RTMT – 28th January 2025

Ambivalent to the critics
Recreating identities in the forge
The master of one’s own image
Youth that will live forever

Enthusiasm is common, endurance is rare*
Make to break and embrace mistake
Public gestures; look upon this fool!
The larger-than-life, the clown despite
Years of training to teach otherwise

An acrostic formed around a quote from *Angela Duckworth


Today I’m feeling:

Ok though I wasn’t keen on getting up this morning. I did force myself though, got some exercise in and feel a little better for it. It’s still cold this morning too and maybe will remain cold overnight for a week more as daytime temps head back to the more normal thirties.

Health:

Physical: 7
Mental: 7

Today I’m grateful for:

Teacher David giving me samples of his chilli dough snacks to taste test. They were weird, though I strangely enjoyed the mustard-flavoured one.

The best thing about today was:

Getting home. My last class, while still fun to teach, had some students that I needed to put back in line and it kinda subdued the vibe for everyone.

What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?

When I went to Gui’s new shop again today (which he will also call House when he gets new signs made) I originally parked out on the road in the parking spaces but a guy came up asking for 30 baht.

I told him not to worry and got back in the car and double-parked in front of the shop instead, where no one bothered to come and tell me to either move or pay.

I took this picture at the art gallery. Again, no new pictures today.

Distracted – 10th January 2023

Distracted by all the screens
Triggering more dreams
Trying just to do
Distracted again by you

An hour as a minute
There’s no way to spin it
Things ain’t gonna get done
When distracted by more fun

Distracted by dumb emotions
And ridiculous devotions
Chasing the sublime, absurd
Distracted by every word

No doctor claimed ADHD
Because the things distracting me
Are distracting everyone
No one’s getting things done

Now normal is distraction
Five seconds of satisfaction
Distracted to even complete


Today I’m feeling:

Relaxed again

Today I’m grateful for:

To the traffic warden waving my offer to pay away as she crossed the road. I think she guessed I wasn’t staying long as I parked across a driveway and a no-parking zone. This is Thailand!

The best thing about today was:

Today has been consistent, maybe average you might say. Nothing stands out yet all the little wins were pushing the way to the positive. I like days like this.

What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?

Some students didn’t come to class and I got told that one of them got hit in the eye and probably the others thought they could slouch off and give her comfort. They soon appeared in the playground after class and I contemplated railing on them but decided not to. They got marked absent on the system so I don’t need to care any further. Though I would prefer them to do the right thing, pushing too hard can have a detrimental outcome.

Something I learned today?

I learned about an author I’d not heard of before called Fernando Pessoa and a book he wrote The Book of Disquiet. It sounded very intriguing.

What’s your favourite feature on your smartphone?

I guess the camera as I generally use it more often than other generic smartphone things. I barely use the phone anymore to call people. I suppose FaceTime and iMessage are standard features on this phone and they get used daily to video call and text with Amy.

If it came to apps I would go for Day One journal where I’m writing this and Stitcher for listening to podcasts which I do on my drive each day. LINE is probably my most used app as that is what we use for communications in our classes.

I took this picture because here’s the worst camouflage cat you’ll ever see. I think that’s why he doesn’t go outside much and doesn’t often bring us ‘gifts’