Optimizing for joy

Howdy, pals. It has been a l-o-n-g time since I’ve written on-line. Properly, that is not fully true. I have been writing a ton at Fb. Actually, it is as if Fb has grow to be my private weblog. However that is about to alter. Every part is about to alter. Let’s discuss it.

As you are nicely conscious, 2022 was one hell of a 12 months for me. It was a 12 months of loss of life and destruction. That seems like hyperbole, I do know, however it’s not. It felt as if my world had been crumbling round me.

After my mother died in October, I made a vow. I used to be going to do no matter it took to get myself again to the identical psychological and bodily areas I inhabited a decade in the past. That span of time between 2012 and 2016 was Peak J.D., and I needed extra of it. Possibly I could not obtain precisely the identical way of thinking, however absolutely I may get nearer than I have been the previous few years.

Optimizing for Pleasure

To that finish, I requested myself: What was I doing in a different way then than I am doing now? I made an inventory. I dubbed 2023 the 12 months of me. As corny because it sounds, I started to “optimize for pleasure”. I started to take motion. The motion was efficient.

Listed here are a number of the issues I have been doing:

I have been touring. I spent a while in Colorado in February, per week in Mexico in March, and I simply returned from a month-long solo journey via the Scottish isles, up the coast of Norway, reaching briefly to Svalbard, then ending with per week in Iceland. I did an entire lotta nothing.
I have been studying. Earlier within the 12 months, I spent quite a lot of time studying books on psychological well being and self-improvement. Then I found the Nero Wolfe novels of Rex Stout. Wolfe and Stout have helped me rekindle my love of books. This 12 months, I have been studying extra books than I’ve since…possibly 2006? It is nice enjoyable.
I have been exercising. I have been hitting the health club religiously three days per week. Typically extra. Issues had been irritating at first, however now I’ve developed some energy and have misplaced some weight. I have not returned to the height health I loved 2012-2014, however I am getting there. I am about to shift my focus from energy coaching to aerobics and suppleness for a number of months, however I am going to return to weightlifting by the top of the 12 months.
I have been hanging out with pals. For a wide range of causes — journey, COVID, shifting, and so forth. — my social life has been awful for a very long time. This 12 months, I am intentionally making time for pals, each outdated and new.
I have been medicating. For years, I’ve resisted utilizing medicine to deal with my mental-health issues. I’ve at all times believed that I ought to be capable of dig myself out of the darkish, darkish holes I get into. Typically that works. Typically it would not. In April, I requested my physician for assist. She prescribed Wellbutrin. After a rocky begin with the stuff, I discover that it is serving to me maintain my demons at bay. It feels nice to really feel human as soon as extra.

These are the issues I have been including to my life throughout the 12 months of J.D. There are additionally issues I’ve given up. These embody:

Hearthstone. For 9 years, I have been hooked on Hearthstone, a digital card recreation. I select the phrase “addicted” purposefully. I’ve tracked my play earlier than, and I are likely to common two hours of Hearthstone per day. That is insane. Nonetheless, I could not cease. However you realize what? The day I began taking Wellbutrin, my urge to play the sport vanished. I’ve performed a complete of two hours of Hearthstone previously three months, which is a far cry from two hours per day. (I have not given up gaming fully, although. Presently taking part in Zelda on the Swap and loving it. However it’s not an addictive conduct. Have not performed in any respect for per week.)
Reddit. I do know lots of people get sucked into Fb or Twitter or Instagram. None of these have a compulsive draw for me. (I’ve at all times hated Twitter. I take advantage of Fb sparingly, and actually solely to share stuff with my pals.) However Reddit? Man oh man, Reddit has sucked a ton of time from my life. I am going to scroll mindlessly for hours taking a look at dumb stuff. My urge to take action has declined since I began taking Wellbutrin, and the latest actions of the location’s management have served as the ultimate straw. I’ve given it up.
Get Wealthy Slowly. That is proper: This day off has helped me to see that I want to surrender GRS. Once more. I by no means ought to have repurchased the location. I am unable to clarify why — and I needn’t, actually — however GRS acts as a weight round my neck. It is a psychological burden. My life is healthier once I’m not writing about cash.

I assumed for a time that I needed to surrender on-line life fully. I’ve some robust opinions in regards to the trendy web and its detrimental results on society. I do not need to be part of one thing that I imagine is destroying our world. However I’ve realized that I must follow what I preach.

Practising What I Preach

You see, I usually urge my pals who’re indignant in regards to the state of the world to do one thing as an alternative of complaining. Should you do not like how Mississippi, say, does issues, then transfer to Mississippi and contribute to the change. Do not attempt to dictate what Mississippi does from the consolation of your house in Oregon. That is bullshit on so many ranges.

If I had been to desert the web fully, I would be surrendering. I would be saying, “Okay, I give in. The web optimization spammers and AI web sites and social-media stooges win.” I do not need to try this. I do not essentially need to wage struggle on these items, however I do need to present — in some very small means — a substitute for all the bullshit that is on the market.

Moreover, I like to write down. I have been writing on-line for 26 years. This is part of who I’m. Throughout my prolonged hiatus, I’ve felt like part of me is lacking. Whereas touring lately, I revealed photographs and tales to Fb each single day. It was enjoyable! It made me notice how a lot I miss writing for the net.

So, I’ll return to writing for the net. However I am not going to write down on only one subject. I am not going to publish at a distinct segment web site…like Get Wealthy Slowly. I’ll write at my private weblog in a private type. If there are individuals who need to learn what I write (and even be part of the dialog), nice. If not, additionally nice. I’ll write for myself — as a result of it is what I must do to course of my ideas and emotions, as a result of writing has been part of who I’m for almost fifty years.

The Backside Line

I’ve reached an settlement with my enterprise associate, Tom Drake, that provides him management of Get Wealthy Slowly whereas permitting me to make use of my cash writing in no matter means I select. Mainly, he’ll take over GRS and do with it what he thinks is finest, and I am going to transfer my on-line world — my complete on-line world — to jdroth.com whereas nonetheless with the ability to use the articles I’ve written previously.

For these unfamiliar with Tom, in some methods he is the Canadian me. I have been known as “the Godfather of cash running a blog” (and, extra lately, “the grandfather of cash running a blog”). Properly, Tom is the Godfather of Canadian cash running a blog. He is been writing about private finance since 2009. Tom runs many websites, however is finest recognized for Maple Cash.

Possibly I am going to write one thing for GRS from time to time. However possibly not. Once I do, these articles can be revealed concurrently at each Get Wealthy Slowly and at Folded Area. (Folded Area is the title of the non-public weblog I publish at jdroth.com.) This text, as an illustration, is showing on the similar time in each locations.

So, that is the place I’m. I’ve had a cheerful and productive first six months of 2023. Making this the “12 months of me” was tremendous good. I am in nice form bodily and mentally, and issues proceed to enhance. I am desirous to see what the remainder of the 12 months has in retailer…