Intuition Takes Courage

You know that gut feeling? The one that tells you to do or say something? The one that hits you like a hockey puck and knocks you over – almost without your permission? Yes, they call that intuition – and it’s a special gift. In the prehistoric days, intuition was the essential mechanism that kept us alert and alive in the wild. Today, it serves a far less animalistic purpose and yet still informs our judgement calls.

Acting on intuition can be a terrifying thing. No information, no data and no time to support your gut. What if someone judges you for it? What if it gets you into trouble? Takes you down the wrong road? What if you misunderstand your inner voice? What if you’re wrong?

You may not be right. But there’s no way to know ahead of time. That’s why they call it a risk. Many situations do not have time or the infrastructure for the kind of research most decisions call for. Sometimes you just need to listen to your belly and do something. It takes balls. Or ignorance. Or blind luck. Whatever it is, you don’t have time or reason to think. Just do it. And see what happens. Intuition can be a magical thing if used diligently.

30 “Breaking Bad” Soundtrack Selects

Perhaps the most stunning slice of entertainment to grace any screen in the last five years, Breaking Bad continues to grip, shock and awe. While lost in the drama at the edge of your seat, you seldom notice a major element that contributes to this show’s brilliance: the soundtrack. Blessed by the talents of ZZ Top, Norah Jones, Beastie Boys, Nancy Sinatra and many, many more, the tracks the music supervisors were able to lock for the show are themselves an impressive feat and well worth a listen on their own. To celebrate the premiere of the fifth and final season of the show this upcoming Sunday, I listened to every song used in every episode to date (156 in total) and selected my top 30 for your listening pleasure (iTunes and Amazon links below). In order of my play counts:

  1. BlackDanger Mouse & Daniele Luppi (feat. Norah Jones) [S4, Ep13] Amazon
  2. Horse With No NameAmerica [S3, Ep2] Amazon
  3. Waiting Around To DieThe Be Good Tanyas [S2, Ep3] Amazon
  4. GoodbyeApparat (feat. Soap & Skin) [S4, Ep13] Amazon
  5. Catch Yer Own TrainThe Silver Seas [S1, Ep6] Amazon
  6. If I Had a HeartFever Ray [S4, Ep3] Amazon
  7. The HoleGlen Phillips [S1, Ep2] Amazon n/a
  8. TruthAlexander Ebert [S4, Ep1] Amazon
  9. We Are Born When We DieApollo Sunshine [S4, Ep12] Amazon n/a
  10. TushZZ Top [S3, Ep3] Amazon
  11. WindyThe Association [S3, Ep12] Amazon
  12. Out Of Time ManMick Harvey [S1, Ep1] Amazon
  13. Magic ArrowTimber Timbre [S3, Ep2] Amazon
  14. Who’s Gonna Save My SoulGnarls Barkley [S1, Ep7] Amazon
  15. Into the NightBenny Mardones [S2, Ep4] Amazon
  16. DLZTV On The Radio [S2, Ep10] Amazon
  17. Boots Of Chinese PlasticThe Pretenders [S4, Ep7] Amazon
  18. Rocket ScientistTeddybears (feat. Eve) [S3, Ep5] Amazon
  19. Good Morning Freedom Blue Mink [S2, Ep9] Amazon
  20. EnchantedThe Platters [S2, Ep11] Amazon
  21. Didn’t IDarondo [S1, Ep4] Amazon
  22. UhFujiya & Miyagi [S1, Ep5] Amazon
  23. ShambalaBeastie Boys [S3, Ep13] Amazon
  24. Crapa PeladaQuartetto Cetra [S3, Ep13] Amazon
  25. The Peanut VendorAlvin “Red” Tyler [S2, Ep5] Amazon
  26. Sabado en el ParqueGrupo Fantasma [S3, Ep11] Amazon n/a
  27. It’s Such A Pretty World TodayNancy Sinatra [S2, Ep4] Amazon
  28. Dead Fingers TalkingWorking For A Nuclear Free City [S1, Ep1] Amazon n/a
  29. Without YouSasha Dobson [S1, Ep3] Amazon
  30. Negro y Azul: The Ballad of HeisenbergLos Cuates de Sinaloa [S2 Episode 7] Amazon

Pros & Cons

Seems like such a silly little tool, but do not underestimate the power of pros & cons lists in helping you navigate difficult decisions. Simply getting your thoughts down on paper can help you better-objectify the situation. If you take the list seriously and generate genuine pros and cons in your brainstorming session, the visual key to how many thoughts land in each column can really help you clear the air and see the right choice. If you take your time and add to the list over a longer period, you will be surprised how objective the tool can be. I use pros & cons lists to assess almost all of life’s big decisions. As far as I can tell, none of them have failed me yet.

Opportunity Over Routine

Sometimes it is not easy to pick between the comfortable and the random. We all have routines in some shape or form and find them difficult to break. Only when you break routine can you put your character to the test and grow as a person. The unknown may seem risky or distant from relevant – but you’ll never know for sure until you try. When forced to choose, always opt for the new opportunity (after, of course, you’ve done your due diligence). You have far more to gain from mixing up your life and taking chances on faith than keeping everything normal and under control.

Choose Your Pain and Your Gain

Choose what you pay attention to. If your mind lingers on something that bothers you, that’s kind of your fault. You do not need to pay attention to it if you don’t want to. Same applies to good things. You can choose to ignore or focus on the glass half full. Up to you. Be stubborn enough to believe you can pay attention to what you want.

Rest Your Mind

When you finally stop moving or take a break, your mind tends to press on and fill the work void with busy thoughts. Far too often, my vacations ripen with creative or intellectual juices. More momentum from busy days than anything else, I spend all of my free time theorizing, planning or creating the next big thing. Unfortunately, a busy mind is hardly restful. If you want a true break, you need to let go and stop thinking for a while. Zone out to some chill music. Go for a jog. Float down a river. Whatever helps your mind find a small measure of peace. With a completely rested mind, you will be surprised how many of your anxieties from before will disappear.

Independence Day

While you’re sipping beer and watching things blow up today, take a moment to appreciate what it’s all about. You have the freedom, as an American, to sip beer and blow things up. Unless of course you’re under 21 years of age or live in the state of Colorado with a fire ban.

A good day to you and yours. Happy 4th of July.

500

Today’s post marks my 500th day in a row. Big deal. To celebrate, I’m going to write a blog post about it. Thank you for sticking with me this long. Here’s to another 500 or more!

30 Years

Tomorrow marks my parents’ 30th wedding anniversary. Not many people have had the fortune of being raised by parents who have stayed together that long. Thank you, Mom and Dad, for picking each other wisely and teaching me the value of a strong partnership. Thank you for making my brother and me a reality and putting up with our shenanigans. We all love you dearly and wish you many more years to come!

Chase the Currency That Matters Most To You

Money isn’t everything. Time, knowledge, happiness, autonomy, geography and output are all currencies that can be measured and prioritized in different ways. When job hunting, you look at more than just the salary – how much time you’ll get to spend with your kids, how far away it is, how much you’ll be able to learn and grow, what autonomy you’ll have and what you’ll be able to build. Sometimes, money is the most important and necessary thing to you. Other times, you might be willing to make a salary sacrifice to learn something specific or work closer to a place you call home. What matters most to you now? How does that affect your decisions? I find it useful to rank the currencies that matter at this moment. Do you need time more than money now? Do you want social outings more than the number of books read? Do you want a job that constantly teaches you new things or do you want an easy commute? Write it all out. Prioritize your life and make important decisions accordingly.