I think you made the right call in appreciating it as a sunk cost, presumably you also got other benefits from teh process regardless. What are the smaller projects you’ve had success on?
The actual “self-assigned goal for a week” thing is recent. The Harry Potter poster is the first, the next will be to finally record and compose accompaniment for the humanist song I wrote a few months ago.
But prior to that, basically I realized that it was summer, and I wanted to enjoy the sunlight and meet new people. So I’ve been spending a lot of time walking around with a sketchbook, introducing myself to people in parks, drawing them and having good conversation. The sketchbook isn’t a “project” per se, but watching it fill up and being able to see how I’ve improved in a short time is both useful and gratifying. Two weekends in a row I ended up on impromtu pseudo-dates with people I met while out sketching, which was also rewarding. I feel like I’m doing a good job blending my social and artistic goals. (Originally I thought I wanted a summer fling, but I’ve realized that I don’t want a sexual or even romantic relationship so much as just people to wander around outdoors with in beautiful summer weather).
I’ve also realized since my original post in this thread that I’ve been improving in less exciting ways. Learning Python at work. Getting more exercise (when I find myself walking somewhere, and it isn’t crowded, I run instead of walk, and if I don’t feel like it I say out loud “I am the sort of person who runs when they have the opportunity” and then do it. Got that trick from Less Wrong, can’t remembe the author).
I think you made the right call in appreciating it as a sunk cost, presumably you also got other benefits from teh process regardless. What are the smaller projects you’ve had success on?
The actual “self-assigned goal for a week” thing is recent. The Harry Potter poster is the first, the next will be to finally record and compose accompaniment for the humanist song I wrote a few months ago.
But prior to that, basically I realized that it was summer, and I wanted to enjoy the sunlight and meet new people. So I’ve been spending a lot of time walking around with a sketchbook, introducing myself to people in parks, drawing them and having good conversation. The sketchbook isn’t a “project” per se, but watching it fill up and being able to see how I’ve improved in a short time is both useful and gratifying. Two weekends in a row I ended up on impromtu pseudo-dates with people I met while out sketching, which was also rewarding. I feel like I’m doing a good job blending my social and artistic goals. (Originally I thought I wanted a summer fling, but I’ve realized that I don’t want a sexual or even romantic relationship so much as just people to wander around outdoors with in beautiful summer weather).
I’ve also realized since my original post in this thread that I’ve been improving in less exciting ways. Learning Python at work. Getting more exercise (when I find myself walking somewhere, and it isn’t crowded, I run instead of walk, and if I don’t feel like it I say out loud “I am the sort of person who runs when they have the opportunity” and then do it. Got that trick from Less Wrong, can’t remembe the author).