20240930 SLLLAVERS FOR MONDAY - NOT D-DAY, AND I, KEN TAYLOR, ALREADY HAVE EVERYTHING I NEED!!!!!!!

SILENCE

Tried to silence brain for 80 seconds; mild success.

LLL - BHL

Love.  Live.  Laugh.

Bless. Heal.  Love.

AFFIRMATIONS

1. I, Ken Taylor, am a kind and loving human being.
2. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
3. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident pianist.

VISUALIZATION

204.8  Today's weight.

I visualize weighing less tomorrow.

EXERCISE

Did my full base-80 routine for Monday, September 30, 2024:

1. ankle/wrist circles 80
2. toe/finger stretches 80
3. bicycle crunches 80
4. (MADE BED; PIANO)
5. flamingo L60, R60
6. shoulder rolls 80
7. ball/wall 15
8. angel/wall 15
9. counter stretch 15
10. squats 40
11. push-ups 40 (all floor!)

READING, WRITING

Read for 80 seconds in SAPIENS by Yuval Noah Harari.  He says BIOCHEMICAL response to events is what "causes" happiness in Sapiens.  Not their surroundings, or who won the war they just fought, or even when they lived.  When a person completes a task, his serotonin level increases, and he's happier.

Read for 80 seconds in A PROMISED LAND by Barack Obama.  He says he has memories of those first 100 days, and wonders if he shouldn't have taken different paths; however, if he'd acted more radically, he thinks that many MORE would have suffered than did.

Read for 80 seconds in THE RIGHTEOUS MIND by Jonathan Haidt.  He says that Mr. X, a modern-day scientist, proposes that we think of the human experience, not as HARD-WIRED, but as PRE-WIRED; that the human newborn brain is like a 1st draft of a book; it's "hard-wired" with respect to certain infantile responses (smiling when you put your finger in it's little hand)..... but the chapters of each aspect of life are REVISED over time..... not written anew.

Read for 80 seconds in MAN'S SEARCH FOR MEANING by Viktor Frankl.  He says logotherapy helps patients refocus onto proper elements of their lives; a case history is presented wherein logotherapy was used to refocus a woman to her partner (rather than to her previous mis-conceptions about sex & her childhood sexual abuse); she was then able to have an orgasm with her current partner.

20240928 SLLLAVERS FOR SATURDAY - NOT D-DAY, AND I, KEN TAYLOR, ALREADY HAVE EVERYTHING I NEED!!!!!!!

ABBREVIATED SLLLAVERS

SILENCE

Tried for 30

LLL - BHL

Live.  Love.  Laugh.

AFFIRMATIONS

1. I, Ken Taylor, am a kind and loving human being.
2. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
3. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident pianist. 

Also said aloud one time.

VISUALIZATION

205.8  Today's weight (after having eaten chez Paul & John)

I visualize weighing less tomorrow.

EXERCISE:

Did my abbreviated routine for Saturday, September 28, 2024:

1. ankle/wrist circles 10
2. toe/finger stretches 10
3. bicycle crunches 10
4. (MADE BED; PIANO)
5. flamingo L30, R30
6. shoulder rolls 20
7. ball/wall 5
8. angel/wall 5
9. counter stretch 5
10. squats 10
11. push-ups 10

(No reading or writing today)

20240927 SLLLAVERS FOR FRIDAY - NOT D-DAY, AND I, KEN TAYLOR, ALREADY HAVE EVERYTHING I NEED!!!!!!!

SILENCE

Tried to silence brain for 80 seconds; mild success.

LLL - BHL

Love.  Live.  Laugh.

Bless.  Heal.  Love.

AFFIRMATIONS

1. I, Ken Taylor, am a kind and loving human being.
2. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
3. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident pianist.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

VISUALIZATION

204.X  Today's weight.

I visualize weighing less tomorrow.

EXERCISE

Did my full base-80 routine for Friday, September 27, 2024:

1. ankle/wrist circles 80
2. toe/finger stretches 80
3. bicycle crunches 80
4. (MADE BED; PIANO)
5. flamingo L60, R60
6. shoulder rolls 80
7. ball/wall 15
8. angel/wall 15
9. counter stretch 15
10. squats 40
11. push-ups 40 (ALL FLOOR!!!!)

READING, WRITING

Read for 80 seconds in SAPIENS by Yuval Noah Harari.  He says that biochemistry is likely the ultimate determinant of happiness; and events in history do little to change that, at least, not permanently.  A "5" will sometimes dance wildly in the street ("7"), if only to avoid the down feelings of "3."  But she's still a "5."

Read for 80 seconds in A PROMISED LAND by Barack Obama.  He says that his recovery efforts led to a normalcy & stable economy faster than what was expected; however, some wished he had allowed some of the banks to fail (etc.) such that the US Economy would NOT have returned to "normalcy" but rather had reformed into a better system allowing the "little guys" to prosper more.

Hmmmmm.  But he didn't do that, and we went right back - quickly - to the way we were doing it.  Perhaps psychologically speaking, that's what we needed at the time (I.e., 2009).

Read for 80 seconds in THE RIGHTEOUS MIND by Jonathan Haidt.  He presents a 2-column series of 5 questions (hypothetical), in which your answers indicate a set of moral foundations.  E.g., I would slap an unknown person on his face (with his permission, for a skit) for $100, but I would not slap my father on his face (with his permission, for a skit) for ANY amount of money.  Haidt congratulated me for that.

Read for 80 seconds in MAN'S SEARCH FOR MEANING by Viktor Frankl.  He says phobias are in general likely to produce the undesired result.  E.g., fear of blushing when you enter a room full of people will likely lead to blushing.

20240924 SLLLAVERS FOR TUESDAY - NOT D-DAY, AND I, KEN TAYLOR, ALREADY HAVE EVERYTHING I NEED!!!!!!!

SILENCE

Tried to silence brain for 80 seconds; mostly fell asleep.

LLL - BHL

Laugh.  Live.  Love.

Bless. Heal.  Love.

AFFIRMATIONS

1. I, Ken Taylor, am a kind and loving human being.
2. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
3. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident pianist.

Also said aloud (each) for 80 seconds.

VISUALIZATION

205.4  Today's weight

I visualize weighing less tomorrow.

EXERCISE

Did my full base-80 routine for Tuesday, September 24, 2024:

1. ankle/wrist circles 80
2. toe/finger stretches 80
3. bicycle crunches 80
4. (MADE BED; PIANO)
5. flamingo L60, R60
6. shoulder rolls 80
7. ball/wall 15
8. angel/wall 15
9. counter stretch 15
10. squats 40
11. push-ups 40 (all floor!!!!!!)

READING, WRITING

(CATCHUP)

Read for 80 seconds in THE RIGHTEOUS MIND by Jonathan Haidt.  He says 

***** Interrupted by a call from GG - which I think is more important than this reading. *****

20240923 SLLLAVERS FOR MONDAY - NOT D-DAY, AND I, KEN TAYLOR, ALREADY HAVE EVERYTHING I NEED!!!!!!!

SILENCE

Tried to silence brain for 80 seconds; mild success.

LLL - BHL

Live.  Love.  Laugh.

Bless.  Heal.  Love.

AFFIRMATIONS

1. I, Ken Taylor, am a kind and loving human being.
2. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
3. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident pianist.

Also said aloud. One time each.

VISUALIZATION

204.8  Today's weight.

I visualize weighing less tomorrow. 

EXERCISE

1. ankle/wrist circles 80
2. toe/finger stretches 80
3. bicycle crunches 80
4. (MADE BED; PIANO)
5. flamingo L60, R60
6. shoulder rolls 80
7. ball/wall 15
8. angel/wall 15
9. counter stretch 15
10. squats 40
11. push-ups 38 (floor) + 3 (wall)

READING, WRITING

Read for 80 seconds in SAPIENS by Yuval Noah Harari.  He says BIOCHEMICAL MAKE-UP is what determines our level of happiness, not things or events.  We are naturally happy (relatively), or naturally gloomy (relatively), and although events can make a momentary change (higher or lower), we soon find our way back to our natural biochemical level of happiness.

Read for 80 seconds in A PROMISED LAND by Barack Obama.  He recalls the weeks in late April/early May 2008 when their recovery plan began to show solid signs of economic health.  YAY!

20240920 SLLLAVERS FOR FRIDAY - NOT D-DAY, AND I, KEN TAYLOR, ALREADY HAVE EVERYTHING I NEED!!!!!!!

SILENCE

Tried to silence brain for 80 seconds; mild success.

LLL - BHL

Love.  Laugh.  Live.

Bless.  Heal.  Love.

AFFIRMATIONS

1. I, Ken Taylor, am a kind and loving human being.
2. I, Ken Taylor, am a kind and loving human being.
3. I, Ken Taylor, am a kind and loving human being.
4. I, Ken Taylor, am a kind and loving human being.
5. I, Ken Taylor, am a kind and loving human being.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

1. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
2. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
3. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
4. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
5. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

1. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident pianist.
2. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident pianist.
3. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident pianist.
4. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident pianist.
5. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident pianist.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

VISUALIZATION

201.6  Today's weight.

202.6  Yesterday's weight.

-1.0

I visualize weighing less tomorrow.

EXERCISE

Did my full base-80 routine for Friday, September 20, 2024:

1. ankle/wrist circles 80
2. toe/finger stretches 80
3. bicycle crunches 80
4. (MAKE BED; PIANO)
5. flamingo L60, R60
6. shoulder rolls 80
7. ball/wall 15
8. angel/wall 15
9. counter stretch 15
10. squats 40
11. push-ups 37 (floor) + 3 (wall)

READING, WRITING

Read for 80 seconds in SAPIENS by Yuval Noah Harari.  He says happiness does not follow logical arguments/conclusions.  People in the time of Cleopatra died at a much higher rate than today, and yet Egyptians (under Mubarack) rioted to get what Americans (under Obama) had.  Also, H says that if rich people could afford a "live forever" pill, they'd STILL be unhappy since they'd be subject to the same risks they now endure.  

Oh well, it seems impossible to conclude anything about happiness, other than that we like it.

Read for 80 seconds in A PROMISED LAND by Barack Obama.  He recalls making the decision to support a Chrysler-Fiat merger accommodating Chrysler's gloomy financial status; an underling wrongly said that a US produced car would finally get up to 40 mph, when he meant it would finally get 40 mpg.  Humor was a part of BO's early experience as President.

Read for 80 seconds in THE RIGHTEOUS MIND by Jonathan Haidt.  He presents 5 foundations (with a 6th to follow in a future chapter); each foundation has triggers & characteristics; the first is "harm/care" which can evoke strong emotions, especially wrt a child suffering.  The chart is both simple and complex:  it identifies many common moral considerations, and yet the spectrum of possible realities is only explored at great length and depth. 

Read for 80 seconds in MAN'S SEARCH FOR MEANING by Viktor Frankl., in presenting a jumble of ideas, that LOGOTHERAPY is not pessimistic, but activistic.  OK.  The rest is a jumble of terms that would take too long to define & analyze.

20240919 SLLLAVERS FOR THURSDAY - NOT D-DAY, AND I, KEN TAYLOR, ALREADY HAVE EVERYTHING I NEED!!!!!!!

SILENCE

Tried to silence brain for 80 seconds; mild success.

LLL - BHL

Live.  Love.  Laugh.

Bless.  Heal.  Love.

AFFIRMATIONS

1. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving and kind human being.
2. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving and kind human being.
3. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving and kind human being.
4. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving and kind human being.
5. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving and kind human being.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

1. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
2. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
3. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
4. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
5. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

1. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident pianist.
2. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident pianist.
3. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident pianist.
4. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident pianist.
5. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident pianist.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

VISUALIZATION

202.6  Today's weight

201.6  Yesterday's weight

+1.0

I visualize weighing less tomorrow.

EXERCISE

Did my full base-80 routine for Thursday, September 19, 2024:

1. ankle/wrist circles 80
2. toe/finger stretches 80
3. bicycle crunches 80
4. (MADE BED; PIANO)
5. flamingo L60, R30 + 30
6. shoulder rolls 80
7. ball/wall 15
8. angel/wall 15
9. counter stretch 15
10. squats 40
11. push-ups 35 (floor) + 5 (wall)

READING, WRITING

Read for 80 seconds in SAPIENS by Yuval Noah Harari.  He says as moderns, we are not quite able to understand what made our ancestors happy; we even have a difficult time understanding what our current fellow sapiens do to make themselves happy.  Harari gives the example of medieval folks who seldom changed their clothes, and were "just fine" smelling unwashed clothes on others.  "It's all a matter of expectations," says Harari.

Read for 80 seconds in A PROMISED LAND by Barack Obama.  He says he entered politics with the notion that he might be able to help the mid-west folks who'd lost everything due to the 2008 recession and the run-up to it.  He was faced with whether or not to help Chrysler avoid bankruptcy.

Read for 80 seconds in THE RIGHTEOUS MIND by Jonathan Haidt.  He says we are known to change our CURRENT triggers more readily than in times past:  We are more sensitive to animal suffering than before, and we are less disgusted by a wide array of human sexual practices than before.  These CURRENT triggers can change in a generation.  But the ORIGINAL triggers are still there.

Read for 80 seconds in MAN'S SEARCH FOR MEANING by Viktor Frankl.  He says life's "transitoriness" often has an effect on our concept of the meaning of our lives.  When we die, will the meaning of our lives die with us?  No.  And further, and any given moment, man must define his meaning.

20240918 SLLLAVERS FOR WEDNESDAY - NOT D-DAY, AND I, KEN TAYLOR, ALREADY HAVE EVERYTHING I NEED!!!!!!!

SILENCE

Woke up "later" and realized this is an "easy day" (I.e., I don't have to follow a rigid schedule, because I'm off today (not working at Dr. P's), so I can take my time with my routine.

Tried to silence brain for 80 seconds; mild success.

LLL - BHL

Live.  Laugh.  Love.

Bless.  Heal.  Love.

AFFIRMATIONS

1. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving and kind human being.
2. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving and kind human being.
3. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving and kind human being.
4. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving and kind human being.
5. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving and kind human being.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

1. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
2. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
3. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
4. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
5. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

1. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident pianist.
2. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident pianist.
3. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident pianist.
4. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident pianist.
5. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident pianist.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

VISUALIZATION

201.6  Today's weight

205.8  Yesterday's weight

-4.2 (!!!!!!!)

I visualize weighing less tomorrow

EXERCISE

Did my full base-80 routine for Wednesday, September 18, 2024:

1. ankle/wrist circles 80
2. toe/finger stretches 80
3. bicycle crunches 80
4. (MADE BED; PIANO)
5. flamingo L60, R60
6. shoulder rolls 80
7. ball/wall 15
8. angel/wall 15
9. counter stretch 15
10. squats 40
11. push-ups 35 (floor) + 5 (wall)

READING, WRITING

Read for 80 seconds in SAPIENS by Yuval Noah Harari.  He says that the ancients had long about concluded that happiness can lie in appreciating what we already have.  Modern analysts, after much surveying, charting, etc., have come to the same conclusion:  while family & community are unravelling today, and while people are lonelier and feeling more deprived when they don't get what they want, most of us are prone to finding happiness in what we already have..... even post-serious illness or other trauma.

Read for 80 seconds in A PROMISED LAND by Barack Obama.  He describes the on-going drama of whether or not, and how the government should step in to save Chrysler from bankruptcy.  Chrysler was the smallest and least financially sound of the 3.

Read for 80 seconds in THE RIGHTEOUS MIND by Jonathan Haidt.  He explores research on evolutionary morality, and uses the example of snakes:  a snake evokes either/or ORIGINAL triggers and CURRENT triggers.  Haidt says ORIGINAL triggers come from a set of modules about all snakes.  A CURRENT triggers might be evoked by seeing a toy snake, a curved stick or a rope in the grass.

In similar fashion, Haidt uses this module for CULTURAL LEARNING, and VARIATION.

Read for 80 seconds in MAN'S SEARCH FOR MEANING by Viktor Frankl.  He recalls assisting a Rabbi, who had lost his 1st wife & 6 children in the Holocaust.  His 2nd wife was sterile, and so he now had lost his grasp on the meaning of his life, and feared he would not be with his children in heaven since they had died in innocence, but he himself was a sinner.  Frankl told him he had been "preserved" on earth, so that he could "refine" his life, and become worthy of being with his children after his death. 

20240917 SLLLAVERS FOR TUESDAY - NOT D-DAY (AFAIK), AND I, KEN TAYLOR, ALREADY HAVE EVERYTHING I NEED!!!!!!!

SILENCE

Tried to silence brain for 80 seconds; mild success.

LLL - BHL

Live.  Love.  Laugh.

Bless.  Heal.  Love.

AFFIRMATIONS

1. I, Ken Taylor, am a kind human being.
2. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
3. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident pianist.

VISUALIZATION

205.8  Today's weight.

206.0  Yesterday's weight.

-0.2

I visualize weighing less tomorrow.

EXERCISE

1. ankle/wrist circles 80
2. toe/finger stretch 80
3. bicycle crunches 80
4. (MADE BED; PIANO)
5. flamingo L60, R60
6. shoulder rolls 80
7. ball/wall 15
8. angel/wall 15
9. counter stretch 15
10. squats 40
11. push-ups 33 (floor) + 7 (wall)

READING, WRITING

Read for 80 seconds in SAPIENS by Yuval Noah Harari.  He says good family & good marriage is far more important to happiness than is money or even good health.  If not too serious, even illness takes a back seat to happiness.

Read for 80 seconds in A PROMISED LAND by Barack Obama.  He says the run-up to the Automakers bailout was full of unknowns, including "Why can't Detroit make a damn Corolla?"  Bankruptcy loomed, while the CEOs tried to paint rosy pictures.

Read for 80 seconds in THE RIGHTEOUS MIND by Jonathan Haidt.  He says it's easy to find a story that supports a given theory: reasoning can take you almost anywhere you'd like to go.  But HIS goal (I.e., Haidt's) is to identify the most obvious links between two fields he loves:

anthropology, 

and

evolutionary psychology.

Hmmm  - lost me here.

Read for 80 seconds in MAN'S SEARCH FOR MEANING by Viktor Frankl.  He says that understanding the meaning of suffering is a human attribute; an ape would not understand the suffering it feels as a scientist pokes & prods it to do research.  He adds that humans, on a "higher level," might also not understand the meaning of suffering as regards some "higher dimension" where we are not as evolved as that dimension's entities (aliens, etc.).

Hmmm - that's a concept I've dealt with before.

Frankl also cites his daughter's complaint that "the good Lord" is the source of blessings, but is also the source of trials (e.g., measles)

20240916 SLLLAVERS FOR MONDAY - NOT D-DAY, AND I, KEN TAYLOR, ALREADY HAVE EVERYTHING I NEED!!!!!!!

SILENCE

Tried to silence brain for 80 seconds; mildest of success.

LLL - BHL

Live.  Laugh.  Love.

Bless.  Heal.  Love.

AFFIRMATIONS

1. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
2. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
3. I, Ken Taylor, am a loving human being.
4. I, Ken Taylor, am a kind human being.
5. I, Ken Taylor, am a kind human being.
6. I, Ken Taylor, am a kind human being.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

1. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
2. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
3. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
4. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.
5. I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

1. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident pianist.
2. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident pianist.
3. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident pianist.
4. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident pianist.
5. I, Ken Taylor, am a confident pianist.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

VISUALIZATION

206.0  Today's weight.

I visualize weighing less tomorrow.

EXERCISE

Did my full base-80 routine for Monday, September 16, 2024:

1. ankle/wrist circles 80
2. toe/finger stretches 80
3. bicycle crunches 80
4. (MADE BED; PIANO)
5. flamingo L60, R55+5
6. shoulder rolls 80
7. ball/wall 15
8. angel/wall 15
9. counter stretch 15
10. squats 40
11. push-ups 35 (floor) + 5 (wall)

 READING, WRITING

Read for 80 seconds in SAPIENS by Yuval Noah Harari.  He says money DOES buy happiness, but only to a point.

Read for 80 seconds in A PROMISED LAND by Barack Obama.  He recalls the nuts & bolts, Ins and outs, etc. of the 2008 crisis in the US, and how he addressed bailing out the Big Three automakers.

Read for 80 seconds in THE RIGHTEOUS MIND by Jonathan Haidt.  He says he struggled with the question about whether social moral norms are evolutionary, or not.  He is careful not to conclude that because a particular moral trait is found in every culture, it must be therefore evolutionary.  etc.

Read for 80 seconds in MAN'S SEARCH FOR MEANING by Viktor Frankl.  He says his mother of 2 sons case history illustrates how a person can find meaning in his/her life.  The mother's life, in itself had meaning because she wanted children, and she had children.  No matter that 1 died, and the other was a cripple for life..  And the meaning for each of the sons was to teach their mother how to live.

I'm thinking about how each of us has a "process" for our lives, and if we "do the best we can" in meeting our challenges, we can ascribe to our lives a meaningfulness that might otherwise go without acknowledgement.

"I did my best."  Did I?

20240902 WRITING DAY w/GG

Today I'm on the phone with George, and he and I are using the next 10 minutes to write.

George says that he does better when we're together; he doesn't need me to also be writing, but I decided I would use the time to write anyway.

It's not "D-DAY" and it hasn't been for several weeks.  I spoke to David about it, and his colleague, John Perron, is planning a trip to Toronto where he will set up an agreement about how Acanda will be developed (the mine), and it will involve David, John, and a third party who would each end up owning 1/3 interest.  In return for their ownership, they will set up an agreement that allows for David to receive a lump sum of cash followed by monthly payments.

I don't know these people, but from what David says, they are legitimate and trustworthy.  (crossing fingers that this is true!)

Meanwhile, my "D-DAY" hopes are yet again delayed.  And when "D-DAY" finally arrives (now speculated to be mid-September), it will not mean a "windfall" or a "lump sum" payment for me.  Rather, it'll likely be a monthly payment of some amount similar to what I'm getting from Pruitt/HDA, although David has talked of approx. double that (ie, $4000/month).

Well, so be it.  And I will remind myself, right now, that "I, Ken Taylor, already have everything I need."

So.... GG's 10 minute timer went off, so we're going to stop now.