The Only 2 Questions That Matter
Consider it an option between Kardashian drama and Elon Musk's shit posts for your info diet.
“Fuck this place.”
Austin had been thunder storming for a month straight. Committed to my Brooklyn-walk/bike lifestyle, this was like another pandemic lockdown. But wet.
At some point, I got tired of being pissed.
I remembered hearing Josh Waitzkin, chess prodigy, jiu jitsu black belt, and seemingly life black belt - talk about how he took his 2 year old on a walk every day.
“We’ve never missed a storm, rain or snow.”
Josh was precluding his son from learning the idea of “bad weather.” From birth, he would only know “weather,” without judgement or emotional implication.
After the fog of my resentment wore off, I realized that how I was going to act in the face of the rain was up to me. How I chose to perceive it. How I chose to respond to it.
So I bought this fisherman grade rain jacket + a slightly too fancy umbrella and said, “fuck it. When it rains, I’m going to be ready. Unless its torrential downpour, I want to proceed with my life, not get stuck at home like I’ve been doing. So that’s exactly what I’m going to do.”
This morning, it was storming.
I was on the verge of staying at home, which results in a worse day ~99% of the time than if I leave. But I remembered that decision I’d made a year ago. I was prepared for this moment.
So I put on the armor and GTFO.
When I arrived, I said “thank you” to myself.
“What do I want to do? How do I want to behave?”
These are the only 2 questions that matter.
Your whole life is just the sum of your answers to these 2 questions, over and over again. Whether you realize it or not.
“What do I want to do? How do I want to behave?”
Not “what kind of person do I want to be?”
There are no “kinds” of people, just people - and the decisions that they make.
You will be tested. Road blocks will come up at the 11th hour. You will suffer improbably long streaks of bad luck. You may not see the fruit of your efforts for ages longer than expected.
You will be entitled to rage, resentment and disappointment.
You will be entitled to fatigue.
And after the fog clears - you will still have to answer those same 2 questions-
“What do I want to do? How do I want to behave?”