Wikipedia, Yoga, Cab Rides, Creativity, & Returning Places

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👩‍💻 I. Inside the World of Wikipedia

My wife recently took me to a live comedy show hosted by Annie, the founder of the Depths of Wikipedia, a social account that posts odd and humorous finds from Wikipedia. The show was fairly untraditional in that Annie used slides and audience demonstrations as part of her act, but I really enjoyed it and learned more about the inside world of Wikipedia.

Annie's work is a great example of how if you're curious and know how to navigate the web, you can build an interesting business around the many treasures of the digital world.

🧘‍♀️ II. Yoga I'm Enjoying

Yoga is one of the few activities that I never regret doing. There are many benefits to yoga, but my appreciation for the practice comes down to always feeling better in some way (and often a few) after I do it. In the first quarter of this year, I'm doing yoga at least once a week, and I've been enjoying this 30-minute basic practice for strength and flexibility so far.

If you're an experienced yogi or looking for an intense workout, this is not the practice for you. But if you want an accessible starting point to feel a little stronger, more flexible, and grounded, it's a good place to start.

🚕 III. An Article that Moved Me

I discovered Kent Nerburn's "The Cab Ride I'll Never Forget" in Rishi's 10+1 Things newsletter. It's a beautiful piece about the value of remaining open and curious as a way of accessing the profundity of everyday moments of life.

The piece reminded me of the many rewarding moments that I've had with complete strangers while traveling the world and the gratitude I have for being able to have these fleeting experiences.

📚️ IV. The Book of the Year?

I read legendary music producer Rick Rubin's book, The Creative Act, this week. It's a beautiful work that speaks to the nature of being an artist and the ways in which you can tap into your creative power.

I had more highlights from this book than any of the last dozen that I've read, and it's one that I'm likely going to re-read many times over the coming years. It’s a series of timeless meditations to noodle on, rather than prescriptive advice stemming from Rick’s career.

If you're curious about the book, you can read my summary and notes here.

🏝️ V. Revisiting Places

In my 20s, I traveled like a maniac, visiting a few dozen countries and valuing personal freedom and novelty over everything else. That initial globetrot gave me a great understanding of myself and the many places that exist in the world, but it left me craving a level of depth that you can't find if you're constantly going to new places. I wrote about this realization when I stopped traveling and moved to California a few years ago.

Last week, I spent a few days on a surf trip in Sayulita, a small town on the west coast of Mexico. It was the third time I have been to Sayulita in the last 2 years, and nearly everything I did was something I had done before, just with a new group of people.

It may have been my best trip to Sayulita, in part because I felt comfortable with the town and knew all of the spots that I wanted to revisit. I hit up my favorite taco spots, surfed waves that I know, and ventured to bars that I enjoy. The trip reminded me of an ongoing theme in my life, which is that I'm increasingly enjoying going back to places I’ve been before.

Just like re-reading one of your favorite books leads to a new experience with the words, revisiting a place often reveals new textures and changes within yourself that make everything feel fresh, yet familiar. I’ll still venture to new places, but I have a newfound appreciation for this fresh, but familiar mode of travel that I used to look down on.

🧠 VI. Something I’m Thinking About

That's all for now. See you next Sunday.

— Cal

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