Friday Musings—16/08/24

What's new with me

I've been enjoying lazy days in the mountains, filled with lots of reading, a few students, and plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables, and cheese from the farmer's market. My ankle is recovering very slowly. I'd like to go on at least a couple of hikes before the end of the month, but that seems unlikely at the moment. On the bright side, I can do a bit more yoga, so at least there's that.

This and that

In our last session, my therapist encouraged me to notice how often I use "but" when talking with others, and more importantly, when talking to and about myself. A small example of this occurred when she told me I have a beautiful face, and I immediately replied, "but it's ruined by acne." Another instance was when I mentioned that my relationship with food had vastly improved, but then added, "but all my gut issues are causing me to have food fears again." She acknowledged that all the statements were true while also pointing out that how we frame things matters. By using "but," I negate or strongly diminish what came before it instead of simply stating another truth alongside it.

This is similar to the "yes and" concept I was introduced to in my improv classes, which I already wrote a blog post about. My therapist strongly suggested it was time to apply this concept to my life as well!

How often do you find yourself resorting to "but"?

The perfect sentence

Almost twenty years ago, studies were already showing that text messaging has a negative impact on written language skills. Today, more and more people warn that our increasing reliance on technologies like ChatGPT could lead to a loss of our ability to write. Not a day goes by without my seeing an ad suggesting I learn to use AI to create content—including books and courses—and do other tasks for me. So it's happening. In fact, many of those ads seem to imply you're foolish if you're still doing things on your own.

With this in mind, I came across a lovely piece on what celebrated writers can teach us about the art of crafting a great sentence. I particularly appreciated the reminder that the word "sentence" comes from the Latin "sentire," meaning "to feel"; a sentence must be felt by the reader. Even if our goal isn't to become great writers (or even mediocre ones), it's important to remember that the quality of our writing matters, both to others and to ourselves.

You're holding your phone wrong

What we do write a lot nowadays are messages and posts on social media, usually on our phones. When people warn about the dangers of screen time, they typically focus on its impact on mental health or interpersonal relationships. But what about the physical issues that come with clasping a metal rectangle in your hand for hours at a time? For instance, I have weak wrists, and my therapist has warned me several times about the negative impact that holding my device for too long has on my joints.

Here are a few quick tips to help mitigate the risk of various issues, from thumb arthritis, carpal tunnel, and tendinitis to eyestrain, migraines, and hearing loss. If you have any additional advice, please share it in the comments.

Quote of the week ✍️ 

"Writing is thinking. To write well is to think clearly. That's why it's so hard."  (David McCullough)

As always, I welcome your insights or questions. Which musing was your favorite? What topics would you like to see covered in future newsletters? Any other suggestions? Let me know in the comments or send me an email. Don't forget to share this with someone who may find it interesting.

Enjoy your weekend and TTYS

ML