Optimizing for joy

Howdy, pals. It has been a l-o-n-g time since I’ve written on-line. Effectively, that is not solely true. I have been writing a ton at Fb. The truth is, it is as if Fb has turn out to be my private weblog. However that is about to alter. The whole lot is about to alter. Let’s discuss it.

As you are effectively conscious, 2022 was one hell of a yr for me. It was a yr of demise and destruction. That appears 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 wished extra of it. Possibly I could not obtain precisely the identical mind-set, however certainly I might 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 a listing. I dubbed 2023 the yr 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 among the issues I have been doing:

I have been touring. I spent a while in Colorado in February, every week in Mexico in March, and I simply returned from a month-long solo journey by means of the Scottish isles, up the coast of Norway, reaching briefly to Svalbard, then ending with every week in Iceland. I did a complete lotta nothing.
I have been studying. Earlier within the yr, I spent a variety 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 yr, I have been studying extra books than I’ve since…perhaps 2006? It is nice enjoyable.
I have been exercising. I have been hitting the fitness center religiously three days per week. Generally extra. Issues had been irritating at first, however now I’ve developed some energy and have misplaced some weight. I have never 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 will return to weightlifting by the tip of the yr.
I have been hanging out with pals. For quite a lot of causes — journey, COVID, transferring, and many others. — my social life has been awful for a very long time. This yr, I am intentionally making time for pals, each previous and new.
I have been medicating. For years, I’ve resisted utilizing medicine to deal with my mental-health issues. I’ve all the time believed that I ought to be capable to dig myself out of the darkish, darkish holes I get into. Generally that works. Usually it does 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 hold 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 in the course of the Yr of J.D. There are additionally issues I’ve given up. These embrace:

Hearthstone. For 9 years, I have been hooked on Hearthstone, a digital card sport. I select the phrase “addicted” purposefully. I’ve tracked my play earlier than, and I are inclined to common two hours of Hearthstone per day. That is insane. Nonetheless, I could not cease. However you already know what? The day I began taking Wellbutrin, my urge to play the sport vanished. I’ve performed a complete of two hours of Hearthstone prior to now three months, which is a far cry from two hours per day. (I have never given up gaming solely, although. At present taking part in Zelda on the Swap and loving it. However it’s not an addictive habits. Have not performed in any respect for every 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 all the time 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 will scroll mindlessly for hours taking a look at dumb stuff. My urge to take action has declined since I began taking Wellbutrin, and the current actions of the location’s management have served as the ultimate straw. I’ve given it up.
Get Wealthy Slowly. That is proper: This time without work has helped me to see that I want to surrender GRS. Once more. I by no means ought to have repurchased the location. I can not 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 after I’m not writing about cash.

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

Working towards 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. For those who don’t love 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 own home in Oregon. That is bullshit on so many ranges.

If I had been to desert the web fully, I might be surrendering. I might be saying, “Okay, I give in. The search engine optimization spammers and AI web sites and social-media stooges win.” I do not wish to try this. I do not essentially wish to wage warfare on this stuff, however I do wish to present — in some very small means — an alternative choice to all the bullshit that is on the market.

Moreover, I like to jot 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 just lately, I revealed pictures and tales to Fb each single day. It was enjoyable! It made me understand how a lot I miss writing for the online.

So, I will return to writing for the online. However I am not going to jot down on only one matter. I am not going to publish at a distinct segment website…like Get Wealthy Slowly. I will write at my private weblog in a private model. If there are individuals who wish to learn what I write (and even be a part of the dialog), nice. If not, additionally nice. I will 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 practically fifty years.

The Backside Line

I’ve reached an settlement with my enterprise companion, 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. Principally, he’ll take over GRS and do with it what he thinks is finest, and I will transfer my on-line world — my total on-line world — to jdroth.com whereas nonetheless with the ability to use the articles I’ve written prior to now.

For these unfamiliar with Tom, in some methods he is the Canadian me. I have been referred to as “the Godfather of cash running a blog” (and, extra just lately, “the grandfather of cash running a blog”). Effectively, 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 identified for Maple Cash.

Possibly I will write one thing for GRS every now and then. However perhaps not. Once I do, these articles will likely be revealed concurrently at each Get Wealthy Slowly and at Folded House. (Folded House 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 contented and productive first six months of 2023. Making this the “yr 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 yr has in retailer…