Category: Journal

Job: employed at a Financial Markets Brokerage firm.

Side-project: writing an Algorithmic Trading Terminal. This may sound like a huge project but I have actually already written all the back-end code; it’s just a case of placing a GUI on top. I will gradually iterate to a stand-alone FinTech App for people to optimise and automate their finances.

Music: recording a cappella versions of powerful old songs. Also putting lyrics to classical music then singing a cappella.

Filming: have added some poems to the list of scenes I am shooting.

Upload speeds:

Handwriting = 40 words per minute (wpm)

Touch-typing = 70 wpm

Speaking = 150 wpm

Download speeds:

Listening = 150 wpm

Reading = 200 wpm

Thoughts: 1,000 to 5,000 wpm

2017 – Coming soon……

2018 – Coming soon….

2019 – Coming soon..

2020 – Coming soon

2021 – ?

2021 could be a lot worse or a lot better than 2020. I will bet on better.

Driving in London last night, I witnessed three separate angry outbursts in the space of five minutes by people on the roads. I always notice that the crazy level goes up a few notches when driving inside the M25, but that condensed series of events was the worst I’ve seen.

Live a day like it is a life in entirety.

First thought on waking is gratitude for the new day you will see.

Last thought is gratitude for the day you have lived.

It’s wrong to assume that a conversation is about what is said.

The verbal attacker desires to assert their ego over the other.

Any person is much more than even a diverse array of influences.

So I’m really not into social twittery on twit-twat and faceblobber; my summary identity is a tortoise in hare’s clothing etc etc Twitter Twiddle Twaddle blah blah rhubarb. I am not a number, I am a blancmange, or something…

Mistakes are lessons, only when the reasons are noticed; otherwise they are habits practiced each day.

The things you disparage others for are often the same things you have done yourself.

Never ever put yourself down. 

Reasons:

1. Some people will revel in doing it for you. For their sake as much as yours, don’t make the conditions easy for them.
2. Don’t diminish life; whoever you are, you are amazing and unique.
3. Faux modesty is dishonesty.
4. Don’t insult other people’s good opinions.
5. Be strong for others. 

 Some personal pep talk points:

1. Be in a position to help.
2. Your growth should enable others to grow too. 
3. This isn’t a zero-sum game.
4. Relative measurements are irrelevant.
5. Have fun!

A little target I’ve set myself is to make it to 100. Yes I know, quality is more important than quantity, and yes many of the factors are out of my control. I don’t take it too seriously but I like having something to aim towards.

The best way to be in good health is to be grateful for each day and appreciate the moments I am living – ironically this is a lot easier when in good health.

Noticing the aliveness of the body feels pleasurable and there is palpable relief if any tension is found and released. Mindfulness can be as simple as noticing the breathing.

I’ve been writing a thought a day here for the previous few days. I will flip now to an actual pen and paper because the closeness to the handwritten words feels more personal to me.

Cats and dogs are similar, only in that they both like living with you. Cats are beautiful, elegant, magical; it feels like you are honoured if they grace you with their attention. Dogs love you; all they want is to run and play, sniff things, eat food, and mostly importantly: your affection.

I add to a file any interesting little phrases that occur to me, removing them later on if used in a song or other writing. For example, I just added: “A lived life transcends its genre.”

In retrospect similar phrases may grate on the ear with cheesiness but if I like the sentiment at the time, then it goes in.

The content is currently about 8,000 words.

I seem to get satisfaction out of pushing myself physically – maybe because in my mind I am subscribing to the saying “no pain, no gain”. A variation on the theme is that anything initially perceived as negative could be viewed as part of a greater improvement process.