1162 Days (Hello)

1162 days. 

That’s how long ago I registered this domain. Well over three years between then, and this website’s inaugural post. I have first post drafts dating back to the fall of 2021. 

You’d think I was trying to scale Kilimanjaro. 

Just briefly, I registered the domain to air my “thinking” online. I also happen to be a dad. A thinking dad, it would seem. One of many. Half-decent domains are rare, and my incredibly astute wife liked the ring of it, so here we are. 

Welcome. 

Despite its short length, this post is wrought with unanswered questions and opportunities to extend its length. Why did I take so long to make a post? What’s the big deal? Is it my perceived perfectionism? Maybe deeper: self-worth issues? Fear of judgment. Am I worried about whether these words represent an image of myself that I want people to see? Yes, maybe there is some imposter syndrome there – how about this for some negative self-talk:

“There are incredibly sharp people on the internet offering their perspectives on things. People whose names precede what appears to be the entire alphabet in credentials. Experts. You barely managed your way through an undergrad education. Who wants to read your drivel?”

Drivel? That stings, self. Luckily, I’ve grown tired of this kind of negativity. I’m not convinced it serves me. In either case, I hope to explore those matters on this blog. It’s a creative outlet. A way to spare my wife from me droning on about these things. She absolutely loves engaging in these things, but she also has things to do in a day. Her encouragement to do this very thing – make a first post – is invaluable.

I’ll wrap this up before I change my mind. 

I had imagined it “bad” that I took this long to post. Lost time. Wasted days. Etc.

Maybe that’s true. Or, maybe it isn’t. 

To Alan Watts:

Once upon a time, there was a Chinese farmer whose horse ran away.

And all the neighbors came around to commiserate that evening; “So sorry to hear your horse has run away. That’s too bad.”

And [the farmer] said, “Maybe.”

The next day the horse came back bringing seven wild horses with it, and everybody came around in the evening, “Oh, isn’t that lucky – what a great turn of events. You’ve now got eight horses!” 

And he said, “Maybe.”

The next day his son tried to break one of the horses and ride it and was thrown and broke his leg. And they all said, “ “Oh dear, that’s too bad.”

And he said, “Maybe.”

The following day the conscription officers came around to recruit/force people into the army  and they rejected his son because he had a broken leg.

And all the people came around and said, “Isn’t that great!” 

And he said, “Maybe.”

Alan Watts

To the couple of you that managed to find and read this post, thank you.

– Joe

PS – If there is something that you have been meaning to do, yet haven’t, please consider how you may lower the bar for yourself and commit to some action, any action, by commenting below. Maybe it can help break that inertia and start you on a path to something unexpected.