Arman's Antics (#029)
The latest from former NBA star Arman Khodadoost
Hey everyone!
Coming to you live from Austin, Texas. Here is your weekly dose of Arman’s Antics. A list of what I’ve been exploring that will either make you laugh😆, think🤔, cry😢 (or a nasty combination of the three).
Welcome to the 46 new subscribers receiving this for the first time (224 total). I respect your inbox and don’t take your attention lightly.
Essay I wrote last week
My #1 dream as a kid was to play basketball for my hometown team in the NBA. The Atlanta Hawks. I gave it all I had. But I forgot I was kinda white and kinda slow so I came up woefully short. I had to move on to more realistic dreams. Or so I thought…
Just because your dream doesn’t come true in the way you pictured it, doesn’t mean it won’t happen. Oftentimes the front door is locked. So go bang on the side door and see if you can get in. If not, there’s always a third door waiting if you know where to look. It’s the same with goals.
Documentary I’m watching
I’m back on my Ken Burns grind. This time watching his fascinating depiction of the American Civil War. His ability to retell historical events from so many different perspectives is what keeps me coming back like a junkie.
He hires voice actors (Morgan Freeman does Frederick Douglass) to read the actual words written in the diaries of politicians, generals, soliders and civilians of the time. You get a front row seat to experience the mood of a nation in real time. Not from some historian who’s memorized some “facts”.
This behemoth comes in at 12 hours long. So you know where I’ll be spending my free time this week.
Living near friends
I’ve worked fully remote the past few years so I don’t get the social interaction I used to. But as a card carrying member of the IOA (Introverts of America), I didn’t mind. I still had plenty of family and friends who I could see whenever. Until we moved 900 miles away.
Brooke and I moved from Georgia to Texas about 10 months ago. I thought that would be the death of my social life. Thankfully we had a couple of friends who already lived here. But they were 30 minutes away. So we didn’t see them often.
But then two of our (now) best friends moved into our apartment complex last week. Literally right down the hall. And it’s been amazing. It feels like I’m in college again! We walk back and forth when we’re bored just to see what they’re up to. We cook dinner with them at the grill down by the pool. We walk across the street with them to grab a cup of coffee at Cosmic.
It feels like I’m five years old while going next door to ask my friends parents if Austin can play? Now I ask Megan if James can play.
So even though we’ve gotten used to a remote first world, I want to make sure I’m within walking distance of friends. It makes life more fun. Highly recommend living close to your friends. Super close. And if you don’t, go knock on your neighbors door and become friends.
Board game I’m playing
Speaking of living closer to friends, we just had them over for family game night. And we played one of my all time favorite board games.
Balderdash. Never heard of it? You’re missing out.
It goes like this, one person reads a word (that you’ve never heard of) to the group. And everyone has to write down a persuasive definition of what the word means.
Then each person votes for the definition they think is correct. Most votes wins.
It takes a few rounds to get the creative juices flowing but eventually everyone gets into a groove. And things take a turn for the best.
You start to pick up on each person’s writing styles so you can tell which definition they wrote down.
Did I mention the words are ridiculous? The one that made us lose it was clinchpoop. Yep, it’s a real word. Know the definition? It’s “an uncultured, ill-mannered person”. Know my definition? “The act of tightening one’s buttocks.”
You didn’t know you needed to play Balderdash until now. You’re welcome.
Random thought
Most writing advice tells you to go where the eyeballs are and pick a popular topic to write about. So you know there’s already a lot of people interested.
But I’m a selfish writer. I only write stuff that I personally would want to read. That feels more sustainable (+ enjoyable) than chasing the tail of whatever’s hot.
That’s it for the 29th edition of Arman’s Antics. I hate to see you go, but I love to watch you walk away. Thank you for reading this while sipping your 2nd cup of coffee when you know you should be powering through your other emails. I appreciate you. And here’s a pup pic to send you on your way.
Hope you have a terrific Tuesday!
Cheers,
Arman
I love seeing your name pop up on my likes and responding to your insightful comments.
Love that your writing is “selfish” as you put it, Arman. I think your writing comes across as very organic. Keep it up!
How did you pick up 46 new subscribers in the last week?? I mean I know you're funny, smart and accomplished at Balderdash, but what brought the new wave? Do tell!!