July 21

The answer all along has been to not think too much about it. Just do. 

Swimming put me in a good mindset tonight. I did not allow myself to become overly emotional, or immediately interject after Jayme would say something, but to simply sit and wait. Wait for the right words to come to my lips. A few pauses are OK. Like a jazz solo, it's worth taking the time and giving yourself the space to say what you really need to say.

Emboldened by that, I went outside and worked for a while on the J-agg manuscript and spotted an important deficiency in the caption to the last figure, which is supposed to be the cherry on top of the paper. 

All in all, a good work evening.

The secret is to just do.

July 20

Well done to the Bucks. 

Josquin des Prez is a good recent find.

NBA players have to work unimaginably hard to win a championship. As the commentators pointed out, Giannis Antetokounmpo grinds for every single point. Watching the game tonight, and listening to the mellifluous sounds of Missa La Sol Fa Re Mi make me wonder what the two have in common.

I think both of them could have been divinely inspired. Inspiration is the fuel that drives hard work. As Angela Duckworth tells us, it's about having a combination of passion and perseverance. But I have to wonder if Giannis ever feels unmotivated to do a practice session. Or if Michael Phelps feels unmotivated to do a swim workout at 5 AM on a cold morning. I bet they do. So what do they do that others don't? 

I think the answer lies somewhere in the Zig Ziglar quote: "People often say motivation doesn’t last. Neither does bathing—that’s why we recommend it daily." Even the Phelpses and Giannises need to be re-motivated sometimes. They're just more regular about doing it day in and day out.

I need to figure out how to direct myself. I need to figure out how to inspire myself. I want to become a truly independent thinker. The force that is truly for good. I need my own divine fuel. I know some likely locations to find it.