Sunday Surprise incoming [4-Aug-24]
Skipped a week?
Howdy there!
Firstly, apologies for missing you last week. I *love* getting so involved in something that I lose sense of time and last week had a few moments of that! Being away from the daily grind has definitely shown me just where I should make some changes in my day to day to have more of these moments, but more on that later…
Given the longer than usual check in, how have you been?
How have you been? Hit “reply” and let me know! Housekeeping stuff below as usual!
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randInt S04E10 - What’s your greatest fear?
Well, isn’t this a change of pace? Podcasts coming out ON TIME?! This one explores phobias and just how one of the most common ones there is, probably evolved…
Video to watch
How to sound smart on your Ted Talk
This was an amazing video of a talk about…nothing! Yet, it was such a captivating and hilarious one. It really shows how structuring a good talk goes a long way towards keeping people’s attention rather than all the content that sometimes gets in the way.
Cool finds
Five Year Memory Journal: One line a day*
Given I’m in the US, I’m trying to not to buy/look at too many things since I’ll then have to cart it back to Australia. In a way, that means what I brought was pretty much some core essentials. Here’s one from a while ago that made the journey- the daily 5 year journal. It’s now in it’s third year for me and even though it is fairly chunky/heavy, I brought it with me to look through. It’s something that actually does seem to be something worthwhile to reflect back on the recent past.
Glad I was gifted one and got started on it when I did.
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Weekly Update
Being a Visiting Scholar.
This past week has been defined by my role as a visiting scholar at Stanford. To provide some context, my time here involves joining faculty on projects, presentations, or research. However, I am also afforded the ability to “audit” classes if the faculty of said class is happy to oblige.
This means that if there are classes/lectures going on at Stanford, an email to ask if I can sit in usually is met with a gracious acceptance. So far, I’ve only asked to join DataSci112 - an introduction to Data Science.
As a relative novice to Python and Data Science frameworks, this course moves fast! It doesn’t help that I joined at the end of Week 5 of a 10 week course! I’ve spent most of my time trying to catch up so that I can partake on the Lab work in person, but there is a LOT to get through and it builds on previous lessons (as I found out trying to skip ahead).
In addition to my coursework, I’m observing clinical practices here to gather insights that I can bring back to Melbourne. There appear to be some low-hanging fruits that I plan to explore in the coming weeks. I’m also looking for ways to contribute to the AIM Lab, which has graciously supported my visit.
To top it all off, my wife is visiting for the next two weeks, so I’ll be playing tour guide and showing her around. All in all, it’s been a busy and exciting time—much busier than I anticipated!
Actionable insight
Be a tourist in your own town
As mentioned earlier, my wife is visiting for a few weeks here in California. Although it’s only been three weeks, I've already settled into my usual routine of running, university, and studying. However, having a visitor has inspired me to explore and rediscover the area.
It's surprising how quickly routine takes over and the opportunity to see new things gets sidelined by our schedules. Think about your own local area—how many times have you said, "I'll visit that place someday," but never actually made the time? How many of the top recommended attractions in your town have you overlooked?
Now is the perfect time to change that!
Here’s how you can start:
Make a List: Write down three local spots you’ve always wanted to visit.
Set a Date: Choose a day within the next two weeks to explore one of these places. Do this NOW - you know later wont work…
Invite Someone: Sharing the experience with a friend or family member can make it even more enjoyable.
Document It: Take photos, write about your experience, or share it on social media to inspire others.
By breaking out of your routine and exploring your own backyard, you might discover new favorite spots and see your town in a whole new light.
Quote of the week
From Joseph Campbell…
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