A Personal Inventory

I once had a friend who, every year on his birthday, would make a list of things he liked and disliked. He'd compare it to the previous year's list as a way of keeping track of what genuinely interested him, rather than continuing to pursue something simply because he'd always enjoyed it.

I always thought this was a great way to take stock of yourself. It's easy to continue chasing old dreams or holding on to interests that no longer mean as much to you as they once did. Sometimes we become so accustomed to doing certain things that we never stop to ask ourselves whether we're actually enjoying them anymore.

While I've never adopted my friend's annual tradition, I think this recent reset in my life is an attempt to accomplish something similar. I'm taking a closer look at where I spend my time, what holds my attention, and what kind of person I want to be moving forward. I'm not necessarily looking to reinvent myself, but rather to become a little more comfortable with who I am today, instead of feeling obligated to remain the person I've always been.

And since I've given this blog a fresh start, I figured it might be interesting to document some of those things here. Maybe I'll revisit this post a year from now and see what's changed.

So, what do I know about myself right now?

For starters, I'm still committed to taking care of myself physically. I've been following Arnold Schwarzenegger's The Pump app for several years now, and I'm enjoying the process of building muscle and getting stronger. At the same time, I'm putting more emphasis on mobility and flexibility. I realize that I'm not getting any younger, and I'd like to keep moving comfortably for as long as possible.

Along with my regular workouts, I use a combination of Foundation Training and yoga, with a slant board and vibration plate thrown into the mix to help keep me upright. I've also purchased a set of Indian clubs, which I'm hoping to incorporate into my routine. There's something appealing about these old-fashioned training tools, and I'm curious to see what I can get out of them.

Of course, I could stand to lose some weight, and I know I need to get back to counting calories. But at the moment, I simply don't have the mental energy for it. I'm trying to be realistic about what I can manage rather than turning every aspect of my life into another obligation.

I'm also continuing to journal almost daily. It's rarely anything exciting, but I try to spend at least five minutes writing down a few highlights from the day or whatever thoughts happen to be on my mind. I bounce between my Kindle Scribe and a traditional paper journal, although the notebook I'm currently using has lines that are entirely too small for my handwriting. A new notebook is in my immediate future.

Another area I've been giving more attention to is my appearance. Nothing dramatic, but I'm making an effort to dress a little better and take more pride in how I present myself. I'm shaving more regularly, paying attention to the little details, and slowly upgrading my wardrobe beyond my usual collection of T-shirts, gym shorts, and jeans.

Recently, I've picked up a couple of pairs of Johnston & Murphy casual shoes, along with some Rockports, that bring a little more class to my everyday clothing. I think there's something to be said for taking a little pride in your appearance as you get older, especially when so many others seem to not.

As for entertainment, I'm still enjoying video games, particularly action games on my PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. I recently played through Uncharted and made it about halfway through Uncharted 2 before getting distracted by 007: First Light, which I've been enjoying quite a bit.

One thing I've noticed, though, is that I'm becoming more selective about the stories I want to spend time with. I'm increasingly drawn toward straightforward adventures with likable characters, relatively simple stakes, and heroes who are genuinely good people. Not everything needs to be morally ambiguous, relentlessly dark, or part of some sprawling mythology that requires hours of research to understand. In fact, the more I have to think about where something fits in a timeline, the less interested I am in watching it.

I've been exploring more pulp heroes through old comics, movies, serials, and books. There's something refreshing about these larger-than-life characters and their adventures, even when the stories themselves are a bit cheesy and simple. I've also branched out into self-published men's adventure fiction, which has been surprisingly rewarding. Sometimes I just want to follow an interesting character on an entertaining adventure and close the book feeling good about the experience. I also appreciate that these stories don't take weeks to consume, often they can be read in one sitting.

I suppose there's a common thread running through these interests. I'm drawn toward things that feel a little more tangible, straightforward, and uncomplicated. Old-fashioned exercise equipment, a decent pair of shoes, a notebook, and an adventure story where the good guy wins. None of these things are revolutionary, but they're bringing me some enjoyment right now.

Maybe that's what my friend's birthday lists were really about. Giving yourself permission to acknowledge what you enjoy today, without worrying about whether it matches what you enjoyed yesterday.

I don't know how many of these interests will stick around. Some may become permanent parts of my routine, while others may fade away in a few months. I'm okay with that. I've spent enough time holding on to things simply because they were once important to me.

For now, this is where I am. It's not a complete picture, and I'm sure I'll discover more things worth exploring along the way. But that's part of why I wanted to give this blog a fresh start in the first place. I now have room to explore and see what might be serviceable for my present and future self.