Arman's Antics (#095)
Latest from the curious contrarian
Hola partner,
Coming to you live from Austin, Texas.
Here’s your weekly dose of Arman’s Antics — five things I’ve been exploring or pondering that will give you a good think, laugh, cry (or a nasty combination of the three).
Let’s give it up for the 16 new subscribers receiving this for the first time (873 total). I don’t know why you’ve come. But I’m glad you’re here.
It would be so cool if no one ever reads this, but if you do, please keep it to yourself.
Essay I wrote this week
Several of my essays have been sparked from some throwaway line by a comedian.
Who knew they’d be an untapped gold mine for writing ideas?
I got one from Jerry Seinfeld’s commencement speech.
Ya know, those things where 22 year olds are forced to sit through one more lecture before they can rage with their friends:
Embarrassed about what you should be proud of?
Have you ever been embarrassed about something you were later proud of? Or worse, proud of something you were later embarrassed of?
Book I’m flying through
The Undoing Project: A Friendship That Changed Our Minds by Michael Lewis.
This is the third Michael Lewis book I’ve read in as many weeks.
I just can’t get enough.
He has an uncanny ability to make seemingly boring topics riveting.
Here’s the description:
…This story about the workings of the human mind is explored through the personalities of two fascinating individuals so fundamentally different from each other that they seem unlikely friends or colleagues. In the process they may well have changed, for good, mankind’s view of its own mind.
I’m dreading the day when I finish reading all of his books.
Jerry Seinfeld’s commencement speech
Here’s the talk I mentioned above.
He reminds all the young whippersnappers that not enough of life makes sense to survive it without humor.
Enjoy.
June habit tracker
My habits are probably more intriguing for me than they are for you.
But I do this to keep myself accountable so I thought I’d bore you with them.
Meditate: 30/30 - goal is 20 minutes a day.
Write: 30/30 - goal is 75 minutes a day.
Workout: 8/12 - goal is 3 gym sessions a week.
Hoop dreams: 9/5 - goal is 1 hoop session a week.
Read: 30/30 - goal is 30 minutes a day.
Random thought
Youtube ads mid meditation video should be punishable by death.
That’s it for the 95th edition of Arman’s Antics.
I would’ve written less if I had more time.
Now back to your regularly scheduled nonstop scrolling.
Cheers,
Arman
OMG I love your writing!!! So glad i stumbled upon it. 100% agree with the ads on meditation youtube videos, although I have a sneaky feeling my meditation instructor would probably say the annoyance at the ad and loss of mindfulness is also a meditation object in and of itself.
The calm app or the headspace app are really great for getting into meditation, and no ads!