I realized that most people are just stuck in a loop of "autopilot grinding"—working more hours but getting worse results because they never give their brain a second to breathe. I spent some time digging into how the most successful people in history used walking to basically "cheat" at creativity and problem-solving. I put together a breakdown of the system I use to hit 10,000 steps and actually turn that movement into content and clear thinking. You can check out the full story here: https://open.substack.com/pub/theinnerself46/p/the-power-of-long-walks-how-10000?r=2kbdxu&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
In that movie (seen by me years ago on tv and I wasn't really following it) the fat man and the Bogart character have to attend a big,glittering social party that evening but there is this secret that is important,life or death I think,that must not be divulged. Greenstreet says to Bogie, " are you good at small talk" and Bogie says Yes. Good replies Greenstreet because people who can't natter on trivially tend to blurt out the big secret in embarrassment. He didn't say it quite in those words,he said it more succinctly,but I liked that, it's true. One of the reasons Oscar Wilde was so popular IN SOCIETY (pre shame) [he said only people who can't get accepted into society diss it],was that at Duchesses afternoon teas he could talk wittily and amusingly for hours about nothing at all,the weather,the trees in the park. This was more important than it sounds as you had to wait till all the servants had left the room before talking about anything indiscreet, political,scandalous. Of course most people forgot. In the novels of Anthony Trollope there are scenes where the latest political scandal is being shared in the Servants Hall because the Duke and his wife take no more notice of the housemaid tidying round than you might do of your ALEXA! I forget which one but the Duke who is also Prime Minister is discussing with his wife (who he likes) a knotty political issue while her French maid who has been with her around 30 years fusses around doing her hair and setting out her jewels. The French ladies maid only speaks French so they talk in complete confidence in her discreet presence. An hour later when Lord and Lady are off to the ball in her carriage the French ladies maid is down in the Servants Hall enjoying a meal and regaling them all in perfect English with all the juicy details of the latest political scandal!
Kent Peterson, you sure turned a cold, snowy day into Joy! I have a literature buddy downstate in Waukesha. She’s in my AccuWeather app which allows me to designate towns and cities from all over. Waukesha’s highs and LOWS of late make me shiver to read them! If you and Christine can find joy afoot in the conditions your typed of, you’re a better man than I am, Gunga Din.
I hope to swing by the coffee shop where you sell your stamps one day if I ever can convince my family to take another vacation up north... And I need to get out my LONG neglected carving supplies and make something this advent season.
Exercise is baked into my day by default, too. Technically, I'm automobile!
I realized that most people are just stuck in a loop of "autopilot grinding"—working more hours but getting worse results because they never give their brain a second to breathe. I spent some time digging into how the most successful people in history used walking to basically "cheat" at creativity and problem-solving. I put together a breakdown of the system I use to hit 10,000 steps and actually turn that movement into content and clear thinking. You can check out the full story here: https://open.substack.com/pub/theinnerself46/p/the-power-of-long-walks-how-10000?r=2kbdxu&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
In that movie (seen by me years ago on tv and I wasn't really following it) the fat man and the Bogart character have to attend a big,glittering social party that evening but there is this secret that is important,life or death I think,that must not be divulged. Greenstreet says to Bogie, " are you good at small talk" and Bogie says Yes. Good replies Greenstreet because people who can't natter on trivially tend to blurt out the big secret in embarrassment. He didn't say it quite in those words,he said it more succinctly,but I liked that, it's true. One of the reasons Oscar Wilde was so popular IN SOCIETY (pre shame) [he said only people who can't get accepted into society diss it],was that at Duchesses afternoon teas he could talk wittily and amusingly for hours about nothing at all,the weather,the trees in the park. This was more important than it sounds as you had to wait till all the servants had left the room before talking about anything indiscreet, political,scandalous. Of course most people forgot. In the novels of Anthony Trollope there are scenes where the latest political scandal is being shared in the Servants Hall because the Duke and his wife take no more notice of the housemaid tidying round than you might do of your ALEXA! I forget which one but the Duke who is also Prime Minister is discussing with his wife (who he likes) a knotty political issue while her French maid who has been with her around 30 years fusses around doing her hair and setting out her jewels. The French ladies maid only speaks French so they talk in complete confidence in her discreet presence. An hour later when Lord and Lady are off to the ball in her carriage the French ladies maid is down in the Servants Hall enjoying a meal and regaling them all in perfect English with all the juicy details of the latest political scandal!
Love that quote, great format!
Kent Peterson, you sure turned a cold, snowy day into Joy! I have a literature buddy downstate in Waukesha. She’s in my AccuWeather app which allows me to designate towns and cities from all over. Waukesha’s highs and LOWS of late make me shiver to read them! If you and Christine can find joy afoot in the conditions your typed of, you’re a better man than I am, Gunga Din.
I hope to swing by the coffee shop where you sell your stamps one day if I ever can convince my family to take another vacation up north... And I need to get out my LONG neglected carving supplies and make something this advent season.
C'est la Vie!!
Love those stamps!
I am thinking Christine might be doing something to save money. Stay warm.
"I'm a man who likes talking to a man who likes to talk."
"without buying any books"
I think you need another checkup! A biblioscopy!