These are my Momentos, short personal diary entries I write daily – since 2013 – and publish monthly. Some links are affiliate links.
1
I love Amsterdam, felt sure it would be my home or minimally a frequent destination. Haven’t been there in six years. There are countries I’ll never return to, experiences I’ll never repeat, friends I’ll never see again. Today I might hear a particular song for the last time. But I won’t know it.
2
That feeling when you have a challenging day ahead but you feel well up for it… enjoyed that feeling yesterday morning, absent today. It’s been a long one, trying to keep the overwhelm at bay. Still at my computer after 10pm answering emails, blood on my shirt.
3
Cycling our favorite stretch in Andorra, across the old waterworks road, through tunnels, alongside the lake, past waterfalls. Trying to come here at least once a week. Speckled sunshine delighting my eyes as we stop at a bench for a while.
4
Nice to see my new video taking off, way more views than expected. Maybe I have figured out this YouTube thing a little bit. The software I’m promoting ain’t right for everyone though, already steered a few people clear, obvious from their questions that they’re not a good fit.
5
Been reading Aesop’s Fables. My favorite so far…
An ass having heard some Grasshoppers chirping, was highly enchanted; and, desiring to possess the same charms of melody, demanded what sort of food they lived on to give them such beautiful voices. They replied, “The dew.” The Ass resolved that he would live only upon dew, and in a short time died of hunger.
6
Aiming to put out a new video each week this month but the editing is taking forever. This next video will be almost 20 minutes long, which is part of the problem. Gotta make them short and snappy, can’t get bogged down with so much detail.
7
Thinking about that Derek Sivers cycling story. You can get 96% of the result with about 50% of the effort. A lot of truth in that. I’m quite good at rushing and getting things done, but at the risk of stress and burnout. Reminding myself more these days to slow down, all that rushing ain’t worth it.
8
We invented dishwashers, vacuum cleaners, washing machines… all to make housework easier, more efficient. But we just ended up raising our standards for home cleanliness. Same with all these AI tools. They help us get more done, but we’ve already raised our expectations of how much we should be able to do.
9
Constantly in awe of the risks people take on the roads. That cyclist today flying down the hill, passing out cars on the outside, easily could have been killed. Or the car swinging across two lanes of traffic, could have got t-boned to oblivion if the other driver hadn’t been paying attention.
10
Juggling too many balls at the moment. The smart thing would probably be to simplify and focus on sharing business ideas via the newsletter and YouTube, monetize with sponsors and a paid community. Would take a while though to make a good income from that.
11
Watched both Extraction movies over the past few days. Didn’t expect them to be that good, probably the best action I’ve seen since Fury Road. Just in awe of the work and collaboration that must go into producing those super long, chaotic, action-packed scenes.
12
Dealing with an account manager who sucks at his job. Asks me how my weekend is going but never replies to my actual questions or issues. Here I am working hard to earn a living from my business. And this joker chills out, does a terrible job, and probably collects a nice paycheck.
13
Words from Lewis Carroll…
Come, hearken then, ere voice of dread,
With bitter tidings laden,
Shall summon to unwelcome bed
A melancholy maiden!
We are but older children, dear,
Who fret to find our bedtime near.
14
Burned out from making all these YouTube videos, published the third for August today and not all that proud of it, but felt like I had to publish or else those 20 hours would be for nought. That’ll be my last video for a while though. Going to let things settle and see where I stand.
15
Been meditating daily now for 3.5 weeks, using the Waking Up app. I do the 10-minute meditation in the morning and one or two 3-minute meditations during the day. Hard to assess the impact. I like to think it’s helping me be more calm and present but can’t be sure.
16
There’s that quote from Jerzy Gregorek: “Easy choices, hard life. Hard choices, easy life.” I need to make some hard choices to get to where I want to be business-wise. Some lingering projects and commitments that I must cull, even if it hurts.
17
Type wildfires into Google Maps and it will show you all that are currently raging. Looks like the whole south of Europe is on fire right now. They’ve banned outdoor barbecues in Andorra for a while. Hazy day outside. Not sure if that’s a result of fires nearby. Scary shit.
18
Heard this recently and it stuck with me…
Whenever you are suffering, you are lost in thought.
Brought those words to mind today when I felt overwhelmed. What is overwhelm but getting caught up thinking that I have too much to do?
19
I take my time in the mornings, linger over breakfast and a book, windows thrown open, glancing up every now and then to see the hillside turn brighter shades of green, people and dogs making their way along the path, church bells and bird song.
20
My Spanish is slowly getting better, less awkward. Couldn’t enter the supermarket car park today, machine said it was full even though there were plenty of spaces. Pressed the info button and spoke to a lady, was able to explain the problem and get it resolved.
21
Been reading Byron Katie. Not sure I buy into her philosophy completely, but I am trying to take more responsibility for my own thoughts and feelings. It’s like that Covey line…
Anytime we think the problem is ‘out there,’ that thought is the problem.
22
Finding it harder to admit my failures and insecurities as I get older. Probably because I believe I should have figured more things out by now, should be more accomplished. Embarrassing to admit that I’m still just bumbling along, my best efforts and intentions often falling short.
23
I sometimes wake up in the middle of the night, mind racing, usually about work stuff, hard to get back to sleep. I used to listen to movie commentaries to drift off again, now finding audiobooks are better. Last night it was Animal Farm. The story of Boxer haunts me.
24
There’s one particular house up the mountain, tucked away at the end of a driveway off the carretera. Super quiet spot but easy to access, spectacular views. No idea how it is inside, doesn’t look all that big, but I’d still say it’s my dream house. I wonder will I ever end up living there.
25
When I achieve X, then I’ll be happy. Starting to believe it’s the other way around. If I can be happy right now, in my current situation, then I’m more likely to achieve X. Because when I’m already happy, I better recognize opportunities, make smarter decisions, attract good people.
26
Been a year since I started writing down everywhere I go. For example, this day last year…
Home in Canillo, La Seu (GLS, Grapats), Andorra La Vella (Dropand/NaGrup, Pyrenees, Veritas, Biocoop)
I like having this record of my movements. Makes me feel like I’ve done more things, been more places. And it’s handy sometimes to check when I was last in a particular spot.
27
There’s a gentle rain outside, and I’m sitting here with the window open appreciating it, taking sips of coffee. I’m doing better at recognizing and appreciating small pleasures like this throughout the day. Many to be found once you look for them.
28
Spent several hours trying to get this connection set up properly, between Wix and HighLevel via Make. You’d think it’d be simple, but Wix is a pain in the ass. Looks like I finally have it working now, and I feel really good about myself for staying patient and figuring it out.
29
Onboarding a client and I ask if he knows anyone else who could use the service. “Oh yeah, loads of people.” Great to hear, but I’ll keep my excitement in check until he actually sends me some names.
30
In times of stress and turmoil, it’s the ordinary, unremarkable moments that we desperately want to get back to. Like a simple breakfast on a Saturday morning, or a warm shower before bed. Trying to bring this to mind more often when I’m in those moments, so I appreciate them as they happen.
31
Something about Byron Katie wasn’t sitting right with me, so I looked up a few critiques. Came away reminded that nothing in the extreme is ever good. And she’s certainly an extremist. I’ll absorb the useful bits of her philosophy and leave the troubling parts behind.