Being My Better Self

Heya Earthlings,

If you're like me, there are two yous. One is who you actually are in the moment, and the other is who you strive to be—your "better self."

Yep, I'm a big fan of Socrates and the idea of "self-development through self-knowledge." This method allows someone to become a more moral and kind person. But I submit to you that being your better self goes beyond that. Or, to say it another way, also includes less high-faluting goals.

Like, being happy. You'll be happier if you head off mistakes and bad choices, right?  Putting together a budget is a great example. Or planning a schedule for how many pages or words you (or in this case, I) need to write on any given day to hit a turnover deadline in three months' time. 

And then there's the day-to-day ways I try to be my better self. Enter sticky notes*.

I'm always writing messages and reminders to myself to improve my life outcomes, such as "lock this!" on the garage door, "Save your sleep, don't eat after 8!" on a refrigerator shelf, "Close this!" next to the toilet, and so on. Over time, I sublimate these, and the sticky notes are (hopefully) no longer needed.

But new sticky notes always show up. Like today, after having spilled my coffee for the 2nd time in six months by swiveling my high-backed office chair, my newest better self reminder on a sticky note: "No coffee here! 

*I also send myself reminder emails every day, but sticky notes photograph better.

Where To Look For Hope

 Heya Earthlings,

I hope you got through yesterday without a single April Fool's Day groaner to contend with or, worse yet, a fake story you briefly thought was real. (Not that entirely true news stories aren't bad enough if you happen to be a fan of economics or the Constitution.)

On a related but more upbeat note, I just finished listening to a great interview that you might enjoy. It was conducted by one of my favorite new energy writers and podcasters, David Roberts. He interviewed a Chicago area congressional representative I've never heard of before by the name of Sean Casten. Wow! Rarely do I hear elected officials speak with such humanity and intelligence, especially in the face of being effectively powerless as a member of the House. The topic: 

The view from inside DC, with Rep. Sean Casten

I talk with the congressman about why Trump is meeting so little resistance, what can be salvaged of energy policy in the next four years, and where to look for hope.

Give it a shot, I think you might find something hopeful in his outlook, and possibly even something useful: https://www.volts.wtf/p/the-view-from-inside-dc-with-rep 

[Photo by Birmingham Museums Trust on Unsplash]