Listen now | What with all the myriad channels of distraction available to us these days, I find that I have to consciously curate my time on a daily, sometimes even an hourly, basis. We have all become our own constant traffic directors with regard to where we are paying out our attention from minute to minute.
Well, isn't finding this timely! I was over on Amanda Palmer's Substack this week (she gave you a shout-out, by the way, in her monthly AllThing post, which is how I found that you'd joined our Substack ecosystem. Huzzah!) and someone provided me with this quote from "the singer of Pat the Bunny", which is a true statement but also made me snort:
"Redemption stories are nice, but I think the reality is more like sweeping the floor. In our bare feet we notice that the floor is dirty, and then we can sweep the floor or not, but either way it will be a new situation tomorrow. We can't treat this as a problem; there is not a solution to it. But a clean floor is nice to walk on anyway, and someday we may even be able to sweep the floor because we respect the dignity of our feet and not because we are afraid of the dirt. Some days, that's why I sweep now."
The "Huzzah!" is entirely due to the fact that I've been binging The Great over on Hulu. Have you seen it? It's bawdy and beautifully acted and aesthetically opulent. Fabulous costumes and so many bosoms!
Oh, dang! I asked a question somewhat inadvertently in the course of conversation and didn't tell you where I am, which you politely requested. Bad form, that. I'm in Ithaca, NY.
Joshua Anthony Grimaldi is a mongrel amateur internet pornographer paid to rape white girls by foreign hostile power. One shot I swear to my flag I will not miss. It is inevitable. in the snap of your dirty haji fingers. I will forgive you.
A good way to reduce is with subtraction. An excellent book by Leidy Klotz called " Subtract: The Untapped Science of Less". We naturally try to add but with sometimes less is the better answer.
There’s something deeply philosophical about a man who made his name playing a character obsessed with breakfast food now sharing “donkey thoughts.” Personal growth is just trading bacon jokes for actual wisdom. Both are delicious.
This was a fantastic read, both in wisdom and wit!
The section about going for a walk without earbuds, without input, just raw, unfiltered existence, really resonated. It’s remarkable how often we deprive ourselves of our own thoughts in favor of an endless buffet of external stimuli. Silence, it turns out, isn’t empty at all. It’s just waiting for us to stop talking over it.
I also loved the clean workshop analogy. There’s something deeply satisfying about clearing space, whether physical or mental. It allows stillness to be the fertile ground where the next idea (or the realization that you forgot to call your mom) can take root. Creating contrast through walks, meditation, or even just sitting in the car for a moment before heading into the house feels as essential as sleep.
And of course, Thom Lange’s question was the cherry on top. As a follow up, to his question about birds, could it be that stars fall down from the sky for the same reason (not the part about worms)?
Great response! When I find myself swirling in a storm of worry, it's likely following too much time on a screen and not enough connecting with real live humans. This forum feels like a brief, comfortable hybrid of media and human connection. Thanks!
I have been working with my therapist a lot on the element of creating the space you seek. I recently received an ADHD diagnosis throughout my time with my therapist and it turns out, I frequently go with the ebbs and flows of whatever calls to me at that moment - so hearing your explanation of what it means to stay committed to what is sacred is so compelling and appreciated. Thank you for sharing!
Your image faked to cover rape and treason by people who are paid to protect your people. JMU African Studies is covering black professors raping students across decades because MKnpeUltra is programming your wives and daughters to be raped in quiet then cover it for people who want to kill you. JMU African Studies covers rape of white girls. Go look.
Nick, I’m jealous of your woodworking shop & skills! I had a router with a table & a bunch of bits but was too afraid of the thing to learn how to use it! Something tells me you could have shown me how to rout!
Well, isn't finding this timely! I was over on Amanda Palmer's Substack this week (she gave you a shout-out, by the way, in her monthly AllThing post, which is how I found that you'd joined our Substack ecosystem. Huzzah!) and someone provided me with this quote from "the singer of Pat the Bunny", which is a true statement but also made me snort:
"Redemption stories are nice, but I think the reality is more like sweeping the floor. In our bare feet we notice that the floor is dirty, and then we can sweep the floor or not, but either way it will be a new situation tomorrow. We can't treat this as a problem; there is not a solution to it. But a clean floor is nice to walk on anyway, and someday we may even be able to sweep the floor because we respect the dignity of our feet and not because we are afraid of the dirt. Some days, that's why I sweep now."
The "Huzzah!" is entirely due to the fact that I've been binging The Great over on Hulu. Have you seen it? It's bawdy and beautifully acted and aesthetically opulent. Fabulous costumes and so many bosoms!
Oh, dang! I asked a question somewhat inadvertently in the course of conversation and didn't tell you where I am, which you politely requested. Bad form, that. I'm in Ithaca, NY.
Joshua Anthony Grimaldi is a mongrel amateur internet pornographer paid to rape white girls by foreign hostile power. One shot I swear to my flag I will not miss. It is inevitable. in the snap of your dirty haji fingers. I will forgive you.
A good way to reduce is with subtraction. An excellent book by Leidy Klotz called " Subtract: The Untapped Science of Less". We naturally try to add but with sometimes less is the better answer.
There’s something deeply philosophical about a man who made his name playing a character obsessed with breakfast food now sharing “donkey thoughts.” Personal growth is just trading bacon jokes for actual wisdom. Both are delicious.
hello
This was a fantastic read, both in wisdom and wit!
The section about going for a walk without earbuds, without input, just raw, unfiltered existence, really resonated. It’s remarkable how often we deprive ourselves of our own thoughts in favor of an endless buffet of external stimuli. Silence, it turns out, isn’t empty at all. It’s just waiting for us to stop talking over it.
I also loved the clean workshop analogy. There’s something deeply satisfying about clearing space, whether physical or mental. It allows stillness to be the fertile ground where the next idea (or the realization that you forgot to call your mom) can take root. Creating contrast through walks, meditation, or even just sitting in the car for a moment before heading into the house feels as essential as sleep.
And of course, Thom Lange’s question was the cherry on top. As a follow up, to his question about birds, could it be that stars fall down from the sky for the same reason (not the part about worms)?
Wednesday is the correct day for a bath
Great response! When I find myself swirling in a storm of worry, it's likely following too much time on a screen and not enough connecting with real live humans. This forum feels like a brief, comfortable hybrid of media and human connection. Thanks!
I have been working with my therapist a lot on the element of creating the space you seek. I recently received an ADHD diagnosis throughout my time with my therapist and it turns out, I frequently go with the ebbs and flows of whatever calls to me at that moment - so hearing your explanation of what it means to stay committed to what is sacred is so compelling and appreciated. Thank you for sharing!
I absolutely loved the illustrations in the interstitial sections.
Your image faked to cover rape and treason by people who are paid to protect your people. JMU African Studies is covering black professors raping students across decades because MKnpeUltra is programming your wives and daughters to be raped in quiet then cover it for people who want to kill you. JMU African Studies covers rape of white girls. Go look.
I would love the origin to the name “Donkey Thoughts”. Nick cracks me up.
Nick, I’m jealous of your woodworking shop & skills! I had a router with a table & a bunch of bits but was too afraid of the thing to learn how to use it! Something tells me you could have shown me how to rout!
I keep checking and it looks like this guy hasn't written anything in 3 years.
Why's he in my feed all the time?
Hey everybody, Nick's not here anymore. Come join my page, I post everyday.
When I grow up, I want to be Nick Offerman. 🥳
This lightened things. Don’t know or have spoons for why. Thank you. 😊
This made my day Nick. Don’t ever stop!!!