Friendship Archives - 7 Takeaways

The Sailor Adjusting the Sail — A person on a sailboat in choppy water, not fighting the wind, but calmly redirecting the sail to harness it. The storm is real, but the sailor is engaged and purposeful. Acceptance as working with reality, not against it.

Acceptance Is Not Giving Up – 7 Takeaways No. 278

Never give up. Never surrender. The wisdom of your quiet mind. You were born to work hard. Irrational generosity of friendships. Bullshit jobs. Unintended consequences.

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.

an individual looking at a bowl of slop they've been served in a restaurant with a questioning look on their face

Amorphous Fast Casual Food Served in Bowls – 7 Takeaways No. 253

Paying attention to small decisions. Ask yourself some questions. Ask yourself some more questions. Knowing when to let go. Consuming slop isn’t new. Paying attention to what works. Intentional friendship maintenance.

an unhappy man with a series of identical clones or copies of him in a line standing behind him fading into the distance

Carbon Copies of Unhappy People – 7 Takeaways No. 250

All criticism is self criticism. The power of the random nut. One true purpose, or not. Re-examining your beliefs. Taming the savageness of man. Showing up. Friendship takes work.

A confused cow standing in the middle of a green field. The cow has a black and white coat with distinctive large spots. Its eyes are wide open, and its head is slightly tilted to one side, giving it a puzzled expression. The background features a clear blue sky with a few fluffy white clouds. The field is lush with green grass, and a few wildflowers are scattered around. The overall scene is bright and sunny, capturing the cow's confusion in a serene and pastoral setting.

We Are Not So Different From Cows – 7 Takeaways No. 187

Don’t be a dick. Placebo vs. Nocebo. Declining friendship, and more. Embrace the stupid. Moo. Unfortunate acceptance of war. Increasing your idea surface area.

Curiosity Is Life’s Superpower – 7 Takeaways No. 186

Making the effort. What’s real? Optimism in spite of it all. Curious? Making friends. Get off the couch. Fallacies are seductive.

A desk in a home library. The walls are full of bookshelves overflowing with books. There are piles of books and magazines on the desk. A computer display on the desk shows a newspaper's front page. The atmosphere is cozy and academic, with warm lighting.

We Can Only Take in So Much – 7 Takeaways No. 183

The sounds of friendship. Listening. Manipulating beliefs. No such thing as perfection. Good info versus info overload. What the world owes you. Becoming remarkable.

A photorealistic image that resembles a Baroque tapestry, illustrating a man walking away from the camera on a cobblestone road into the sunset, capturing the moment he joyfully jumps and clicks his heels together.

I’ve Been So Lucky In Life – 7 Takeaways No. 166

Ranging from appreciating a lucky life to dealing with inevitable assholery, with stops along the way including obstacles, stereotypes, friendship, and more.

A donkey in a pasture. The donkey is being led by a carrot dangled in front of it. The pasture is lush and green, under a clear blue sky. The donkey is focused on the carrot, which is tied to a stick held by an unseen person. The scene captures the humor and determination of the donkey, with the carrot just out of reach.

Behavior Is Determined By Incentives – 7 Takeaways No. 163

Two takeaways about motivation and incentives, plus free speech, entrepreneurship, deepfakes, gratitude, and realizing some relationships may just be getting in your way.

A photorealistic image capturing the moment 'One Saturday morning last October, my friend Greg and I were running down the North Kaibab Trail in the Grand Canyon, close to halfway through 26 miles of trail.' The image shows two runners, Greg and the narrator, in mid-stride on a rugged, picturesque trail within the Grand Canyon. The vast canyon landscape stretches around them, with its iconic red and orange rock formations and a deep blue sky overhead. The runners are depicted with expressions of joy and exhilaration, emphasizing the awe and beauty of the moment. The scene conveys a sense of adventure, friendship, and the grandeur of nature.

Everything is Cool – 7 Takeaways No. 161

Sure, there’s other stuff, but let’s not overlook how amazing things are.