Blog - 7 Takeaways

A party at which there are two groups of people. One group is animatedly talking among themselves. The other groups is all standing around looking at their phones.

I Miss Actual Conversation – 7 Takeaways No. 267

Being easy to work with. Accepting old age. Being judgy. Being adaptable. Being brave. Being ethical. Being interesting.

a college graduate wearing a cap and gown holding a degree certificate with a huge pile of bills in the background

The Cost-benefit Is Changing – 7 Takeaways No. 266

Is college still worth it? Doing anything means doing nothing. Let that stuff go. AI vs. anonymity. It’s easier to disagree. Science is boring. Coloring within the lines.

two people looking at a computer on a desk. One person is reaching up as if to pull out their hair in frustration, the other is shrugging their shoulders in acceptance

Uncertainty Is Our Basic State of Existence – 7 Takeaways No. 265

What we owe the dead. Manifesting is BS. Travel is no cure. Uncertainty hype. It’s not about the [brown] rice. New tech fears. Belief in science. My path to writing.

a gentleman sitting on a park bench reading a newspaper.

Extraordinary Chronicles of Daily Life – 7 Takeaways No. 264

Clear understanding. Your foibles as “won’t fix” bugs. Local independent journalism. Countering social isolation. Hanging on to beliefs. Remember to be friendly. Think better. Your opinion.

a couple sitting on a bench facing away from us looking at a sunset over the ocean

The Receiving End of a Huge Gift – 7 Takeaways No. 263

Empathy required. Single data points are good/bad. Embrace your weird. Counting on miracles. Courtesy is the default. The greatest invention. Change is uncomfortable.

a classic wind-up cymbal-banging monkey toy sitting on top of a stack of newspapers, magazines, and books

The World Is Messy – 7 Takeaways No. 262

Your opinion. It’s a messy world. Groupthink is everywhere. Aging and letting go. Common sense isn’t. The importance of friends. The power of expectations. Understanding versus agreeing.

a newspaper displaying a headline "Truth? Fiction? Lies? Manipulation? How do we know?"

Everything Feels Like Propaganda – 7 Takeaways No. 261

Your brain as a DDOS target. Use critical thinking, please. Feed yourself better content. Is it real, or a PR attempt? Convenience is weakening us. Speed versus accuracy. Keep your eyes on the near term prize.

A Series of Fortunate Events – 7 Takeaways No. 260

Hiatus explained. People are awesome. Amazing serendipity. Taking a break. Even sucky meditation helps. Staying in touch. Choosing family.

Hiatus

Due to unforeseen circumstances, 7 Takeaways will be on hiatus indefinitely. I hope to return in 2026.

An older gentleman looking into a mirror which reflects his younger self.

Your 80-Year-old Self – 7 Takeaways No. 259

Looking forward to look back. Pay attention to now. So something nice. Your cosmic smallness. The speed of change. Irrelevant skills. Serendipity is luck.