Always Hungry

“In the early hours of the parking lot outside the strip club, when the sky was the color of dust on a bureau, when he hadn’t been hungry at all but felt so trapped between the nothing he’d driven away from and the nothing before him that he’d eaten an entire cheesecake with his fingers, …

My Dopamine Fast – The Aftermath

Despite cheating on the food component of my stimulation fast, the day felt successful. But did those effects carry over into the coming days? Was it worth it? Would I do it again? My short answer is "yes." For one, I found a fresh appreciation for the technology in my life. Podcasts, audiobooks, and music …

My Dopamine Fast – The Experience

Note: All pictures are gleaned from past experiences or Google Images. I took no photos during the fast. Last week, I described my limited knowledge and motivations behind doing a "dopamine fast" (or what I refer to as a "stimulation fast"). I felt strange excitement about waking up and doing next to nothing all day. …

My Dopamine Fast – The Prelude

How can we bounce back and snap ourselves out of a rut? We feel busy, yet unproductive. Life pulls our attention in many directions like a skein of yarn unraveling from both ends. Sometimes we feel like we are spinning our wheels, sinking deeper into the mud. I felt this struggle a month ago. Not …

2 Debaters, 2 Conversations

Discussion and dialogue are essential to cultivating our perspective and world knowledge.  If we do not open ourselves to diverse perspectives, we will harbor biases, safeguard weak logic, and develop false consensuses on how the world works.   Bias is inevitable. Addressing our bias is not. If we consider ourselves open-minded, we must consider opposing …

On Moderate Eating

Eating has been my struggle for years.  As a teen, I grew like a weed, sprouting to 6’4” (193 cm) today.  But I’m 27 now. Anyone who tells me I should "eat up" because I am a “growing boy” is full of it.  Any growing I have left to do is horizontal in nature. Fortunately, …

Calories In, Calories Out?

As I descend down more rabbit holes in nutritional wonderland, there I see few principles that command consensus among a majority of researchers.  Even more solid principles often congeal with nuance. For example, one reason I’m moving toward plant-based meals is to reduce my caloric intake.   Why do I want to reduce my calorie …

Captain Fatass

It can be difficult to pin down what defines the “self” when we examine consciousness. People often use metaphorical alter-egos and multiple selves to explain their behavior. “You don’t know him how I know him.  He shows me a completely different side.” “I’m sorry.  I am not myself today.” “Have you met my drunk alter-ego? …

Cutting Down On Alcohol

Since my first Temple Stay experience, I’ve committed to reducing my drinking. It began during an evening chanting session.  During such gatherings, I sat and listened to a monk’s call-and-response with fellow Korean speakers.  They started with a happiness prayer - promising to do your best, honor teachers and mentors, and live true to the …

Addition By Subtraction

Because most of what we say and do is not essential. If you can eliminate it, you’ll have more time, and more tranquillity.-Marcus Aurelius This quote embodies what I strive for - addition by subtraction. Photo by Kaboompics .com on Pexels.com In the self-help community, many people look to add one item to their routine to …