Sep 28
I did something different tonight, on the advice of Dr. Amanda (Mandy) Wintink of the Centre for Applied Neuroscience Coaching – I practiced mindfulness while eating my dinner. Focusing on the act itself, instead of distracting my attention with music, television or even a book. I savoured each bite, remembering the textures, aromas and flavours that filled my senses. Each swig of from the cold bottle of Tankhouse Ale sent a wave of biting sweetness down my throat, in stark contrast to the steaming plate of pasta.
I was mindful of my meal – and felt calm and sated.
I had attended Mandy’s lecture at the Centre for Social Innovation last night, where she talked about Getting the Most out of Your Brain. I’ve been particularly aware of the importance of our noodles – not only is it the centre of plans, memories, decisions, ideas, productivity, happiness and emotion, but it’s also the “government of the body.” How you act (and react) to the world around you all depends on the health of 3 lbs of grey matter.
The greatest feature of our brains is its plasticity – or its ability to adapt to its environment and how its being used. If you constantly bombard it with a never-ending, hyper-active stimuli found in television for example, it will re-wire itself to anticipate instant gratification. Nicholas Carr’s Is Google Making Us Stupid made a similar point, and his latest book, The Shallows is currently sitting on my coffee table, waiting to be cracked open. Guess it’s time to flex another set of muscles and focus on in-depth reading…
We’re all aware that a healthy body, fuelled by exercise and good food, leads to a better life. I’ve learned that the same can be said of our brains. The 3-fold path of improving our productivity, increasing our happiness and enhancing our creativity can only lead us to a more optimal brain. I’m ready to take those first steps…
Aug 13
Is it a game of chance or skill? That question runs through my mind as I check my hole cards – pocket aces. Play aggressive to scare off those who might hit a lucky card on the river, or trap my opponents and bilk them for as many chips as possible? I take into consideration the players’ stacks around me, their tendency to bluff, the tells that scream I’m not interested in this hand. All signals that contribute to my final calculation… All in.
The poker analogy has been over-used in the game of international politics. Stanley Kubrick insisted that the War Room table in Doctor Strangelove be covered with the green felt used in casinos: he wanted the actors to convey the sense that the fate of the world was nothing more than a game of cards. It seems that Tal Pinchevsky is tired of the connections drawn between poker and politics, and argues that chess should be the metaphor of choice.
More
Nov 02
I find myself reflecting on one of my favourite seminars at McGill – History and Memory. Unfortunately, I seem to have misplaced my notes, so it’s apt that I’m pulling the cobwebs to remind myself of the power of memory and how it impacts our study and understanding of history. About how our individual and collective recognition of events distorts or perhaps improves the truth. About how we selectively censor specific happenings, or inflate the importance of others.
Remember, remember the fifth of November – the little ditty once used to “celebrate” the failed efforts of home-grown religious-fueled terrorism will have its meaning modified in 2008, where one man could wake up with the satisfaction of changing the legacy of the 43 individuals before him. Will this date be marked in the annals of our own memory? Where we were when Kennedy was shot, when Canada won hockey gold? Will some iconic image resonate so deeply as it did on 9/11, when the Berlin Wall crumbled, at Tiananmen?
And if a specific individual does win, I have the suspicion that the porcelain mask of Fawkes might become more en vogue as a form of protest, especially if people had the notion reenact a certain scene only found in the movie adaptation of V for Vendetta. The parallels drawn between Alan Moore’s original story (itself a reflection of Thatcher’s policies) and today’s world are a stretch at best, but no doubt the sentiment and attraction for anarchy will be sown, especially if this election is suspected of being stolen.
Regardless of who wins, my only hope is for record turnout at the polls come Tuesday. It can’t get any worse than the pathetic showing we had here only a few weeks back! Oh, and the only other thing I wish for is that the winner does not play this as a victory song. Please?
