GTD #35: The Hero's Journey

I want to say it's been an unproductive month, but when I look at the stats it hasn't been too bad: got back into weightlifting consistently thanks to the new app and I got 10+ yoga practices in, even if they were shorter sessions overall. My mindset is 25 minutes is the new minimum, and so with that number of practices, I feel mildly happy with my performance. The app is coming together beautifully - everything functions for breathwork, meditation and strength training. Yoga is still incomplete - I need to record audio files for every pose and eventually add images as well. But for now it logically functions through a sequence. All of this to say that even if I'm not charging people for the app, I'm going to be really happy when it's out in the world - it's my way of giving back to yoga and adding something of value to the world. That's the reward. Can't get me a G-Wagon but it lifts my heart up.

That's got to count for something, right?

It's been a brutally hot summer in Texas - like open an oven directly in your face hot for about 75% of the day. It certainly wasn't this bad five years ago, and I'm a little worried that there will be a lot of climate refugees like myself that abandon the state because it's so freaking hot. I love the natural beauty and wildness that you can find across Austin - one of the main reasons I feel in love with the city, but I can't see myself here for more than another 3-5 years. But it's been an incredible ride for my self-development, and it's given me so many wonderful gifts. Who knows when my era in the wilderness will end, but it's changed my life for the better.

August 1st to August 31st 2026

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• Didn't get a ton of long yoga sessions in this month but the consistency was there, pretty much practicing every other day
• For my dumbbell strength training workouts I just stuck to the Week 1 Day 1 workout of Physical Training Program II: Dumbbells. Still getting back to eating well and lifting weight so kept it simple with this 5x5-esque workout. Will probably just switch to 5x5 next month and alternate between A&B.

• I've watched, frankly, a bad amount of One Piece in the last few months but it's such a good show. Just wrapped the Dressrossa arc which is comically long but very good. Already watched Zou before this years ago, so going to blast through that again and jump to the next arc. Oda be cooking
• Hathaway 2 was so good! Even better than the first movie. It's got this moody, atmospheric look to it, a really great mix of 3D and 2D animation, interesting designs and shots. The most beautiful Gundam has even been, and also the most 'we ain't explaining this to you' that it's ever been too. This is the type of movie you have to watch like 5 times to catch all of the political intrigue and manipulation. It really makes me look at the real world differently - all the fuckery that goes on is probably similar to what the movie portrays. The best part is that the movie doesn't clearly explain everything so you really do have to pay attention.
• It's weird to call a person a spiritual successor to another, but the music that Marcus D makes feels like a continuation of the lo-fi hip hop sound that Nujabes and Fat Jon did back in the early 2000s. Absolutely fantastic, and Masters of the Artistry with Substantial, who also worked with Nujabes, is some of his best work.
• The tea ain't as hot in Love Is Blind (UK) but the romance is mostly genuine and sweet which is nice. Did I ever think I'd ever watch reality TV? Hell no! But I can't deny the drama is good. As much as I love fiction, it's kind of refreshing to watch these shows that are in between fiction and reality. The addiction started with Love Is Blind, then I ended up watching the latest season of Love Island UK which was great. Love Island USA doesn't have the same charm to it. It's a little too horny for me.

Great content from around the world.

• https://metalgearstuff.wordpress.com/2022/01/18/the-motif-of-retrograde-motion-in-metal-gear-solid-4/

Why Mazda Guards This YouTube Sensation RX-7 Like Fort Knox

As the star of an award-winning film, this RX-7 became a YouTube sensation last year when its owner gave the car back to Mazda after driving it for 25 years.

ForbesPeter Lyon

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Unedited ramblings, typically after a run.

Please feel free to skip to the end.

8/04/2026

Last month wasn't amazing in terms of training. My weights are buried under a mountain of laundry, behind the hampers, beside the dresser. This month I'm feeling hopeful.

8/05/2026

Entering that valley of doubt again. I mean I'm feeling generally OK - debts are getting lower each month, I have a loose vision of what my future needs to be, and I'm finding satisfaction in this creative project. Work has been a bit better as well. Money feels distant for the things I really want, accessible for the things I don't need. I feel like I need to establish a new friend group and rebuild my own one. It'll be based on my passions and interests, no matter how odd I am, and so they'll feel genuine and easier.

8/10/2026

Off to a decent start this month with training. One weightlifting training which was great, and now just keeping up the momentum of yoga or weightlifting every few days is key. Mentally haven't been feeling great - just kind of overwhelmed with how to make more and more money to pay for an increasingly complex life, but that's what we are tasked to navigate in this life. But I have been feeling the pressure lately.

On the flip side, just bought my first fishing rod and that's kind of exciting! I'm looking for new hobbies and passions to keep my brain working. I think fishing, even though I felt conflicted about it from a yogic perspective, could be fun. I've only done pier fishing once so I have no clue how this'll go, but I figured I'd try it over the next couple months and see if I get the itch for it. What a cool complicated world of tools and baits and lures.

8/14/2026

Trying to refine my focus these days. I've accepted that I need to streamline what I care about: be great at my job, put my energy into Sendō as a vehicle for my personal passions and interests, friends, family and adventure in my own way.

Having a kid is being busy all the time, so now I feel like I've got to make the most of the moments where I can breathe and continue to work on myself.

8/24/2026

It's been a month of some decent training but back in the void in a different way. I'm anxious, I can't deny it. No clue what my next job will be, what my career needs to be, how I'm going to afford everything I need to afford in the future. But at least I'm weightlifting consistently and eating meat again! Trying to get my muscles up even if my depression raises it's ugly head once again. I feel like I've been painted into a corner, but I can't deny part of it is my own making. So now I'm focused on long-term thinking - what do I need to do today to create the life I want in 5 or 10 years? Obviously I shouldn't get a new car, especially a gas one, even if I'm bored with my current car and I have the itch for something new. Instead, I need to use all of my excess energy to focus on driving my life forward. No debt, build savings, find ways to create adventure in my life whether it's in my hometown or at National Parks and the outdoors. Keep on thinking, kid. Just do it the right way.

8/26/2026

I've accepted that the Sendō app should be free. Going to keep it as high value as possible for as many people as possible. I mean, yes, sure, I did hope that this would become some sort of viral sensation and millions of people would sign up to be a subscribing member. I still have faith that this entire project will continue to change my life, I just can't expect the big bag of money to come from this. But that's OK - I love yoga and I'm grateful for all of these practices in my life, so all I can say is that this website and app are my way of giving back. And that's actually really fulfilling. I'm here to make the best free training app ever.

Just have to figure out how to handle accounts since everything is saved locally to the phone. I think exporting data will be key, not only to keep your data forever but also to import your data into a new phone. It sucks to have to deal with files as an individual but it truly does put the power back in your hands. In other words, don't lose your copy of the game. You can't get your save data back if you lose it. Isn't that thrilling?

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