The temptation of discovery and the new

Built into the concept of “interesting” is the unexplored. The temptation of discovery and the new. And so, by definition, wherever you are, whatever you’re doing, it’s likely that there is something more interesting somewhere else. Part of the curse of the smartphone is that it brings the more-interesting chasm right into our hands. As long as we choose to imagine it, the apparent insufficiency of here and now will be with us. Sometimes it even comes knocking.

The next take is where hope lies

Nailing it in the first take is a sign of preparation and professionalism. No need for two tries if you are clear about what you’re doing and how. The next take is where hope lies. This one was pretty good, but next time, we’ll bring it. And the last take is good enough. That’s why there are no more takes after that.

The secret of being happy

The secret of being happy consists of knowing how to enjoy yourself- enjoy being at the table, in bed, enjoy standing up, sitting down, enjoy the nearest ray of sunshine, the slightest bit of landscape: in other words, love everything.

It's hard to learn when you feel defensive

It's hard to learn when you feel defensive. Relax. You are capable and you can recover from whatever you face. You can accept feedback without taking it personally. What is this moment teaching you?

This day will never come again

This day will never come again and anyone who fails to eat and drink and taste and smell it will never have it offered to them again in all eternity. The sun will never shine as it does today. You climb as hard as you can ... just advancing one inch at a time. That's the secret of life.

Learn to love the interruptions

Learn to love the interruptions. Find the fun in the delay, the humor in the challenge, the pleasure in the daily commute. A great deal of life is spent dealing with interruptions and waiting for the conditions to turn. We think, "If I can just get past this, then things will open up." But the interruption is not standing between you and your life. It is your life. But you'll rarely find a situation that is all bad. This is one of the arts of living. It's the art of enjoying the imperfect days. It's the art of making all the moments count.

Why is improvement hard?

Part of the issue is that everyone wants to improve, but nobody wants to destroy. Change often requires destruction. Or, at least, unlearning. Let's call it gentle elimination. You may have to leave little habits, update current beliefs, and eliminate comfortable patterns. When you want better outcomes, your daily norms may need to change. The process of improvement is not just about adding things you like. Sometimes habits and patterns belong to who you were, not who you are trying to be. If you'd like something better, then a routine you are comfortable with may have to die