Endurance Philosophy

For Kay and David. What happens to us when we die? I don't know. I don't think anyone else does either. If anyone ever tells you they do, be suspicious. On the surface it's an interesting question. What happens to us when we die? I, if you were sitting with me, could talk with you for hours about this. About what I think, about what you think, etcetera, etcetera... We'd talk and talk and talk, and maybe we'd make a few good points. But probably, we wouldn't. Because, after thinking about it for about a minute, I don't think it's an interesting question at all. We don't know the answer. We don't know how to find the answer. So, at the end of the day, what does it really matter?  Maybe it doesn't matter at all.  Since it might not matter at all, I think the best thing is just to continue making things up in the same manner we've been doing for all of recorded history. So, in that spirit, here goes. Regardless of what happens when w...

I recently read The Salmon of Doubt , published posthumously from the hard drives of one Douglas Norman Adams. It is another addition to the brilliant canon of a brilliant man. I for one did not truly realize the breadth of his intelligence until I read some of the more candid bits that are contained in this final volume. There is a quote buried somewhere in the book, amid an article regarding, among other things, palmtop computers, typewriter keyboards, and Branwell Brontë. The quote is: “My favourite piece of information is that Branwell Brontë, brother of Emily and Charlotte, died standing up leaning against a mantle piece, in order to prove it could be done.  This is not quite true, in fact. My absolute favourite piece of information is the fact that young sloths are so inept that they frequently grab their own arms and legs instead of tree limbs, and fall out of trees.  However, this is not relevant to what is currently on my mind because it concerns sloths, whereas...

So I've been thinking the last post was a pretty shit first post. I mean, it's stuff that I think about, but it's not a good portrayal of what I think about most. So let's find that out. What do I think about most? Well, I have the most wonderful, amazing, beautiful, sexy, incredible, partner in the world. Much of my thoughts are of her. You don't get to know those thoughts, though. So we'll move on to the next topic.  Skiing. I love skiing. I think about it often. The feel of the skis over the snow. The ecstasy of that full body motion, when you get it right and everything clicks. The arms pushing you through the poles, both legs working together to drive you forward. The feel of the cold air on your face and in your lungs. The sounds of nature all around you. The quietness that can only be experienced after you travel off the highway with your body as the vehicle for some time. I love everything about it.  This is closely followed by cycling, running, an...

Purpose. I'm thinking a lot about purpose lately. Worth. What are we worth? We get paid money to do jobs, and many people I think just go through life doing their jobs thinking, 'it's just what I do.' Never a thought beyond it. Then one day BAM. It's over. The thought of wasting away a whole life in this manner terrifies me. The struggle to find purpose is one that I think many people struggle with, but I also think it is one that many people do not. I wonder which is worse. Finding a skill or a job that you can do and enjoy is one thing. That part is fairly easy. Not a given by any means, but someone growing up in a house with loving and supportive parents it's easy to see what you enjoy and what you don't. For me, it's endurance sports. Cycling, cross country skiing, running, swimming even, triathlon, biathlon. Here's the thing though. In America, anyways, you have to make money to exist. So the question becomes: how can you do what you love, A...