Get help to make life better
Society Author • Technology Planner
Wellbeing Scholar • Entertain Player
Have a growth mindset by believing that you can grow, learn new things, improve your skills and knowledge, and realizing that temporary and recurring failure are a necessary part of learning and growing.
Believe you can change - Aaron Swartz
Dweck, like many adults, had learned to hide her frustration and anger, to politely say "I'm not sure I want to play this anymore" instead of knocking over the board. She figured the successful kids would be the same - they’d have tactics for coping with failure instead of getting beaten down by it. But what she found was radically different. The successful kids didn’t just live with failure, they loved it! When the going got tough, they didn’t start blaming themselves; they licked their lips and said "I love a challenge." They’d say stuff like "The harder it gets the harder I need to try."
I wonder if we should use bullet lists for all or most of our writing, and particularly to make concise, argumentative list essays that present a single plan, idea, practice, or habit with points describing the action or steps the author suggests.
Names
- List Essay or Bullet Essay
- Brief or Bullet
What
- Can a bullet list of points be an essay?
- Should we write more ideas and plans as argumentative essays in bullet list form?
- We could call this simplified and brief style of writing a "List Essay" or "Bullet Essay"
- Argumentative essays with a single idea would work particularly well as a list essay
- Any idea, plan, practice, habit, policy, strategy, or rule could work well as a list essay
- Any and all types of writing may be simpler, better, and read easier as bullet lists too
Why
- Many books, essays, texts, articles, and literary works are way too long
- We need to focus on brevity and simplifying our information and important actions
- Maybe we should shorten our ideas and other information and just get to the point
- It is easier and quicker to skim a list of lines and points than long paragraphs or essays
- An idea should often focus on what and why changes are to be made more so than how
- A bulleted list encourages the author to describe their idea or information much simpler
How
- Use bulleted lists instead of paragraphs, hopefully which will fit on a single line
- Shorter sentences might be preferred, but sentences of any length would work
- Possibly make groups of 6 points or less separated with headings for further simplicity
- Create a What section with a simple description of your idea, plan, action, or habit
- Often create a Why section to outline the reasons for the idea or explain your argument
- Optionally create How, Steps, or Rules sections to further detail your plan, idea, or action
April 1, 2025
I love the old iPad mini 5 with its completely flat back, no camera bump, and a naturally uniform screen. I dislike the iPhone mini 13 with a wobbly back, humongous camera bump, and imbalanced intrusive notch. While out of style, I wonder if Steve Jobs would feel the same way.
Meditate every day because it improves your wellbeing and your mind by helping you to become more relaxed, focused, and aware of all the unnecessary thoughts in your head, which can make you happier and more relaxed and focused on each day you meditate.
What
- Sit down and breathe slowly and deeply for some amount of minutes at least once a day
- Attempt to clear your mind of thoughts and focus on one thing, such as your breathing
- Focus on your breath, body, surroundings, or close your eyes to focus on one thing
- Don't worry if thoughts creep into your mind, just try to let them go, breathe, and focus
- You can also try saying a mantra like "I'm grateful for today. I'm hopeful for the future."
- You may also spend time focusing or contemplating on single projects, goals, or dreams
Why
- Breathing deeply may provide oxygen to the brain which is key for our brain functioning
- Relaxing our mind may allow it to make new connections, which occurs when we sleep
- It may help us become more focused, improve our concentration, and get things done
- It may help us become more relaxed, improve our happiness, and feel naturally calmer
- It may help us process our thoughts, be more creative, and improve our critical thinking
- It may help us slow down and recognize that the thoughts in our head are not our reality
April 1, 2025
I wonder if we should show respect for those that are currently weaker or younger than us, and shake hands after we win instead of gloating or putting others down at the end of a competition.
Dear Anonymous Athlete,
Thanks
- You should be very proud of yourself for everything you have achieved in your life
- You have had an exceptional career as a basketball player due to your hard work
- You have made your own life as well as your family much better in many ways
- You have brought joy to many people who enjoy watching a fun competition
Gifts
- You are also lucky to have been given some incredible and uncommon physical gifts
- You are lucky to have been given an amazing opportunity and life partially by chance
- We should realize we could easily have been born as someone else without such gifts
- We should consider treating opponents and others as we would our young children
Respect The Weak
- Unwritten rules like not scoring at the end of the game can be confusing to understand
- I think the reason for this unwritten rule is not so both teams stop trying at the end
- The weaker team losing should always keep competing until the very end to catch up
- The stronger team should show some mercy, not run up the score, and shake hands after
Competition Can Be Good
- Competition is good because it makes all of us better, even the weakest and youngest
- Competition is good if the older and stronger show respect for the younger and weaker
- Competition can be bad if the stronger and older do not show some level of respect to those that are currently weaker or younger than them for competing and taking part, which could cause some people, who are not lucky enough to be as intelligent or strong, to give up and not want to compete or contribute to society at all
- Competition can be bad if the strong rub it in the face of the weak or young at every opportunity and never come to realize or learn to understand that the goal should be to ultimately pass on their superior skills and knowledge to future generations through competition and to make us all better in the process
Quote
- "Once the game is over, the king and the pawn go back in the same box." - Italian Proverb
March 25, 2025
Consider using simple text files to help you get things done and keep track of your tasks, todo lists, projects, and goals, instead of using a complicated tasks app.
Amazing Mac apps for getting things done (plus a custom-rigged setup) - Zen Habits
While I love the apps mentioned above, I personally look for super simple. So I’ve settled on a setup taken from Gina and Adam’s articles on Lifehacker (read the tutorials: Geek to Live and Hack Attack). Text files: Basically, I organize my tasks in a series of text files. That’s because they’re super simple, easy to manipulate, and small. My four files:
- @today: my three MITs for today, along with calls, batch tasks, and an inbox for new things added to the list.
- @ideas: any ideas for projects, posts, or anything really.
- @errands: includes regular errands and my shopping list.
- @todo: my list of 3 projects I’m working on and any other todo items I’m not going to do today.
I think we should rename and change the pronunciation we use for the letter "w" from its three syllables of "duhble-yoo", to a simpler sound of only one syllable, just like every other letter in the alphabet. I suggest "wee".
What
- Pronounce the letter "w" as "wee"
Why
- All other letters in the alphabet are a single syllable
- Saying the letter "w" becomes shorter and simpler
- Spelling out words becomes shorter and simpler
- Reciting the alphabet becomes shorter and simpler
Options
March 18, 2025
Life always throws you some curveballs, like when you're watching an episode of American Idol and listening to many amazing vocalists, but then the son of one of the Backstreet Boys wows you with the most artistic, lyrical, original, and impressive performance of the show so far.
Everyone is emotional and people are all going through the ups and downs of life, so try not to take it personally when people get angry, and try to comfort or support others when they are in a bad mood.
The critical 7 rules to understand people - Scott H. Young
Perhaps this is an exaggeration. But the core of the message is that people tend to have stronger feelings about something than they let on. People who regularly have outbursts of anger, depression or flamboyant enthusiasm are generally frowned upon in most cultures. This especially applies to men (for women trying to figure us out). The application of this rule is to not assume everything is fine just because someone isn’t having a nervous breakdown. We all have our individual problems, angst and upsets that are normally contained.
A person who has and does many different practices, habits, activities, or interests.
polyprax
noun
- A person who has and does many different practices, habits, activities, or interests, possibly instead of having only one job or working for a living.
- A person who may have many different purposes or roles, and who follows their own goals and dreams to do things for themself, others, and the world.
- A person who may have many different purposes, goals, missions, or aims throughout their lifetime.
- A person who may have many different roles, crafts, positions, or professions throughout their lifetime.
- A person who may choose to try and live a simple life focused on action and practices instead of money and materials, or doing and being instead of paying and buying.
- A person who may focus on thinking about and doing things for themselves and other people instead of paying for things or buying things for people and themselves.
Similar New Words
- Polyprax - A person who has many different practices, habits, activities, or interests.
- Polyskop - A person who has many different purposes, goals, aims, or objectives.
- Polyepan - A person who has many different roles, crafts, positions, or professions.
- Polyergo - A person who has many different jobs, duties, work, or chores.
- Polytech - A person who makes many different things, crafts, objects, or artworks.
- Polykano - A person who does many different things, actions, deeds, or tasks.
Similar Existing Words
- Polymath - A person who knows or understands many different learnings or subjects.
- Polyglot - A person who can speak or write many different languages or vocabularies.
Updated - March 4, 2025
Original - September 4, 2024
Exercise every day because it improves your body, your mind, and makes you happier and more productive on the day in which you exercise.
What happens to our brains when we exercise and how it makes us happier - Buffer
A recent study from Penn State university shed some light on the matter and the results are more than surprising. They found that to be more productive and happier on a given work day, it doesn’t matter so much, if you work-out regularly, if you haven’t worked out on that particular day. Think about starting small and then start even smaller: Here is a little secret. When I first started exercising, I did it with 5 minutes per day, 3 times a week. Can you imagine that? 5 minutes of timed exercise, 3 times a week? That’s nothing you might be thinking. And you are right, because the task is so easy and anyone can succeed with it, you can really start to make a habit out of it. Try no more than 5 or 10 minutes if you are getting started.
I organized my entire music library so that every album now has either 2, 4, 6, or 8 singles or picks in it. Believe it or not, I don't think I have OCD, but it was incredibly rewarding and worthwhile nonetheless.
Turn your problems into challenges or goals that you can overcome or accomplish in order to be happier and improve your life.
15 Powerful things happy people do differently - Purpose Fairy
Happy people will see problems as challenges, as opportunities to explore new ways of doing things, expressing their gratitude for them, understanding that underneath them all lay many opportunities that will allow them to expand and to grow.
Please don't judge me that my new favorite music radio station is Underground 80s on SomaFM, where they play some great upbeat classic pop tunes, which is an unusual new obsession for me and a genre of music I hadn't listened to much previously.
I wonder if all MacBooks which are fanless should use separately designed chips, possibly named B-Series and B1, which are more appropriately targeted at the MacBook Air and future powerful fanless devices without throttling significantly or needing a fan.
Why
- MacBooks and MacBookOS can be designed and targeted at powerful fanless MacBooks
- The entire fanless MacBook line could use the same B-Series chips, creating consistency
- Macs and macOS can be designed and targeted at more powerful Mac devices with fans
- The entire Mac line with fans could use the same M-series chips, creating consistency
- iPads and iPadOS can be designed properly and targeted at less powerful iPad devices
- The entire iPad line could use the same Reg/Pro/Max A-Series chips, creating consistency
More
- The MacBook B-Series chips can be targeted at laptop MacBook devices, not iPads/Macs
- The fanless B-Series chips can be targeted exclusively to more powerful fanless devices
- Powerful fanless chips targeted at larger devices will be needed in future fanless devices
- Device Ideas - MacBook Pro Air, Apple Vision, iPed Portable Console, MacPad Detachable
Links
I wonder if Apple Silicon chips and devices should be simplified with high end A-Series chips for iPads and iPadOS, and new fanless MacBook chips and MacBookOS targeted more appropriately at fanless laptops and other powerful fanless devices of the future.
Chips
- A-Series Reg/Pro (Fanless) - iPhones including Pro models (Mobiles/Clamshells/iOS)
- A-Series Pro/Max (Fanless) - iPads including Pro models (Tablets/Notebooks/iPadOS)
- B-Series Reg/Pro/Max (Fanless) - MacBooks and Pro models (Laptops/Laplets/MacBookOS)
- M-Series Reg/Pro/Max (With Fans) - Macs and Pro models (Desktops/Laptops/MacOS)
Devices
- A-Series Reg/Pro - iPhone Mini/Air, iPhone Pro/Ultra, iPod, HomePad (Smart Display)
- A-Series Pro/Max - iPad Mini/Air, iPad Pro/Ultra, iBook, Apple Display (Smart Monitor)
- B-Series Reg/Pro/Max - MacBook Mini/Air, MacBook Pro Mini/Air, MacPad, iPed (Console)
- M-Series Reg/Pro/Max - MacBook Pro/Ultra, Mac Mini/Studio, iMac, Apple TV (Smart TV)
New
- iPod - Foldable iPhone with two separate screens like a clamshell phone (iPhone Pod?)
- iBook - Foldable iPad with two separate screens like a reading book (iPad Book?)
- MacBook Pro Mini/Air - New design with no fans, touchscreen, thin, and new MacBookOS
- MacBook Pro - The current MacBook Pro with fan, no touchscreen, thick, and old MacOS
- MacPad? - Portable touch Mac that folds back over detachable keyboard, with B-Series chip
- iPed? - Portable media and game console with detachable controller, with B-Series chip
Links
Influence your mind positively and change your life for the better by using the principle of autosuggestion.
Think And Grow Rich - Goodreads
Through the dominating thoughts which one permits to remain in the conscious mind, whether these thoughts be negative or positive is immaterial, the principle of autosuggestion voluntarily reaches the subconscious mind and influences it with these thoughts. Recall what has been said about the subconscious mind resembling a fertile garden spot, in which weeds will grow in abundance, if the seeds of more desirable crops are not sown therein. Autosuggestion is the agency of control through which an individual may voluntarily feed his subconscious mind on thoughts of a creative nature, or, by neglect, permit thoughts of a destructive nature to find their way into this rich garden of the mind.
I recently overheard the following fleeting and quick question and answer between two people, "Locust like the insect, or lotus like the flower?" "Like lotus the car." Just in case you were wondering if we currently live in a culture of consumerism, capitalism, and materialism.
I wonder if macOS 16 should allow users to move and remove the Finder app from the Dock, and also include it in the Launchpad and Applications folder. For consistency and simplicity, the Trash folder could allow being moved and removed as well, and be included in the locations section of the Finder.
Begin with the end of your task, goal, project, or dream in your mind by mentally envisioning it and creating a written description or picture of exactly what you want the end result to look like when the project or vision is completed.
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People - Goodreads
To begin with the end in mind means to start with a clear understanding of your destination. It means to know where you're going so that you better understand where you are now and so that the steps you take are always in the right direction. "Begin with the end in mind" is based on the principle that all things are created twice. There's a mental or first creation, and a physical or second creation to all things. Take the construction of a home, for example. You create it in every detail before you ever hammer the first nail into place. You try to get a very clear sense of what kind of house you want.
