Dan Cullum

Last year I wrote about Haruki Murakami’s book ‘What I talk about when I talk about running’ and the idea of “acquiring a void” when running.

I said I didn’t understand it at the time, but I think I understand it a little now after a year of running (with a few hiatuses in the middle).

The thoughts and problems of the day are subordinate to the void. The void is just there. It’s a space for the subconscious to process without any conscious thought messing things up. It’s a deliberate eschewing of overthinking and must-solve-it-now habits. It’s a safe place to just be.

It was a bright, warm, sunny day Friday afternoon in Central London.

Someone mentioned that thunderstorms could be arriving in the late afternoon.

Within a few hours, the clouds had closed in. There was no thunder, but the rain was falling.

Things can change in an instant. We shouldn’t bank on the sun just because we can see it.

The neurosurgeon may have memorised every fact, method, and technique in the textbook, but a steady hand when operating comes from thousands of hours of practise and preparation.

Skill and steadiness are different things. We need both.

When you’re on the fence about whether to ask the question or not, just do it.

Chances are there will be someone else with the same question but with less willingness to go out in a limb.

I’ve had a hard time keeping to a regular strength training schedule. I’m enjoying running and tennis too much, and our extended honeymoon saw me do little weight training.

In trying to reestablish a rhythm, the goal is not to return to an optimal cadence. The goal is to return to some consistent and positive momentum. That may only be two sessions per week, and that’s fine.

Momentum matters. Optimisations can come later.

The problem will be harder than expected. Take longer than anticipated. And be more confusing than we first thought.

It always is.

Better to roll up our sleeves and embrace the mess than try and avoid it.

Last week Maru and I adopted Khalil, her family’s beautiful 4-year-old Border Collie. He arrived in the UK last Thursday from Argentina and we’re figuring out this dog parenting thing.

Since I’ve known Maru she’s been obsessed with dogs. She’s the type of person that stops at every dog in the street to say hello.

We always had a good reason to not get a dog. We put it in the “future us” bucket.
However, Khalil is special and we’re delighted to be able to look after him as our first dog.

He has the sweetest personality. He’ll chase a ball all day if he could, but also loves being close to his humans. He loves sticking close when we’re at the park and he’s off leash, and he detests having to wipe his feet before entering the flat.

He’s a funny, adorable boy, and we’re very excited to have him with us.

“The more you wait, the harder it gets. The more you act, the easier it feels.” — Mark Manson

Inertia kills many a plan, a dream, or idea. Even the smallest steps build momentum.

I really like this thought from Nietzsche:

“Marriage as a long conversation. – When marrying you should ask yourself this question: do you believe you are going to enjoy talking with this woman into your old age? Everything else in a marriage is transitory, but most of the time that you’re together will be devoted to conversation.”

Life is filled with many seasons. But seeing a long conversation with your spouse as a constant through it all feels like a simple and insightful way to look at a marriage.

With so much content competing for our attention and limited time nowadays, I pay close attention to the way the first five minutes of any TV series is designed.

What choices did they make to ensure the protagonist is likeable? What problem or drama did they introduce? What part of the setting or story is going to hook the audience vs. send them somewhere else.

The first five minutes matter.

One of the best lines in film is, “My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.”

Maru and I are re-watching The Princess Bride after many years, and what a wonderful film it is.

Although there are many good things about the film, this line and Mandy Patinkins delivery is a stand out.

And if you haven’t seen it yet, have fun! I wish I could read / watch it for the first time again.

Flowers for a birthday. Flowers when they’re unwell. Flowers when you’re sorry. Flowers for the guests.

But the flowers mean more when there isn’t a reason for them.

Flowers “just because” say a lot.

After this month, we’ll officially be closer to 2050 than we are to 2000.

I had to pause and let that one sink in when I heard it.

I played a tennis match earlier this week and narrowly lost.

Throughout the game my opponent was quick to congratulate me on a well-fought point.

It was genuine and honest praise, and it evoked a reaction in me: I applauded him for his good plays too.

The whole match was one big positive vibe, and I’m here for it.

“What the hell is going on here?” was one of Charlie Munger’s favourite questions.

I don’t think many people could get away with using it without it coming across as dismissive or condescending. However, the essence of the question is what I like.

It was Munger’s way of signalling something was wrong, and forcing the conversation to focus on heart of the problem.

Finding a way to do this over and over to get to the most important issues is a skill worth cultivating.