease so I can make a move any time. Otherwise I`m stocking up on apartment stuff, getting what electronics and furniture I can fit in this small space so I won`t move into a totally empty apartment. Lots of art to get framed as well.
I`m also cutting back on the dating (sorry ladies), as it was just taking up too much time. I`m not closed off to anything, but won`t be actively seeking out anything. Probably disable an online dating, already removed the apps from my phone. I think all those dates were leaving a lot of open loops in my head.
That`s mostly my bag right now. I`ve been actively discussing with my manager at work my next career move, looking to move to a Business Analyst position likely, something that I can work on anywhere with a laptop, which will give me a great deal of location independence. Which means I`m more likely to come spend a week or two with you in Toronto, New York, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Austin, Paris, Berlin, Barcelona, Buenos Aires, San Francisco, Vancouver, Edinburgh, etc.
My work schedule is still varying and all over the place (hence the 24 hour gym), but I`ve decided once I have something somewhat predictable I`ll be signing up for Systema classes. I really enjoy the philosophy, practice, and physiological focus of the martial art. To get prepared I`ve already been studying and practicing their breathing techniques.
I`ve also been doing a lot more Vipassana meditation (almost daily) which is helping a lot as well. Some of them are walking meditations, where I can get a bit more exercise and self-focus at the same time.
All and all I feel like I`m a good track. If you want to socialize and you`re in the city hit me up though! Despite everything above, since I`m in the `swing` I`m doing all this, but I`m still not that busy!
Love y`all.
`Adam], you need to get your house in order.` Metaphorical house in order that is.
So I`ve been revisiting all the material that I thought was wise so that I could get myself on track. The results so far have been extraordinary.. when I was walking the Camino in Spain I had this tremendous sense of swing, I invented a term for it called `running clean.` Just feeling like a muscle car cruising down the highway in a perfectly tweaked engine.
I re-read Ramit Sethi`s Will Teach You To Be Rich, which is probably one of the best financial get your shit together books for 20-somethings I`ve ever read. I`ve automated my paycheck to pay debt, bills, save, invest, and it takes me about 5 minutes of work every 2 weeks. When you see in this space where I make a debt free post I`ll be dancing like a motherfucker.
I`ve re-enacted my previous commitment to eating Paleo, found in Robb Wolf`s The Paleo Solution. I know from experience it plainly just makes me feel better and my body so much stronger. Plus I`m halfway (2 weeks) before it`ll be a month and then just be an automatic habit. Once I get more freezer space, I`m also going to be ordering meat from a local organic farm in bulk purchases. Easier to stay focused when you have a house full of good food. Fortunately in Quebec, there`s tons of amazingly made local produce that`s made in environmentally conscious ways. A tad more expensive, but I think the improved food quality and saving the planet is worth it, no?
Keeping with that, I`m been taking Tim Ferriss` advice from the 4 Hour Body and using some basic yoga postures and kettlebell swings to help improve fitness. I`ve also found an amazing deal (16 bucks a month) for an amazing gym (new, clean, lots of classes, 24/7) near my place to help do some different kind of workouts in those sedantary winter months.
You thought I was done? Boy, I`m just getting started.
To get myself better organized I`ve been immersing myself in the work of badass motherfucking productivity
genius David Allen. I`ve been simultaneously re-reading the now-classic Getting Things Done and listening to the audiobook of his new book Making It All Work. I remember when I first read GTD it felt like algebra to my brain, but I guess I`ve levelled up in brain juice because now it seems to all just make a lot of fucking sense. I say with no irony that I bought a filing cabinet and I`m proud of my system.
I`ve also been wanting for awhile to move into my own apartment, my roommate`s making some changes I don`t really like, so I`m keeping my eye out for apartments in the Jean-Talon market area. Parc Ex (around Jarry Park), Villeray, Jean-Talon, Little Italy, Petit Patrie. If you hear of cool 3 1/2 or 4 1/2s in those areas let me know. I`m not on the lease so I can make a move any time. Otherwise I`m stocking up on apartment stuff, getting what electronics and furniture I can fit in this small space so I won`t move into a totally empty apartment. Lots of art to get framed as well.
I`m also cutting back on the dating (sorry ladies), as it was just taking up too much time. I`m not closed off to anything, but won`t be actively seeking out anything. Probably disable an online dating, already removed the apps from my phone. I think all those dates were leaving a lot of open loops in my head.
That`s mostly my bag right now. I`ve been actively discussing with my manager at work my next career move, looking to move to a Business Analyst position likely, something that I can work on anywhere with a laptop, which will give me a great deal of location independence. Which means I`m more likely to come spend a week or two with you in Toronto, New York, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Austin, Paris, Berlin, Barcelona, Buenos Aires, San Francisco, Vancouver, Edinburgh, etc.
My work schedule is still varying and all over the place (hence the 24 hour gym), but I`ve decided once I have something somewhat predictable I`ll be signing up for Systema classes. I really enjoy the philosophy, practice, and physiological focus of the martial art. To get prepared I`ve already been studying and practicing their breathing techniques.
I`ve also been doing a lot more Vipassana meditation (almost daily) which is helping a lot as well. Some of them are walking meditations, where I can get a bit more exercise and self-focus at the same time.
All and all I feel like I`m a good track. If you want to socialize and you`re in the city hit me up though! Despite everything above, since I`m in the `swing` I`m doing all this, but I`m still not that busy!
Love y`all.
mattacme:
Tremendous post, best of luck to you in all your efforts. Really impressive, in a very positive way. Thanks.
maike:
Dream. Plan. Execute. Reward. Repeat. You're on a good path.