Twitter Take

There are lots of opinions and speculation flying around with the news around the Twitter acquisition. Mine is only this: whether a publicly traded company or a privately owned one, Twitter doesn’t serve as what many want, claim, or intend—a public forum.

The incentives and interests of Twitter have never completely aligned on that. We probably do need a true American Digital Public Square, and there are still many problems to sort through in order to set it up. One account per person, somehow verified? Tax-payer funded, with “official” polls on important issues? Yes, free speech, as defined and outlined within the US Constitution and US law? Call it a fantasy, but something could be built.

But it’s not Twitter. Let’s separate the hypothetical apples from the potential oranges, so that we can can indeed create a free, open, and just world. 

Thriving Today

In the modern world, thriving is no longer merely survival. It’s making things better, optimizing, for not just ourselves but for everyone. There are millions of people pursuing this goal. 

In order to succeed, one must think outside what they know, what’s normal and obvious and frequent. Improving macroeconomics requires an understanding of the past, and the global finance system and how states interact with each other. The effects of positive improvements, even slight ones, has the potential to impact all of humanity. 

To build or create something new, something valuable, requires a perspective beyond the daily minutia that make up our lives, or perhaps a more critical introspection of it. Novel unique things have the potential to inspire, to effect further positive change. 

We have the ability to pursue these higher objectives because we have inherited a world built upon the work and sacrifice of those before us. When we contribute to this collective goal of changing the world, for the better, for all of us, we insert ourselves into the broader legacy of humanity: the ability to adapt, change, grow, and ultimately, to create. What world will we create?

Back to Beauty

And then there’s the settling back in. Habits can be tough to keep when they’re interspersed with trips to distant places, which is why I try to build ones that are applicable anywhere. What helps me is to remember it’s all part of life: our big exciting trips and our mundane commutes, our greatest triumphs and deepest sorrows. They are all part of this thing called life, and it’s indeed beautiful. 

The Return Home

Even with how much I love to travel, it’s always good to come home. I’ve considered what it would be like to be completely nomadic in the modern world, but part of the magic of travel is the feeling of coming home. There are many different types of people and environments in this world, but to return to the origin of one’s tribe is irreplaceable. For each of us, we have that one special place on Earth that is truly home. 

How we live

I try to keep the end in mind, and live life accordingly. I can’t help but know that the times with family are what’s most Important, what I’ll look back on. We are afforded this amount of time on this magical planet, and our time is drastically determined by who we spend it with. Our tribe is how we live. 

Little Things

Life really does happen in those little moments, those in-between parts. You can be surrounded by beauty, with your two best girls, but you still gotta pay attention. To those little, tiny things. That’s where it all is. 

Explorations

There’s something about walking the Earth with your tribe. That cool dust at your feet as you wander forward; and the memories of it and your day with them. Such is the privileged tales of an explorer. And aren’t we all, making our way through this void?

Goldilocks Harbor

The Earth has this perfect little Goldilocks window that enables us to thrive. I was actually cold on the trail early this morning, something that doesn’t happen often. My hands were numb and I could see my breath in front of me. By the return, some four hours later, my headband was drenched and my back wet as the sun beat down on us. Sure a 40 degree temperature swing seems drastic, but that just illuminates how special we are. The planet constantly shields us from cosmic energy as we blissfully climb around its surface. It’s difficult to fathom. How fortunate we are, to enjoy this uniquely beautiful rock in the cosmos. It’s truly a big beautiful amazing world. 

Hiking Hallmarks

Early wake up calls and carb heavy meals. A crepuscular routine to catch the light on the Earth as the sun rises and falls. Tired legs but an emancipated soul. These are the hallmarks of hiking life. I may behave like a city boy and even resemble one, but do I enjoy forays into desert forests and rocky outcrops. Physical perspective literally yields mental and emotional perspective. We climb the mountain to relish in the journey upwards, but also to connect with the planet as it lays out before us from the top. It is the character of our species. We are a part of the Earth, and must remember that before we return to it. 

Up the Mountain

And sometimes, you climb a mountain that is tough. But it grounds your perspective during the entire trial. Sure, us monkeys are smart enough to design, build and pilot a helicopter (though not me) to take you up there. We’re very clever. But can you walk up? Are we physically capable of ascending the mountain?

The Earth challenges you with this simplicity. To walk, or to turn around. The plants and animals up there exist, can you? It’s a zero sum experience.

The beauty is there, it’s here, it’s all around us. We just need to wake up, climb up, and we’ll see it. 

Stepping Out into Nature

You’re surrounded by karst red topography in Sedona, and on many of the hikes, it’s a 360 degree view. It can be enough to inspire, to reset, to revive. Sedona is one of thousands of places on this planet that represents its incredible diversity and uniqueness. Earth’s nature is all around us, beckoning… we just have to step out. 

Return to Earth

Sometimes a trip can be used for a reset, and that’s exactly the journey I intend to embark on today. What better place to do it than among the red rock in Sedona? The Earth is our home, our anchor within the rest of the matter soup in the universe. We must return to it as a species. I look forward to grounding myself this week, returning to the rock and soil from which I came. Sedona here I come. 

Photo Browsing

There’s something simply joyous about looking through old photos with your family. We don’t realize it, but it’s amazing how much we’ve grown and aged over the years. What a wonderful existence this is, and how grateful we can be for our tribe. We are all mortal; it’s up to us to make it count. 

Starting Point Duality

I had a conversation with a coworker recently regarding the difficult and delicate balance of staying informed versus simply consuming content and not straying your focus from your own empowerment. In today’s digital world it’s all too difficult, and I’ve yet to determine a solution. 

But I’ve learned that when life happens, the news is one of the first things to go, all concern with it immediately gone. 

It seems there’s a duality to our perception and our course of action. When we embrace a big picture paradigm, on the largest scale of space and time, the universe, and work backwards to our single being at this very moment, we can more easily appreciate the incredibility of reality. But when we want to take action to improve our environment, if we start from the smallest possible circle of control, ourselves, and work outward to increasingly larger circles of influence, our impact on that reality is that much greater. 

It sure is one big beautiful amazing world. 

Commute Sensations

The crisp cool air whips across my face. I feel the steady irregular bump of the uneven gravel beneath my board’s wheels. Here and there you can catch an early morning bird darting from one tree to another. This is my morning commute. And in the grand scheme of the universe, it’s a pretty amazing experience. I try to set that context as often as I can, although it is difficult. For when you consider our position within it all, and how we’re all connected to everything, and everything to us, it is remarkable. 

Mortal Dance

Remember that we are mortal. Our deeds may echo beyond us into the future, if we behave with conviction. Inspiration can ripple beyond the grave, and the lingering effects of strong action certainly do. I find it a delicate balance to find satisfaction from contribution, but to also simply enjoy. It’s one of life’s main dances. Can we master it peacefully? Can we collectively master it together?

Ancestral Honor

Memories are an important part of our existence. To honor the past is to understand where we come from. Progress is imperative to our species’ survival, but to recognize it requires a grounding in what has already come. We stand on the shoulders of giants yes, but also on the work and sacrifice of our ancestors. 

Starting with Tribe

Spending time with family has become my favorite thing to do, and I think I’ve officially become an old person. Being together with one’s tribe is a part of our biology. Let’s build a better world starting from there. 

A Special Lady

My name is Trevor, and I’m one of Granny’s six grandchildren. We all know ‘Doris’ was special. I called her Granny, and I'd like to share why she was such a wonderful grandmother.

My Granny was fun, supportive, and caring, and she lived a full, joyous, and adventurous life.

My Granny has been fun since my earliest memories. When I was very young, I loved to ring the doorbell at her house. She would make a big fuss about coming to answer it - “who's at my door? who's at my door?” I always got a kick out of that, and I always looked forward to going to Granny's house. Have you ever heard of a 4 year old being excited to visit their grandparents?

I remember her using my toes to take the pigs to the market. And when 'this little piggy went all the wee way home," she would tickle me past tears, and we would laugh and laugh together.

I especially loved it when she would read me a bedtime story. She was so animated with her voice and expressions that I always followed along with rapt attention, and didn't want to sleep afterward.

The house I grew up in had a pool, and all her grandchildren always wanted her to join in the swimming. Once in a blue moon she would come in with us, and that was always a treat. “Granny's in the pool!“

Over the years, we had lots of fun together. We watched plays and movies, drank beer at dive bars, invented new words while playing CatchPhrase, and enjoyed beer breaks in the parking lot while wine tasting.

My Granny was fun!

She was also supportive. Granny was a teacher for 30 years and contributed to many noble causes, which others can better speak to. For us grandchildren, she was a positive and loving force.

She attended almost all of my sports games growing up. Granny didn't particularly like soccer or football or basketball or baseball, but there she was in the stands, cheering me on. Even when, according to her, "those other boys are much too rough and push you around too much." I felt so special to have my Granny watching.

Granny created special birthday cards for all her grandchildren. She also wrote me letters for some of the most seminal moments of my life - birthdays, graduations, leaving to live abroad and embark on world trips, and my wedding. These letters guided me while I transitioned to new phases in my life. And yes, I cried while reading every single one. I believe Granny's power with words was the cause of my love for writing.

Yes, my Granny was supportive.

And of course, my Granny was incredibly caring.

Everyone here is certainly aware of Granny's prowess in the kitchen. I remember always telling friends, "My Granny is an amazing cook. She makes this and that and it's so good." They would reply that their grandma was a great cook too, and in my head I would always think, "you have no idea. My Granny is a way better cook." Sometimes I would even say it out loud.

My wife can attest to this, as crab cakes are now ruined for her--she can't order them anywhere because they're never as good as Granny's.

My mom's birthday dinners were especially extravagant - two huge platters of paella, all made from scratch! The dish with the yellow rice, as my mom calls it, epitomized Granny's fantastic cooking skills.

I have so many fond memories of our family sitting around the table enjoying a wonderful meal. Granny brought that to us. She was an amazing cook because she cared for others, and loved her family.

Yes, my Granny was caring.

She also lived a full and joyous life.

Granny had many deep, long friendships, and many of those friends are here today to honor her. Whenever I would see her, she would rattle off the 15 things she had done recently with various people: going shopping with so and so, having lunch with this person, attending an event with this group of people. And that was often just in one day!

Granny's friends were always very nice to me. I think that says something about who she chose as friends, and the type of person she was.

Granny was a prolific shopper. There's a pillow in her house that reads 'if the shoe fits, buy one in every color.' We used to joke that she had her own parking spot at Macy's, and that business suffered when she'd go on a long trip. I remember all the times she would take me shopping for my birthday, buying me clothes and shoes. I also remember Grandpa's reaction when we got home; he was never pleased with the bill.

Music was an important part of Granny's life. She taught me songs on her piano, but I was never as good as her. Whenever I would play something at her house, she would always tell me, "that was nice, now try to play it softer and slower." She sang in the church here, as well as with the Fun Time Singers group. And who can forget the dancing recitals in downtown San Jose? If you haven't seen pictures of those costumes, make it your mission at the house today. As a kid I loved to yell out with my Mom,  "Go Granny!" when her group came on.

Yes, my Granny lived a full and joyous life.

She was also adventurous.

Granny was a world traveler and visited five continents. I will forever treasure the trip to Africa with her and my parents. We rode in a helicopter over Victoria Falls, enjoyed 'sundowners' in the company of 1000 cape buffalo, and traipsed around drunk gorillas in the rainforest!

Granny didn't save adventure just for travel though. Try a new stretch on the grass? Play some corn hole? Have a go on the PlayStation? Why not? My Granny would try it!

Yes, my Granny lived an adventurous life.

There's a sticker on a garage cabinet in her house that reads "It's nice to be important, but it's more important to be nice." I think my Granny embodied that, every single day. She emanated so much love everywhere she went.

My whole life, we shared this running gag. She would always ask me, “have I ever told you…how much I love you?” I would respond, “yes Granny, you’ve told me, I know, you love me.” Over the years, we would simply say, “have I ever told you?”

Granny, you have left an inspirational legacy and impacted all of us. Have I ever told you?

Starting Points

That calm before the storm can be pretty rough. Something that’s come across recently to me is blood is blood. I’ve seen it in movies and TV growing up but it hasn’t occurred to me in full force until now. Family is forever. It’s best if we don’t wait to realize it. It’s important, to acknowledge our starting points.