20 Comments

Looks like a beautiful place to stretch one’s thoughts.

Walking is definitely a creative catalyst.

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Even if I'm out of town, I find a good place to walk!

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I’m so happy I found this essay so I can get a glimpse of how you discover ideas and reset. I love these bird videos, too!

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Hey, that's awesome! I think I have like 30 more videos of this fellow/lady doing their thing out there. I've only caught the "fish catch" maneuver twice so far, though! It's always a good challenge.

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I get to wake up by 7:15, be over to the grandkids (10 houses away) by 7:30, usually hearing one of them practice piano upon arrival. I talk with the 8 and 9 year olds, then ride bike with the 14 yr old to his school about a mile away. Presently, the wind chill is in the teens or 20s. He usually talks about what he does in school, or in one of his clubs (video gaming, robotics, chess). Our conversations are very encouraging to me, no matter what we talk about. I get back home, turn on the hot water pot and hand grind beans for a cup of coffee. There is usually some Substack left to read from the day before.

I also like to mtb in the woods, walk trails, or even bush wack through the woods on no trail.

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Sounds like a pretty good day, Dale! Active, engaging, and rewarding.

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I very much enjoyed this musing and its visuals. This looks so much like a trail I once walked here in Maine that I'm now wondering if we're neighbors.

I, too, make a habit of writing from first thing in the morning through to 11-ish without distraction, gradually dipping into the world from about 11:30 or so on. For me, the intrusion of the so called "real world" (I don't believe that for a minute, btw) is difficult, so I try for a gradual entry every day.

In the winter, for some reason, probably the cocoon-like nature of New England in the winter and the late sunrise, makes it natural for me to wake up at sunrise (something I never do in summer, because sunrise comes far too early and it's too tempting to stay up late) and write while it's still almost dark and into the late morning. This is definitely when my thoughts come most freely, the muse is most likely to pay a visit, and I can reach for the lyrical langauge I need for the work that I do. It doesn't always come, as Leonard Cohen warns, but it's far more likely.

Anyway, a lovely post. Happy writing, my substack friend.

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Thanks so much, Faith! I'm really glad the image/word format came together all right. It's a bit of a stretch for me.

That quiet time just before the sun comes up is amazing! You're all alone there, just for a bit.

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You live in a beautiful area, man!

I go running three times a week right after delivering the kids to school. Today, I coulldn't fall asleep since 4AM, so at 6AM I got up, changed into my running gear, and went out. We live close to a giant field and there's a dirt path I run on. It was pitch black still, but I used my phone's flashlight to light the way. Quite a refreshing experience, and I might even be tempted to move my routine to these hours.

There's nothing that quite beats nature, fresh air, and a bit of outdoor exercise.

As for the bird, here's what ChatGPT says:

"That's a Great Blue Heron. They are large wading birds commonly found near shores and waterways where they fish for their meals. They are easily recognizable by their long legs, neck, and beak, as well as their blue-gray plumage."

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That's awesome! ChatGPT was able to watch my video and tell you that? That's kind of awesome and I need to dive more into that (if we have already talked about this, it's my bad and it's in one of those little brain-holes).

There's a lot of science behind working out first thing being a huge boost to your day. I guess I work out with my mind nowadays, but I tend to agree. Going running first thing would be awesome.

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Nah I just took a single screenshot from the video where the bird was fully visible, then used ChatGPT Vision to upload the image and ask about it. The Vision from this article: https://www.whytryai.com/p/chatgpt-plus-upgrades-review

And yeah, getting the exercise in first thing in the morning set you up for the day. It's just trickier to make time with the kids' schedule - but I'll see if I can push my waking hours to accommodate it.

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Thanks, dude. I'll get there w/tricks like this with Vision, but I need to be reminded about these tips from time to time. TL;DR: glad you're here!

If you get a chance, take a quick pic next time you're out there to run. I would love to get a peek.

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You got it, I'll try to remember!

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You are incredible Andrew! You have wholeheartedly immersed yourself into it. You are living your purpose and I am happy to be witnessing it.👏

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Thanks, Edwin! Keep doing your thing too!

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Thank you!

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I'm pretty sure that's a Blue Heron.

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Thanks, Kent!

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In a previous version of punditman, I wrote on my About page that I came up with most of my ideas in the shower and that I'd once heard this may have something to do with negative ions. Now when I google the idea, there's a plethora of results explaining why we indeed get a lot creative inspiration while showering.

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I think it has a lot to do with getting into a really different environment, right?

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