First off, what have I been doing since my last post?

Well as I noted in my Digital Declutter 2024 post, my focus was to read more books. And that’s what I have been doing.

During my digital declutter, I finished reading one book. That book was Outlive by Dr. Peter Attia. Great book if you’re interested in how to live longer, while maintaining a high quality of living.

A little after my digital declutter ended, I finished reading The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel. Excellent book if you’re trying to understand how/why we make the decisions we do with our money.

At the moment, I’m currently reading a few other books:

• C# 12 and .NET 8 – Modern Cross-Platform Development Fundamentals – Eighth Edition by Mark Price — this is work related and is just me trying to catch up with the latest in the .NET field.
• Make Time by Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky — I never finished reading this, so I decided to read this again from the start.
• Discipline Equals Freedom: Field Manual by Jocko Willink — I finished reading this already but am re-reading just because I want to. I’m also trying to build more discipline into other areas of my life, so I thought it would be the perfect book to read.
• The Will of the Many by James Islington — high fantasy novel from the same author who wrote The Licanius Trilogy, of which I’m a fan of.
• Word On Fire Bible Volume II: Acts, Letters and Revelations — currently making my way through Acts of the Apostles book and surprised at how interesting the stories are.

What have I been doing other than reading books? Well with the extra time from not having to write on here, I've been trying to finish video games (currently near the end of Final Fantasy XV), playing video games with the kids/family (Stardew Valley is a great local co-op family game), helping the kids get better at baseball, catching up to TV shows (Jack Reacher is pretty good), taking longer naps, and many more.

So that's what I've been up to recently. Before I end this post, I also wanted to cover other things that I wrote about on this journal, namely Digital Gardens and my note-taking practice.

I'm still using Obsidian to take down notes. In fact it is still my primary note-taking app and that probably won't change for the foreseeable future.

I still have a Digital Garden, if having a collection of linked notes is what's considered one. But I don't subscribe to the idea of planting seeds or growing trees to grow my digital garden. If anything, what I used to call my Digital Garden, is now really just a personal knowledge base or a second brain. It is a repository of everything I've read and noted down, available for me to reference when I need to.

I also no longer follow the Zettelkasten way of taking down notes. I simply could not keep up. I do not have the mental bandwidth at night, nor do I have the time to go through my notes without burning out. That said, I've taken some practices that worked for me and simplified it.

I still do a daily log or what they call fleeting notes, and I still do a reference or literature note when reading a book. But I don't spend time processing notes the Zettelkasten way. I will link notes under a specific theme and leave it at that.

Taking a page from James Clear (author of Atomic Habits), my bare minimum requirement for my notes are, that they are in digital form and that they are searchable. And since I use Obsidian for note-taking, searching notes is easy. Storing notes in a text file with support for using Markdown is just icing on the cake.

So now we get to why I haven't been posting on here.

I mentioned above that I had a variety of reasons for not posting, but in this update I want to cover just one: I avoided writing on this blog because it was stressing me out.

Back in 2023-08-01, I ran into the Living a Simple and Quiet Christian Life video by Alex Wilson. Watching that video forced me to re-evaluate my online activities. It changed my perspective on blogging, especially blogging under your real name. Regarding this blog specifically, that same day I wrote this down on my bullet journal:

I don't want the fame and recognition. I mean yes, I want a little of it, but I don't want all of it. If I'm being honest with myself, I'm actually scared of the attention, the popularity, the fame. I think it is the source of stress on my websites/blogs where I don't hide behind a pseudonym or an anonymous persona.

Maybe it's time for Dino's Journal to come to an end.

This is not the first time that’s happened. I’ve always just pushed through after a short break. But I’m also aware of the fact that I keep running into this issue over and over. When I was going through my digital declutter, I was at peace, because I didn’t have to worry about what I’m writing on this blog. After my digital declutter ended, the thought of writing something for this specific blog/journal was stressing me out instead of bringing me relief.

And so that's why I haven't posting on here.

And this is why, on a number occasions before, during and after my digital declutter, I have contemplated bringing this blog/journal to a close. It’s not that I have ran out of things to share or write about. It’s just that, I felt so much peace not having to worry about something I wrote in this blog, or what I will write for this blog.

So does this mean this blog/journal is coming to an end? Sort of. This will most likely be my last post on here. I'm not deleting this blog/journal, but I most likely won't be publishing new content either.

I'm also not planning to abandon Write.as. I still have a number of other blogs on this platform and I plan to keep posting to those for the foreseeable future.

They say people start writing to a journal when they're going through something important in their lives. I guess that journey for me has come to an end, this journal has served its purpose.

I appreciate everyone who've taken the time to read my posts on this journal. It has been a blast. Thanks for reading and peace be with you all!

Tags: #SiteUpdates #Reflection #Blogging #DigitalDeclutter #DigitalGarden #NoteTaking #Zettelkasten #TheEnd

And honestly, I really need one. I've recently fallen into the trap of reading comments on social media and it has not been good for my mental health. Yes, I know I should be using social media as a tool. But sometimes I cannot resist viewing a specific post and it goes downhill from there. So, yes I need a reset.

The main reason for this post though, apart from telling you that I'll be offline for a bit and not writing blog posts, is to invite anyone who reads this to give the Digital Declutter exercise a try. Take a break from living life online and start your own Digital Declutter.

You can follow this link for an explanation of what a Digital Declutter is, as well as what rules I'll be following for my own Digital Declutter.

Last year, I kinda went through a Digital Declutter without a specific focus in mind. For this year, I'm going to focus on reading more books.

Anyway, I hope you guys decide to give it a try. If you have any questions regarding this, you can find ways to contact me on this page, but sending an email is the best option.

Peace be with you and see y'all online on Easter Sunday.

Tags: #DigitalDeclutter #DigitalMinimalism #Lent

There's pros and cons to getting either format. But that's not what this post is about. In this post I want to share the criteria I use, to determine whether to buy a printed copy of a book, or the eBook version of it.

That criteria revolves around the contents of the book. The question I ask myself is, “Are the contents of this book subject to change in the future?”

For instance, fantasy books like the Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Hobbit, the Chronicles of Narnia and the Harry Potter series of books, the contents of these books are static. Meaning they are not going to change decades from now. These are the kinds of books that I want to buy a printed copy of.

On the contrary, books that are subject to change in the future, should be bought as eBooks. The best examples of these are books on the topic of Software Development and Health/Nutrition.

Software Development is an ever evolving profession. Every couple of years, we get updated versions of programming languages (if not new programming languages), new frameworks, new design patterns, new development stacks, etc... A book that you have now on say, ReactJS or .NET 6, will more than likely be obsolete 10 years from now. In fact, .NET 6 is already being replaced by .NET 8 which came out recently.

It is the same thing with medical books, or books on Health and Nutrition. There's almost always something new in the field of medicine and nutrition. Hence, an authoritative book that you buy now, might become outdated when new discoveries are made years into the future. Which is why, I buy the eBook versions of these kinds of books.

So, there you have it. An easy way to determine whether to pick up a printed copy or eBook version of a book. Buy the printed copy for books whose contents will remain static. Buy the eBook versions for books whose content are subject to change in the future.

Tags: #Books #Reading

~ Source

“If you like it, don't seek validation.” — I love that thought. Clearly this applies to not just cars, but to everything in life. If you like something, that should be enough for you. Don't ruin it by seeking validation for what you already like.

Seeking validation from others is like any other drug, there's a temporary high, but once it wears out you just need more of it just to get back to your baseline—and that's simply unsustainable. ~ Source

Exactly. It's unsustainable. This is that same vicious cycle that I talked about in this post.

I wasn’t happy and staring at that yellow lemon in my garage just made it hurt. That car helped me grow. It doesn’t matter how much hp you have, no matter how usable or unusable it is. It doesn’t matter how cool your car looks or sounds. Cars won’t make you happy until you’re satisfied with what you have and you’re satisfied with yourself. ~ Source

Let's read that again. “Cars won’t make you happy until you’re satisfied with what you have and you’re satisfied with yourself.”

Now let's switch the word “Cars” for some other hobby or earthly goods/values that we normally obsess with:

• Phones won’t make you happy until you’re satisfied with what you have and you’re satisfied with yourself.
• Shoes won’t make you happy until you’re satisfied with what you have and you’re satisfied with yourself.
• Designer bags and clothing won’t make you happy until you’re satisfied with what you have and you’re satisfied with yourself.
• A house won’t make you happy until you’re satisfied with what you have and you’re satisfied with yourself.
• Wealth won’t make you happy until you’re satisfied with what you have and you’re satisfied with yourself.
• Power won’t make you happy until you’re satisfied with what you have and you’re satisfied with yourself.
• Honor won’t make you happy until you’re satisfied with what you have and you’re satisfied with yourself.
• Fame and recognition won’t make you happy until you’re satisfied with what you have and you’re satisfied with yourself.

I can go on and on, but I believe you see the point I'm trying to make. Nothing in this life can truly give us contentment, unless we are satisfied with ourselves and what we already have.

And finally my last takeaway.

This applies to literally everything in life. There will always, always be someone who – at least in perception – has more than you do. A better house, car, lifestyle, job. The less we compare ourselves to others the better life is. Period.

I test drove a pre-owned dream car this week. Loved it. Then realized the 2021 version has updated head and tail lights, and felt my excitement for the car I drove fade. Back of my mind, I was less excited about a car I genuinely enjoy because someone might notice it’s not a current-year car. What a fucking dumb way to think. But it’s actually hard to break out of it. ~ Source

I once ran into a quote that said something like, “Comparison is the thief of joy”. Ain't that what's on full display here? The guys on this Reddit thread are right. If you want to be happy and content, stop seeking external validation and stop comparing yourselves to others.

If you made it this far, I appreciate you taking the time to read my post. This is most likely my last post for the year, in which case, I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Tags: #Bookmarks #Contentment #Detachment #GearsAndGasoline

I mean, sure, it is 10 years old. Some of the paint is chipping. The seats are no longer brand new. Some of the buttons on the steering wheel have lost their symbols. The headlights are starting to look hazy. Some of the wheels have curb rash. There is a big chip on the hood scoop. There is a gash on the passenger side rear wheel fender from scraping a parking lot column in Galveston. I mean yes, it is old. But isn't this still the same car I dreamed of owning a decade ago?

And now that prompts a different question: Was it the car that I really wanted? Or was I just looking for something new?

Are we buying something because we like it? Or are we actually addicted to the idea or feeling of getting something new every so often?

Then I remembered that an explanation for this was provided in the documentary The Minimalists: Less Is Now. The explanation goes like this:

When we finally get what we want, that car, that house, that new phone, we are happy for awhile. But then the brain normalizes all of that. And so after a while, we end up with new wants and new desires. The high bar that we just recently achieved, now becomes the baseline from which to start wanting to acquire more stuff.

So, you can see how that can quickly become a vicious, never-ending cycle of wants and desires. The solution in my opinion is to detach.

I wrote this post way before I wrote this other one. It just sat in my drafts folder and I had forgotten about it until today. But as you can see, just like that other post, the solution is the same.

Tags: #Reflection #Minimalism #Detachment

How I use my Bullet Journal — a great practical guide to using a bullet journal.

#InterestingReads #BulletJournal

An idea: instead of just keeping old blog posts lying around, why not print them and turn them into a self published book? Then you can store them in a bookshelf at home.

This idea was somewhat inspired by this post by Kin Lane.

#Blogging

God never gives you a dream that matches your budget. He's not checking your bank account, he's checking your faith. ~ Mark Walhberg

#Quotes #Spirituality

Selective Ignorance is when you pick and choose what you want to focus on or what you want to learn, instead of taking in everything that's available out there. You want to consider doing this, because we don't have time to learn everything. So, you have to be selective. It is as Ness says, a form of intentional knowledge.

Source: Selective ignorance: cultivating intentional knowledge in a chaotic world

^ This is also a great way to help avoid information overload.

#AvoidingInformationOverload #DigitalMinimalism

One of the best things I've learned a few years ago: I don’t need to have an opinion on everything. There are things that are beyond my control and it’s pointless to wallow in them. Having an opinion on everything is like paying attention to something that didn’t ask for your attention.

Source: https://www.instagram.com/p/CRFQkXanEd5/?utmmedium=copylink

#DigitalMinimalism

https://john.do/today/ — seems to be was good advice for starting/restarting a blog. Unfortunately navigating to that page seems to elicit some warnings on the browser, so browse at your own risk.

Anyway, my takeaway from this was: Writing is all about putting down your imperfect thoughts and ideas into paper. This allows you to reflect on your thoughts and ideas, and then go from there.

#Blogging #Writing

Series: #JournalEntry Tags: #InterestingReads #BulletJournal #Blogging #Quotes #Spirituality #AvoidingInformationOverload #DigitalMinimalism #Writing

And to get more, you'll start looking for ways to outdo your previous efforts. This usually means acquiring more possessions (maybe even more expensive possessions), acquiring more recognition, acquiring more fame, etc...

Think of a person who is addicted to likes in social media. A certain post, photo or video can only get you so much likes. So what are you to do next? Post even grander photos and videos of course.

So, as you can see, it is a vicious cycle that will ultimately leave you miserable, because you can never really satisfy your desire for more. Practicing detachment however, gives you permission to appreciate what is in this world, but not have them weigh you down with the desire for more.

Tags: #Reflection #Detachment

While the title itself specifically mentions just the biceps, I think this is a great video overall on how to workout. My key takeaway from this video is how important the rest period is.

The rest period after working out is equally as important as the workout itself. The workout doesn't actually grow your muscles, rather it just provides the stimulus for growth. The growth itself occurs during the rest period. So, if your muscles are not getting enough rest, they will not grow.

^ This kinda reminds me of how important taking a break from reading is as well. If you don't give your mind a break from reading, you don't give your brain time to internalize and learn from all that you've read so far.

Oh and the best exercise to safely train your biceps, is the close grip underhand pulldown.

Tags: #Bookmarks #Exercise #AthleanX

So, I'm starting to realize that the smartphone in and of itself is not the cause of distraction. Rather, it is just another form of distraction. Distraction has always been with us. It just takes on different forms as human civilization advances.

The problem was/is distraction itself. The solution was/still seems to be the same — to set up an environment that is, as much as possible, devoid of distractions, so that you can do your best work.

Tags: #Reflection #DigitalMinimalism #Distraction #SmartphoneAddiction

Here are some of my takeaways:

• Trying to promote yourself or your work online only leads to more stress.
• Chasing after accolades, recognition, views, likes, hearts means you're not free.
• Jesus had the simple and quiet life because he was so humble and he had no pride. He rejected popularity.
• You don't need to give up on your hobbies/activities to live a simple and quiet life. You just need to stop promoting yourself while engaging in said hobbies/activities.

Tags: #Spirituality #Christianity