List three books that have had an impact on you. Why?
Tale of Two Cities is the first classic that I read in the eighth grade. I remember most characters to this day. I learned what satire is, and I learned to pay attention for a long time.
I Know This Much is True I read this book while going through a very difficult period of my life. The book was so good. I kept focused and after a few fits and starts enjoyed this book tremendously. I’ve read it more than once.
A Man Called Ove
This book was my gateway, drug to Frederick Backman. I discovered this story while watching a movie at an art house cinema. The movie was introduced in the trailers. I’ve now read every book by the author, and I can’t tell you which one is the best.
When I was younger. What a useless sentence as I have always been younger. Somehow, I became a huge fan of the Los Angeles Rams. Their helmets were cool and for other unknown reasons.
Rams
I do not know why I noticed this, but I took notice of my relationship with winning and losing. When the Rams won, I was happy and when they lost, I was depressed. I also noticed the magnitude was much higher when they lost.
Completely Made-Up Math
Rams Win (+ 4,5 Happy points)
Rams Lose (- 6.0 Unhappy points)
So, using that swaggy math, if the Rams went 8 and 6 in a season it was a wash.
Writing Submissions
So, I started doing the same math with sending short stories and artwork to magazines. The ratios are so different. Let us assume a 1 in 10 rejection rate. Mine is a bit lower.
Rejection (-2 unhappy points)
Acceptance (10 happy points)
While the rejections are more frequent, the elation for acceptance that much higher. With any of these equations there are diminishing returns as you grow accustomed to the rejections. I would have to introduce a different differential equation here but that is over complicating the situation.
But you do grow accustomed to the rejection, so that number should theoretically decrease.
Simultaneous Equations
This equation does not sit by itself. Or does the one with the football example? As the joy of watching a game or creating a story should factor into the equation.
Race
Today I contemplated running a race. I have not run a race in seven years. About an hour before the race, I contemplated not showing up. There were so many reasons not to run including a sore hamstring, my age, my ego, and the warmth of this chair.
Equations
They do not matter all that much. Remember that girl you wanted to ask out in the tenth grade but never did. You never know until you toe the starting line.
I showed up today and ran the race. I did well.
Let us use that equation on the girl from the 10th grade.
Tenth Grade {Ask out that pretty Girl)
She says yes (+ 11 happiness)
She says no ( -8 unhappiness)
You never ask (-1) but this may linger for years, oh my goodness.
Misplaced Math – of course every situation in life is not a mathematical equation. We still do them in our head, even if we do not realize that. And we are not always right.
Describe one simple thing you do that brings joy to your life.
On some mornings, the simplest things can be rather complicated. I had to ship something this morning and being new to the area, I had to look where the shipping center was. Google maps sent me to the middle of nowhere..
After a readjustment in life and I found another office a few miles away. It took me a while to find the office. There in that office sat an old lady with a computer she could barely work. She’s sat contentedly amongst piled up boxes and pictures of her grand kids.
Mission accomplished, the package is on its way. With a simple task I got to learn a little bit where everything sits in this new city.
My turntable wasn’t working perfectly yesterday. This morning I got it integrated with the sound system. The first record I played was Snow Patrol and now another little task completed.
There is a simple pleasure of crossing a to-do item off the list. I can’t really explain it.
