Marlow's Musings 4/28/24

Insights, adventures and fun stuff from this week.

Audio narration by David Marlow

David Marlow ©2023

I’m kind of over sports. Don’t worry; I won’t give up running or watching my grandkids play soccer.

It is more of a feeling of dimished interest and one not completely clear in my mind, which is why I am writing about it. Many times, I’ve sat down to write a Sunday musing with no idea how I felt about something, only to uncover it while writing. Perhaps that will happen today.

As a young boy, following sports was a way to connect with other boys and provided a conversation starter. I didn’t have my dad around to talk sports, so I found myself behind the curve. Not wanting to be left out, I investigated sports. That is probably why I began reading the newspaper.

Back then, there was no ESPN to update scores in real-time. You read the next morning if the Dodgers beat the Cubs or the Reds came back against the Astros. Sometimes, the score read LATE, which meant the paper had gone to press before the game had finished.

Never one to follow the trend, I would often choose teams to support other than the ones everyone else rooted for. Ever the contrarian, the teams became part of my identity. Now that I think about it, I followed sports to fit in and then took a non-conformist approach to the teams I cheered on.

For many years I had a long commute and would pass the time listening to talk radio. Eventually, I discovered that it wasn’t edifying and mainly provoked agitation, so I switched to Sports Talk Radio, thinking it would be ‘fun.’

There was virtually no difference in the level of non-edifying agitation other than the topic. One was news, the other was sports, but they were both intent on arguing over things I found less and less worthy of argument.

Much like news in general, I have eliminated things that don’t serve me. I don’t watch the news at all, yet somehow, I seem to know what is going on in the world—or at least to the extent I need to know.

On Sunday afternoons, I would often sit indoors for 6 hours and watch football while the beautiful fall was going on outside. Winter is long in Wisconsin, and those mild sunny days go by fast. During the pandemic, I began questioning the sanity of a six-hour investment indoors during the most beautiful time of the year.

Last night was the annual National Football League Draft. It is where college football players are selected by the NFL teams they will ultimately play for professionally.

It is kind of a big deal for a sports fan and rates prime-time coverage on several networks. I have no idea who went number one or who my ‘teams’ picked for their players.

This fall, when they play, I may watch some of them on Sunday afternoon unless it is sunny, in which case I will likely be out for a run enjoying sports in another way.

Word of the Week

Edify (verb)

(ˈedə•fī)

1. to provide instruction or something beneficial, especially morally or spiritually

2. to strengthen build-up, make strong

Edify is Middle English: from Old French edifier, from Latin aedificare ‘build’, from aedis ‘dwelling’ + facere ‘make’ much like edifice. The word originally meant ‘construct a building’, also ‘strengthen’, hence to ‘build up’ morally.

In case you missed it…

This week’s Ikigai Thought for Today was ‘Be’ing the Best…

Professions come and go; our Ikigai is about much more than our jobs. Quit competing in the job market and start living in the purpose market; here's how.

Ikigai Thought for Today: 'Be'ing the Best

Ikiquest+

This week's Coffee Contemplation is a set of Five Fabulous Friday reflection prompts.

Ikiquest+ subscribers can listen to it in audio narration or read the transcription.

Coffee Contemplation: Fabulous Friday Five

In addition to the Coffee Contemplation, I shared my BIG NEWS with plus subscribers this week.

If you aren’t yet an Ikiquest+ Subscriber, give it a try for free by clicking the box here.

Comment of the Week:

There were so many great comments this week that it is hard to call one out. One that I want to speak to is something someone shared with me offline. Given its personal nature, I won’t pass along their names or details. I do want to share it because it highlights why this newsletter exists.

This person was part of the original Ikiverse class and has been a model for the power of the Ikiverse. In their note, they shared how the Ikiverse has become a touchstone that has led to inner healing and healing in relationships. It has changed this person’s life.

If you don’t yet have your Ikiverse, your single sentence to share your purpose, I invite you to create one and see the difference it makes in your life.

I support people in this process in my coaching, and frankly, the change it makes in lives is WHY I do coaching. Ikiquest+ subscribers can take the self-paced course. If you want to find your Ikiverse and can’t afford coaching or even a subscription, you can access the video course with the free trial.

I hope you will enjoy the life-changing benefits of being able to articulate your purpose.

Video Course: Discover Your Ikiverse.

Quote I’m Pondering

This thought is from Haruki Murakami…

“The only opponent you have to beat is yourself, the way you used to be.”
― Haruki Murakami, What I Talk About When I Talk About Running

Interesting Thing I Saw This Week

Being present and experiencing every moment is a vital practice in living out your Ikigai.

I thought I’d demonstrate what I often do in the morning when making espresso by recording the experience. Check out this video and notice the blend of beans and different levels of roast. Watch how the beans dance in the bin as they load into the grinder. Observe the crema forming on top of the freshly brewed espresso. Imagine the smell rising up to your nostrils.

For the three people who will notice that the espresso machine needs to be cleaned…yes, it does. It had been used a lot that morning.

Final Thoughts

Tonight, my grandson ‘E’ makes his stage debut with a lead part in a school musical. In addition to his speaking role, he will sing a solo. He announced to his grandmother and me that he wanted to do this to overcome his stage fright.

I treasure that he was self-reflective enough in his young life to recognize stage fright and explore ways to overcome it. After a month of practice and preparation, he loves being on stage.

Much of our struggle as adults in living our Ikigai is that it got covered up when we were kids. It is beautiful to watch him do things now that will allow him to live his Ikigai all along.

Quest well.