On the bandwagon

If Ryan Holiday had not inspired enough young bloggers to read Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations, then Stoicisim 101, the article he wrote for Tim Ferriss’ site ought to do the trick. 

I’m a part of the earlier camp, but was definitely driven to pick Meditations back up after reading the Holiday’s piece on Ferriss’ blog. I fully expect to see an increased number of blog posts containing quotes by Aurelius, Seneca, and Epictetus in the coming months — I don’t think of this as a bad thing, but rather a prediction of a developing fad. I just hope that we will all have gained something by the time it passes.

With that said, here are two entries that I particularly enjoyed:

5.34 You can lead an untroubled life provided you can grow, can think and act systematically.

            Two characteristics shared by gods and med (and ever rational creature):

            i. Not to let others hold you back

          ii. To locate goodness in thinking and doing the right thing, and to limit your desires to that

5.35 If:

• this evil is not of my doing
• nor the result of it
• and the community is not endangered, 

              why should it bother me?
       Where’s the danger for the community?

 

I have been away from this blog for longer than I like, but only because there are not enough hours in the day. Life will calm down in about three weeks though, and I look forward to producing several pieces reflecting on both the year behind me and lessons I have learned.

 

National Service-Learning Conference

I am currently at the National Service-Learning Conference, fulfilling my favorite role as a member of the State Farm Youth Advisory Board (for which applications are available!). Busy days are ahead, but what we are accomplishing is unbelievably exciting.

Just what is service-learning? 

State Farm, one of the largest funders of service-learning projects in the world, defines it as:

a teaching method that combines service to the community with classroom curriculum. It is more than merely community service. It is a hands-on approach to mastering subject material while fostering civic responsibility.

Turn on the TV, listen to the radio, open up a (rapidly-failing) newspaper… it is not difficult to see that we live in troubled times. Starting local though, with long-term investment in our communities, is what will help us resolve these miseries. This is how we change the world.

 

The relevancy of procrastination, part 2

In my last post, I discussed how, in an on-going exploration of what interests me,  I have begun keeping a record of the stories and articles that I enjoy. After sharing several dozen articles on Facebook, I made the switch to the social bookmarking site delicious; not only could I see what other users were sharing, but I could also tag each link in order to organize these bookmarks according to how they fit into my interest categories.

And better yet, delicious offers a range of feedback options, providing quantitative data which relates articles to their assigned tags and reading habits of users.

In a way, it all seems frivolous: even without a specific count, I should have a general idea of what topics I read about the most. Quantifying this information has an interesting effect on me, though, as it provides much clearer information about my habits.

I have just begun to watch the development of a movement called ‘quantified self;’ Ben Casnocha’s blog was the first place I saw this idea mentioned, but I have since seen the practice transformed into hyperstylized ‘annual reports‘ of individual behavior, powered by Daytum. I think it would be very easy to fall into a trap of obsessively collecting data about one’s self, to the point of gross inefficiency, but the general idea backing the movement is very appealing — quite simply, take the time to get to know yourself and your habits.

So how does (not quite obsessively) tracking my reading habits get me anywhere?

From a very interesting article analyzing Leonardo da Vinci in The Chronicle of Higher Education:

If there is one conclusion to be drawn from the life of Leonardo, it is that procrastination reveals the things at which we are most gifted — the things we truly want to do. Procrastination is a calling away from something that we do against our desires toward something that we do for pleasure, in that joyful state of self-forgetful inspiration that we call genius.

I certainly am not claiming genius, nor do I dare compare my own dabbling in a couple different subjects to the (truly) Renaissance man endeavors of da Vinci. The article raises a valid point, however, in that what we do in our spare time can serve as a strong indicator of what truly interests us. I have talked before about my interest in public policy and city and regional planning — and in an academic sense, I would certainly prefer the study of those topics than, say, mathematics or British literature. I have room for other disciplines in my life, however, and branching out and reading more will certainly not undermine the path I am currently taking.

So, blame it on da Vinci if you wish, but I am allowing myself to think that the reading and tracking I do now might be worth more for my long-term happiness than I originally thought.

 

The relevancy of procrastination, part 1

Some background details are required; this is a two-part post.

A few weeks ago, Jeff Widman was kind enough to take the time to engage me in a phone coversation about the direction I was thinking of taking in life. He started the conversation off with what should have been a simple question, but rather managed to leave me sputtering for an answer: ”What are your interests and passions?”

I had already begun to explore this topic in the past few months, but my inability to provide a definite response served as a wake-up call that a quest to find direction and advice would certainly be hindered by not even knowing for what I needed to ask.

That phone call not only helped prompt the beginning of a series of intermittent posts on finding one’s story, but also forced me to address what I consider my own interests and passions to be. I utilized, however, a different strategy than intensive self-reflection I thought might be required to manage this endeavor.  

My logic went something like this (and was partially revised after viewing Charlie Hoehn’s ‘How to Hack Someone’s Mind‘):

1. I read a fair number of articles each day that cover a decent range of subjects. 
2. I don’t actually file these articles, beyond leaving them clumped together in Google Reader. 
3. A current goal of mine is to be able to provide a clear response when asked what interests me and what topics I would like to pursue in greater focus. 
4. Cohesively, these articles ostensibly represent my interests. Putting them in decent order could potentially reveal to me answers to some of my larger questions.                                                                                                                                       a). Worst case scenario: I share a lot of fun articles with friends while injecting some organization into my life.

And so I began sharing articles on Facebook. And so I quickly realized that while Facebook does a lot, a top-notch social bookmarking site it is not. Thus began my foray into delicious.

—–

I plan to round out a lot in the follow-up to this post, as well as provide some insight as to what the title means. Thanks, as always, for reading this far.

 

Changes worth noting for myself

If I were a smoker, I would undoubtedly begin with a disclaimer that this post was fueled primarily by coffee and cigarettes. As it stands, this post is the result of numerous cups of coffee and a long night of much more thinking and synthesizing than sleeping.

A lot has been going on for  me lately, in terms of recognizing where I am and realizing where I want to go. My last post, in which I realized I was working in a similar capacity and undergoing thought processes closely related to the year before, really drove home how beneficial it can be to keep a documented record of what all is going on in my head. What follows is a list of ideas that have recently crossed my mind; I want to record them publicly with the hopes of staying focused on them long enough to act.

1). Earlier this week I took a l look at the “about me” section of my blog, and was slightly horrified by what I had written about myself a year before. I do not doubt for a moment that there is a serious chance that I will one day be equally disgusted by what I now have written, but I this is still a slight improvement.

2). Not only have I been reading a lot more articles than I usually do, I have been taking steps to actively provide them them with others. In the past month my “items shared” on Facebook have increased dramatically; I now also utilize delicious to keep the article links organized and available to others.

2a). Working on a group research project last night, I realized for the first time how potentially valuable a site like delicious could be in facilitating group research efforts. I am not the first person to have such an idea, but the epiphany that we could so effortlessly streamline our findings/sources sharing felt absolutely awesome.

3). In the past week, I have received information about a study abroad opportunity examining sustainability in city design, attended a lecture by one of the top experts on green urbanism, and examined some aspect of infrastructure or economic and community development in a number of classes. I truly believe in keeping as many doors open as possible, but increasingly I feel my interests in this (broad) subject strengthening.

4). I participated in a discussion last night in which the majority of us had been independently inspired by the same op-ed. Not only did I walk away with a stronger understanding of how to relate some of what Thomas Friedman observed to actions I can personally take, but this really passionate conversation did wonders for bridging gaps within the group and shaking up the dynamics.

5). I have started using Twitter again, and while I continue to have my reservations about all the ways this social media platform can benefit the world, there are some valuable bits within the noise. As I see it, if I can find just a few interesting blogs that I might not have otherwise seen, my efforts have been worth my time. 

 

I have had a lot of busy days and late nights, and many of friends don’t quite understand why I do what I do. My question: Is any of what I am pursuing considered work if I really enjoy all of it?

 

An unexpected cycle

Tim Ferriss recently examined Napoleonic strategy and information management, and included some interesting quotes that reminded me of my father’s favorite saying: “Lead, follow, or get out of the way.” My dad has made his career in emergency response and disaster management, so what sounds like a witty phrase to many actually has tremendous implications in his line of work, where hesitation and indecision can literally mean the difference between life and death.

Ferriss’ article resonated so deeply with me, actually, I almost titled this post with the “Lead, follow…” quote, until I realized that I had ruminated on a similar topic almost exactly one year ago. I had to reread the post to remember what was on my mind in early 2008… interestingly enough, I do not believe that much has changed.

A little more than a year ago, my natural inclination to avoid risk became a source of frustration for me. I realized that unless I began forcing myself out of my comfort zone, I could never grow as a person. Since that point, I think I have done a better job at broadening my horizons and being willing to take action, even in the face of uncertainty.

Now, research published in Scientific American suggests that I began working to make these changes at a perfect time in my life:

Openness declines gradually over many years, often beginning in the 20s. As the years wear on, novelty becomes less and less stimulating, and the world outside someone’s own private and professional sanctums becomes increasingly less attractive….

For younger people, external changes were more likely to lead to internal transformation, but that was not the case for older individuals.

So, what does this mean to me? Last year I said “yes” to the opportunity to apply for a grant which would fund an environmental club at my school; this year, I have said “yes” to working as a policy consultant to help students prepare for PowerShift 2009, a massive youth summit focused on climate and clean energy policy. I think I am better for doing so.

Making these decisions has not yet become second-nature to me, and a preference for risk aversion may very well be a part of me that never changes. There is a big difference between jumping over a bonfire and jumping into a leadership role in a project, though, and exercising decisiveness will lead me to gain from the latter than the former.

I’m looking forward to see where I will be next year.

**********************

Related note: A friend commented on last year’s post and suggested this article on recognizing opportunity. I believe that Brian Kim makes a great point when he advocates to “start by taking a shot at the little things.”

*********************

Edit: I just found that Alex J. Mann posted a quote last week that came close to summing up the message behind this post:

“Great dangers always accompany great opportunities.  The possibility of destruction is always implicit in the act of creation.  Thus the greatest enemy of individual freedom is the individual himself.”

- Saul Alinsky

 

Framing and reframing an issue

I don’t think there is a more impressive thing to do intellectually than turn over a long-held a opinion in light of new evidence.

Ryan Holiday’s latest post addresses the importance of being willing to reconsider one’s position on an issue, even at risk of appearing incosistent to others.

I have had a professor this semester who has really pushed our class to learn how to “reframe” issues — that is, taking what seems to be a problem and breaking it down into smaller areas and issues, finding difficulties associated with each issue, and addressing the causal factor behind a group of difficulties. You wind up finding alternative solutions to a part of the overarching problem, even if your approach seems less comprehensive than expected.

The comments left on Holiday’s post all offer a different interpretation of what he is saying — as noted above, I looked at this from a reframing perspective:

I think being able to [reframe an issue] well can occasionally give the impression of inconsistency — two problems may look very similar on the surface, but digging a little deeper reveals that the best approaches will be unique to the situation. If one is only used to looking at the superficial, though, it can be difficult to understand why the reactions might be different. I could be off my mark completely though, it’s just something I’ve been rolling around in my head for a while.

Meanwhile, as I mulled these things over, programmer and essayist Paul Graham was busy releasing a short article entitled ‘Keep Your Identity Small,’ in which he explores how discussions of politics and religion  usually turn into noisy but ineffectual debates that produce few positive results. His theory? People weave those topics into their identity, so a critique of the subject is easily perceived as an assault on one’s character.

If people can’t think clearly about anything that has become part of their identity, then all other things being equal, the best plan is to let as few things into your identity as possible.

Most people reading this will already be fairly tolerant. But there is a step beyond thinking of yourself as x but tolerating y: not even to consider yourself an x.

This is why wedge issues can become so divisive; when serving as part of a person’s identity, inconsistency on a subject could very well lead to questions of faith and purpose. And I am not calling for people to abandon all that they hold dear — rather, simply consider ways to examine the issue through different sets of lenses, and learn to look beyond the surface to engage in more fulfilling, more productive discussions.

 

Recent readings

I feel like I have found some really interesting, high-quality articles lately, and I believe that I have been sharing even more than usual lately. I have toyed around with a del.icio.us account in the past, and I should probably really commit to one, considering the amount that I read and enjoy on the web. Until I make the time do so, however, I have listed some articles that I found particularly intriguing over the past month.

As a side note: If anyone has found any really cool blogs (or articles) lately, please share. I am always looking to expand my reading list.

‘The Lecture System in Teaching Science‘ by Robert T. Morrison: A great alternative to the standard college lecture. I have some professors who definitely try to utilize a more discussion-based method, and the classes are much more rewarding for them doing so.

‘In Praise of Lo-Fi‘ by Jack Cheng: A few times a year I go to the beach, leave my laptop at home, ignore as many cell phones calls as possible, and do my best to just exist in peace for a few days. Sometimes my friends accompany me; we tend to play a lot of games with cards. It is wonderful.

‘Orientation‘ by Daniel Orozco: My friend mentioned to me that she had read a story in her creative writing class that I would absolutely love. She was right — it’s slow at the start and kind of dark, but should appeal to anyone familiar with that sort of office setting.

‘The Tragedy of the Commons‘ by Garrett Hardin: Classic article. I read this for an Urban Studies and Planning class, but I think it could interest folks in a variety of disciplines.

‘How America Lost the War on Drugs‘ by Ben Wallace-Wells: I absolutely love stories about crime, particularly those involving drug trafficking, use, etc.. Politics and musical preferences aside, Rolling Stone has still published some interesting articles about this dark realm over the years. In a similar vein: ‘Kid Cannabis‘ by Mark Binelli, and ‘Going Under‘ by Jason Zengerle, about opiate addiction among anesthesiologists.

And on the book front, I recently finished Steven Millhauser’s ‘The Knife Thrower and Other Stories‘. It was beautifully written, and made me want to once again try my hand at fiction.

 

Finding a story, part 2: Maya Angelou

The charge upon you is great. We are just starting, as we celebrate the lives and deaths of great men and women… Whoever we are celebrating, it is just the beginning. You won’t be daunted if you know what you’ve already come through. The days ahead are difficult, but we are equal to this.

Maya Angelou, MLK Keynote Lecture, January 21, 2009

Since reading I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings as part of a Banned Books Week activity in high school, I have wanted to see Maya Angelou speak — and two weeks ago, I finally had my opportunity. 

She officially gave the keynote lecture for my school’s Annual MLK Week Celebration, but her speech was hardly limited to a discussion on the Civil Rights Movement. Rather, she blended song, poetry, and prose into an enchanting performance that urged each student to think and seriously address the question “where did I come from?” In doing so, she explained, we would not only learn our history but also realize “the strides made [before us] and what we are capable of” while availing ourselves of “information which informs and forms.”

More than inspirational rhetoric, though, she wove these messages into her own personal story. The most memorable anecdote came from her time in an international dance company, during a visit to Yugoslavia. Learning Serbo-Croatian just days before the trip, she met some young people in the city and traveled to a party miles away from the city. Despite initially frightening an elderly couple who had never seen a black person before, she soon befriended them, and began talking to the patriarch of the house. Curious about her heritage, he asked her the names of her ancestors, and the man, despite having never lived beyond the borders of Yugoslavia, soon promised her that he had known her great-grandfather. 

She let the audience process this for a moment, and then continued speaking:

“‘I am a human being, nothing human can be alien to me.’ – Terence, 154 BC”

– When you can internalize that, you are liberated.

This was, I believe, the message of her performance. Her familiarity with the man stemmed not from him actually knowing her great-grandfather, of course, but from a shared humanity, a sense of kinship, forged out of mutual respect and genuine interest in the other. This was the recurring theme in her songs, her poems, her stories.

What Maya Angelous says is as compelling as how she says it, because she believes so deeply in a set of principles, because her passion burns so brightly.

 

Unintended consequences

I don’t smoke, my friends don’t smoke, and cigarettes have long since killed the vast majority of my family members who used to smoke. I am, however, from a tobacco state, from a family with a history of farming tobacco, and am attending a school that, even with non-smoking signs plastered around campus, was funded largely by tobacco dollars.

I read a case study earlier this week analyzing how pure economic research into the “price elasticity of demand” for cigarettes eventually grew into a lobbying and policy effort to curb youth smoking through an increase in the federal excise tax. The article and the class discussion that followed addressed some important factors of “sin taxes” that one most consider — namely, if you tax the vice out of existence, the government loses that stream of revenue. Such issues are complex and solutions cannot simply be summed up as right or wrong; one must be prepared to re-frame the problem, as expected outcomes often go awry:

With the possible exception of the hydrogen bomb, nothing in modernity is more generative of paradox than cigarettes. Thus, in 1955, when the Federal Trade Commission sought to curb misleading advertising by banning the publication of tar and nicotine levels, the ruling proved to be a boon to the industry, enabling it to advertise filter cigarettes for their implicit safety even as it raised the toxic yields to compensate for the filters. So it went with the 1965 law requiring warning labels on cigarette packs, which preempted potentially more stringent state and local regulation and provided a priceless shield against future liability suits. So it went, too, with the 1971 congressional ban on broadcast cigarette advertising, which saved the industry millions of dollars, effectively froze out potential new competitors, and put an end to the devastating antismoking ads then being broadcast under the fairness doctrine. Even such left-handed regulation as the 1982 increase in the federal excise tax benefited the industry, which used the tax as a screen for a series of price increases, doubling the price per pack in a decade, and invested the windfall in diversification.

Every forward step taken by government to regulate smoking–the broadcast ban, the ban on in-flight smoking, the welter of local bans on smoking in public places–moved cigarettes a step further back from the consciousness of nonsmoking voters.

                         – Jonathan Franzen, “Sifting the Ashes”