20250531 SLLLAVERS FOR SATURDAY - NOT D$-DAY, AND I, KEN TAYLOR, ALREADY HAVE EVERYTHING I NEED!!!!!!!

  ACCURACY DAY 

BIOHACK

1. Brisk walk
2. Dark chocolate
3. _._Sit up straight
4. Write w/left hand
5. Blueberries
6. New word
7. →Visualize improved day: 2-meal day: 1) ; 2)
8. White noise - 10 min
9. Sniff to ￬ stress
10. Write 1 thing grateful for

RECORD

1. Brisk walk (MIGHT do the walk in combo with soaking in HEATED hot tub)
2. ✔Dark chocolate
3. _._Sit up straight
4. ✔Write w/left hand
5. ✔Blueberries
6. ✔New word: BAE: a person's boyfriend or girlfriend
7. →Visualize improved day: 2-meal day: 1)✔Coffee + smoothie ; 2)
8. ✔White noise - 10 min
9. ✔Sniff to ￬ stress
10. ✔Write 1 thing grateful for: SATURDAY/DAY OFF

*****************

SILENCE: feeble attempt 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, 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 89 seconds.

VISUALIZATION

201 Today's weight.

I visualize weighing less tomorrow.

I visualize weighing 198 by June 7, 2025

I visualize weighing 195 by June 14, 2025

I visualize weighing 192 by June 21, 2025

I visualize weighing 189 by June 28, 2025

EXERCISE

Did my full base-80 routine for Saturday, May 31, 2025:

1. knuckle benders 80
2. ankle/wrist circles 80
3. toe/finger stretches 80
4. bicycle crunches 80
5. MADE BED; PIANO
6. flamingo L60, R60
7. shoulder rolls 80
8. ball/wall 16
9. angel/wall 16
10. counter stretch 16
11. squats 40
12. push-ups 40

READING, WRITING

Read with George 2 messages in THE BOOK OF AWAKENING by Mark Nero. He advises that we stop trying to attract bees; rather, make ourselves bloom, and the bees (friends, lovers) will come.

Read for 80 seconds in HOW TO BIOHACK YOUR BRAIN by Kristen Willeumier.  She says understanding my own brain, and how it functions, can help me better control negative thoughts, and better understand the mind-body connection.

Read for 80 seconds in A PROMISED LAND by Barack Obama.  He says that not long after assuming the Presidency, he visited Walter Reed Hospital, and made individual visits to each enlisted troop (Army, Marines, mostly); he tells how difficult it was for some, but most were glad he came; he'd give them a commemorative coin and take pictures.

Read for 80 seconds in THE RIGHTEOUS MIND by Jonathan Haidt.  He introduces this chapter, "The Republican Advantage" by saying that Democrats (John Kerry) don't understand moral psychology; Republican's do.  That's why Dems lose (when they lose).  Haidt "suggested" to John Kerry that he say to W Bush, "You gonna pay for that?" after each campaign promise.  (Kerry hadn't though or didn't think to do so.)

Read for 80 seconds in MAN'S SEARCH FOR MEANING by Viktor Frankl.  He says, in the final pages of his book, that logotherapy, which is based on finding the meaning of a person's life, is his greatest achievement:  he has convinced many to cling to life in spite of the serious challenges they face; to cling and to find meaning, because it IS THERE.  He ascribes to older people a value greater than that of younger people:  older people, wittingly or not, through living, have found the meaning of their lives.  They are better off than younger people, who have yet to discover theirs.

He adds that the tools he is given (studies, languages, travel) enabled him to spread Logotherapy principles among the population.  That is HIS meaning.  Each of us must find his/her own.

An amusing anecdote is:  An American woman complained that he writes books in German - the language of Hitler.  He replied that by that logic, she should not use knives in her kitchen - the weapons of murderers.

Read for 80 seconds in THE MIND MAP BOOK by Tony Buzan, with Barry Buzan.  They dedicate their book as follows:

We dedicate this book to all those Warriors of the Mind fighting, in the Century of the Brain, and Millennium of the Mind, for the expansion and freedom of Human Intelligence.

I'm not jumping into this book yet; I've read a good amount for today, and I want to focus on the structure and layout of the messages in the book, and soon after begin the serious reading/comprehension phase. 

20250519 SLLLAVERS FOR MONDAY - NOT D$-DAY, AND I, KEN TAYLOR, ALREADY HAVE EVERYTHING I NEED!!!!!!!

  WELL............

I tried last night to sleep with my CPAP, but I kept waking up/feeling congested..... I eventually gave up, but lay awake at 2am, 3am..... wishing I could figure out how to do it right.  Seems like I should be able to settle into a routine of using it 6-8 hours a night.

So..... the thought of driving for 3 hours while I am sleepy and/or have low energy is not appealing, of course.

So.... I dispensed with my usual routine (exercise, piano, SLLLAVERS) and just took a shower.

Some days are stones.

20250518 SLLLAVERS FOR SUNDAY - NOT D$-DAY, AND I, KEN TAYLOR, ALREADY HAVE EVERYTHING I NEED!!!!!!!

 

 ACCURACY DAY 

BIOHACK

1. Brisk walk
2. Dark chocolate
3. _._Sit up straight
4. Write w/left hand
5. Blueberries
6. New word
7. →Visualize improved day: 2-meal day: 1) ; 2)
8. White noise - 10 min
9. Sniff to ￬ stress
10. Write 1 thing grateful for

 RECORD

1. Brisk walk
2. ✔Dark chocolate
3. _._Sit up straight
4. ✔Write w/left hand
5. ✔Blueberries - 1/4 cup in smoothie
6. ✔New word: SYCHOPHANT: While I know the meaning of this word, George tells me that in French and Greek, it also means someone talking behind your back.
7. →Visualize improved day: 2-meal day: 1)✔C+S+coffee cake ; 2)final steamed veggies
8. ✔White noise - 10 min
9. ✔Sniff to ￬ stress
10. ✔Write 1 thing grateful for: CHRISSY

*********************

SILENCE

Tried to silence brain for 80 seconds; mild success.

LLL - BHL

Laugh.  Love.  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

202 Today's weight.

I visualize weighing less tomorrow.

I visualize weighing about 190 by May 23 (Tom's birthday)

EXERCISE

Did my full base-80 routine for Sunday, May 18, 2025:

1. knuckle bends 80
2. ankle/wrist circles 80
3. toe/finger stretches 80
4. bicycle crunches 80
5. MADE BED; PIANO
6. flamingo L60, R60
7. shoulder rolls 80
8. ball/wall 16
9. angel/wall 16
10. counter stretch 16
11. squats 40
12. push-ups 1+40+1

READING, WRITING

Read for 80 seconds in HOW TO BIOHACK YOUR BRAIN by Kristin MyooMyay.  She says science had not realized that the brain (NEUROSCIENCE) affects the conscious mind, until the 1990s.  They discovered also that the conscious mind affects the brain.

(MY NOTE:  To me, they've always been one and the same; perhaps that's a simplistic view, but since I was not clear on the differences, I assumed they were the same, or of similar origin within the body) (also, brain, mind, spirit...... I've always thought they were the same thing, centered in the gray matter inside the head)

She adds that the CONSCIOUS MIND is what makes us different from other animals.  Most people wrongly conclude that our THOUGHTS and IDEAS originate in the CONSCIOUS MIND.  Rather, only 10% of our thoughts and ideas come from the CONSCIOUS MIND.  Per Freud, 50-60% of our daily thoughts come from our SUBCONSCIOUS MIND.

CONSCIOUS MIND -           10% of daily thoughts  (there are 50-70K thoughts generated daily)

SUBCONSCIOUS MIND -    50-60% of daily thoughts

UNCONSCIOUS MIND -      30-40% of daily thoughts

Read for 80 seconds in A PROMISED LAND by Barack Obama.  He recalls his man (Gates - a member of his team) recommending a change in the leader of the Afghan effort, from XXX to McChrystal, who was all military & highly recognized by everyone.  So BO made the change to McChrystal.

Read for 80 seconds in THE RIGHTEOUS MIND by Jonathan Haidt.  He says that IF it's true that left-leaning politicians and voters focus on only 2 of the 5 foundations he has earlier defined, and that those 2 foundations are CARE and FAIRNESS....... and IF, further, it's true that right-leaning politicians and voters focus on ALL 5 of the foundations (I.e., CARE, FAIRNESS, LOYALTY, AUTHORITY, and SANCTITY), ....... THEN, is it possible that conservative movements in society have a broader appeal than do liberal movements?  Apparently Haidt will answer these questions in the next chapter, titled "THE CONSERVATIVE ADVANTAGE."

Read for 80 seconds in MAN'S SEARCH FOR MEANING by Viktor Frankl.  He says the 2nd aspect of the "tragic triad," namely GUILT is now considered.

MY NOTE:  I had never differentiated between "GUILT"  the status of a person vis-a-vis a crime, and "GUILT"  the feeling you have when you've committed a crime.

Frankl cites examples of groups of former prisoners who formed groups, post-prison of Logotherapy, who have the purpose of staying out of prison.

20250516 SLLLAVERS FOR FRIDAY - NOT D$-DAY, AND I, KEN TAYLOR, ALREADY HAVE EVERYTHING I NEED!!!!!!!

 

 ACCURACY DAY 

BIOHACK

1. Brisk walk
2. Dark chocolate
3. _._Sit up straight
4. Write w/left hand
5. Blueberries
6. New word
7. →Visualize improved day: 2-meal day: 1) ; 2)
8. White noise - 10 min
9. Sniff to ￬ stress
10. Write 1 thing grateful for

RECORD

1. ❌Brisk walk (toenail still bothering me a bit; I'll try walking tomorrow.)
2. ✔Dark chocolate
3. _._Sit up straight
4. ✔Write w/left hand
5. ✔Blueberries (1/4 cup in smoothie)
6. ✔New word: SHERPAS: members of a Tibetan people living on the high southern slopes of the Himalayas in eastern Nepal, and known for providing support for foreign trekkers and mountain climbers.
7. →Visualize improved day: 2-meal day: 1)✔C+S ; 2)TJ salad + apple/icecream dessert
8. ✔White noise - 10 min
9. ✔Sniff to ￬ stress
10. ✔Write 1 thing grateful for: CHRISSY

***************

SILENCE

Tried to silence brain for 80 seconds; mild success.

LLL - BHL

Laugh. Love. 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 Today's weight.

I visualize weighing less tomorrow.

I visualize weighing about 190 by May 23, 2025 (Tom's birthday)

EXERCISE

Did my full base-80 routine for Friday, May 16, 2025:

1. knuckle benders 80
2. ankle/wrist circles 80
3. toe/finger stretches 80
4. bicycle crunches 80
5. MADE BED; PIANO
6. flamingo L60, R60
7. shoulder rolls 80
8. ball/wall 16
9. angel/wall 16
10. counter stretch 16
11. squats 40
12. push-ups 1+40+1

READING, WRITING

Read for 80 seconds in HOW TO BIOHACK YOUR BRAIN by Kristin Myeu-myay. She says

(reviewing previous post about the brain:)

AREA                              LOCATION/SIZE                   FUNCTION

1.  THALAMUS              middle of brain                     "central hub"

                                         2 walnuts                               "relay station"

                                                                                         process external sensory information

                                                                                        sends info to other areas of brain

                                                                                        helps control pain sensations

                                                                                        helps control attention

                                                                                        helps control alertness

                                                                                         helps control some cognitive thinking                  

2.  HYPOTHALAMUS  below the thalamus                    connects nervous system to endocrine system

                                        1 almond                                    controls hormones

                                                                                            helps release hormones from the pituitary gland

                                                                                        regulates sleep, hunger, thirst, body weight, temp.

3.  HIPPOCAMPUS    deep, below thalamus                critical for memory

                                    and hypothalamus                        critical for brain-cell growth

                                                                                           critical for cognitive disease prevention

                                                                                        responsible for storing & recalling memories

                                                                                        responsible for learning information

                                                                                         responsible for coordinating spacial navigation

                                                                                         loss of vol of HIPPOCAMPUS →cognitive decline

4. AMYGDALA        near HIPPOCAMPUS               called the brain's "fear center"

                                   "size matters" - the bigger,       helps control fear response, emotions, sense of pleasure

                                    the more aggressive      sometimes "fear control" kicks in before we can think

5. CINGULATE         middle of brain, belt-like            interface between high-level cog. function & emot. center

GYRUS wraps around corpus

                                     callosum has anterior & posterior sections

6.PREFRONTAL CORTEX    in front of cortex         plays pivotal role in executive functions (e.g., focus, impulse                                                                                         control, planning, reasoning, decision making, anticipated                                                      thin layer of folded        behavioral adjustments)

                                                   gray matter

                                                                                        

NOTE: Where are the CORPUS CALLOSUM, and the CORTEX??

(That's enough about gray matter for today)

Read for 80 seconds in A PROMISED LAND by Barack Obama. He says that as he dealt with the aftermath of Bush's disasterous Iraq & Afghanistan campaigns, he was greatly troubled by the conflicting stances of his campaign promise to be a no-war president, and his increasing the number of troops in Afghanistan in just 3-4 months of taking office. His advisor (?) Gates unexpectedly asked him to replace one of the Generals.

Read for 80 seconds in THE RIGHTEOUS MIND by Jonathan Haidt. He presents 5 "educated guesses" about the "first draft" of human nature (this based on his research & conclusion that "moral foundations are innate.")

1. The Care/harm foundation evolved in response to the adaptive challenge of caring for vulnerable children. It makes us sensitive to signs of suffering and need; it makes us despise cruelty and want to care for those who are suffering.
2. The Fairness/cheating foundation evolved in response to the adaptive challenge of reaping the rewards of cooperation without getting exploited. It makes us sensitive to indications that another person is likely to be a good (or bad) partner for collaboration and reciprocal altruism. It makes us want to shun or punish cheaters.
3. The Loyalty/betrayal foundation evolved in response to the adaptive challenge of forming and maintaining coalitions. It makes us sensitive to signs that another person is (or is not) a team player. It makes us trust and reward such people, and it makes us want to hurt, ostracize, or even kill those who betray us or our group.
4. The Authority/subversion foundation evolved in response to the adaptive challenge of forging relationships that will benefit us within social hierarchies. It makes us sensitive to signs of rank or status, and to signs that other people are (or are not) behaving properly, given their position.
5. The Sanctity/degradation foundation evolved initially in response to the adaptive challenge of the omnivore's dilemma, and then to the broader challenge of living in a world of pathogens and parasites. It includes the behavioral immune system, which can make us wary of a diverse array of symbolic objects and threats. It makes it possible for people to invest objects with irrational and extreme values - both positive and negative - which are important for binding groups together.

MY NOTE: for the first time, I'm wondering what Haidt's motivations are - is he out to show that the "left" focus on 1 & 2 above, but that the "right" focus on all 5, and thus should we conclude that the "right" appeal to more voters. WHAT???

First of all, this is HIS list of foundations (yes, based on research), and it's also HIS assessment of where the "left" and "right" place their focus. But is all he says not subject to scrutiny and opinion? Of course it is.

I suppose, upon reading more, I will determine what his political leanings are: if "left" I'l begin singing his praises. But if "right" I'll close the book & move on.

Read for 80 seconds in MAN'S SEARCH FOR MEANING by Viktor Frankl. He says that meaningful living can be attained WITHOUT tragedy; however, tragedy can be a means to discover one's life's meaning (e.g., the paraplegic who went to college); he also implies that suffering is more part of the journey.

20250513 SLLLAVERS FOR TUESDAY - NOT D$-DAY, AND I, KEN TAYLOR, ALREADY HAVE EVERYTHING I NEED!!!!!!!

NOTE:  I need to get back to my routine, so I'll finish the "Propaganda" article later.

********************

 SPEED DAY 

BIOHACK

1. Brisk walk
2. Dark chocolate
3. _._Sit up straight
4. Write w/left hand
5. Blueberries
6. New word
7. →Visualize improved day: 2-meal day: 1) ; 2)
8. White noise - 10 min
9. Sniff to ￬ stress
10. Write 1 thing grateful for

RECORD

1. ❌Brisk walk (Toe still hurts, but I'm healing it by a) soaking 30 min daily, and b) self-healing.
2. Dark chocolate
3. _._Sit up straight
4. ✔Write w/left hand
5. ✔Blueberries - 1/4 cup in smoothie
6. ✔New word: CONY: rabbit fur
7. →Visualize improved day: 2-meal day: 1)✔C+S ; 2)steamed veggies
8. ✔White noise - 10 min
9. ✔Sniff to ￬ stress
10. ✔Write 1 thing grateful for: LISA

*********************

SILENCE

Tried to silence brain for 80 seconds; mild success, or a bit better, since I slept well for 6.5 hours.

LLL - BHL

Love. Live. Laugh.

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.

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.

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.

Also said aloud for 80 seconds.

VISUALIZATION

202 Today's weight.

I visualize weighing less tomorrow.

I visualize weighing about 190 by May 23, 2025 (Tom's birthday)

EXERCISE

Did my full base-80 routine for Tuesday, May 13, 2025:

1. knuckle bends 80
2. ankle/wrist circles 80
3. toe/finger stretches 80
4. bicycle crunches 80
5. MADE BED; PIANO
6. flamingo R60, L60
7. shoulder rolls 80
8. ball/wall 16
9. angel/wall 16
10. counter stretch 16
11. squats 40
12. push-ups 40

READING, WRITING

 Read for 80 seconds in HOW TO BIOHACK YOUR BRAIN by Kristin M.  I'll have to go back & review the parts of the brain she presents, since I have not internalized them:  here goes:  The 6 areas and their functions are:

AREA                              LOCATION/SIZE                   FUNCTION

1.  THALAMUS              middle of brain                     "central hub"

                                         2 walnuts                               "relay station"

                                                                                         process external sensory information

                                                                                        sends info to other areas of brain

                                                                                        helps control pain sensations

                                                                                        helps control attention

                                                                                        helps control alertness

                                                                                         helps control some cognitive thinking                  

2.  HYPOTHALAMUS  below the thalamus                    connects nervous system to endocrine system

                                        1 almond                                    controls hormones

                                                                                            helps release hormones from the pituitary gland

                                                                                        regulates sleep, hunger, thirst, body weight, temp.

3.  HIPPOCAMPUS    deep, below thalamus                critical for memory

                                    and hypothalamus                        critical for brain-cell growth

                                                                                           critical for cognitive disease prevention

                                                                                        responsible for storing & recalling memories

                                                                                        responsible for learning information

                                                                                         responsible for coordinating spacial navigation

                                                                                         loss of vol of HIPPOCAMPUS →cognitive decline