Geology, the Goldilocks Sketchbook, and the Art of Acquiescence

🌿 Field Notes: Nature, Art & Ecology

Geology & Deep Time at Panum Crater

Digging into Part 2 of the California Naturalist Handbook which focuses on geology and earth systems has transported me back to a guided tour of Panum Crater near Mono Lake during our summer vacation.

Our tour guide was an incredible inspiration, sharing maps, diagrams, and raw geological specimens throughout the walk. As I look back through my notes from our time on the crater, I’m reminded of how much I crave hands-on, experiential learning in the field. It also makes me wonder what deep geological stories are in my own back yard?

Phenology & The Shifting Guard

Almost on cue, the Say’s Phoebes have begun their rhythmic BEEEooing calls. Cormorants are slowly returning to the nearby lakes, and a bright pink dragonfly I spotted in August has me on the lookout for other dragonflies of the same distinct color, though I have spotted no others thus far.

On a bittersweet note, Charlotte’s web is empty; a hole in the center of her web marks where our Western Spotted Orb Weaver spent what I assume were her final days. I’ll admit to experiencing some sadness around her disappearance, which reminds me of a quote I recently encountered about how nature’s cycles require us to assent to things changing as they must. But still…

Tools: The “Goldilocks” Square Sketchbook

After years of carrying a compact A6 sketchbook and occasionally trying an A5, I’ve finally found my “Goldilocks”" size: the square sketchbook.

A5 often felt a little too daunting for quick field notes and too big for tossing into my bag when heading out, while A6 oftentimes felt cramped when trying to combine watercolor swatches, observations, and notes.

The square format gives just enough breathing room for both visual observation and written reflection without feeling like a blank-page trap. I landed on the Hahnemuhle 100% Cotton Watercolor Book 5.51 x 5.51" Square, which is the same width as an A5, and feels like a more natural page width for me for journaling. It’s nearly the same height as an A6, keeping the overall sketchbook relatively compact. 

🏋️ Body & Craft: Movement, Mindset & Sourdough

Breaking the “Completionist” Trap in Strength Training

One of my strengths (and occasional curses) is being a completionist. For years, I felt a nagging sense of failure if I didn’t finish every single book cover-to-cover, complete every self-study module on schedule, or hit every single rep in a workout as prescribed.

But last week, during a heavy lifting session, I had to step back and ask myself: Who am I doing this for? A checklist, or my future self?

Pushing through when my body isn’t sufficiently recovered doesn’t equal progress. It wipes it out. The same holds true for any other types of activities, no matter how much I might enjoy them.

It’s been challenging, but over the past couple years I’ve been working to reprogram my sense of when to pump the brakes, trust my need for rest and recovery, and listen to my mind and my body—a far greater win than blindly checking a box. 

Two Months on a Walking Pad

October marks my second full month using an under-desk walking pad, and it has genuinely transformed my daily routine. It has effortlessly lifted my daily average steps from ~10,500 to well over 13,000 while eliminating the lower-back stiffness I used to expect from stationary office work.

It’s also brought a renewed sense of enjoyment to writing Life Noticed, since I can now move while typing out my thoughts to share here with you. Previously, I experienced a pang of resentment about spending time at the computer after working hours as my body craved some much-needed movement, but being able to walk while working helps me feel much less cooped-up while writing.

I’m also tailoring my time on social media around sessions on the walking pad. Aside from a brief three-week experiment in August, my phone has been social-media-free for nearly a year, leaving me to check Instagram on my desktop computer.

While I’ll continue to reserve checking social media from my desktop computer, I’m now working to limit these checks even further and to only visit Instagram when I’m walking at my desk. Pairing this digital distraction with physical movement creates a natural, self-limiting boundary that keeps screen time intentional (and adds to that step goal! 😂).

Removing Friction in the Sourdough Schedule

After 18 months of sourdough baking and rotating our “Core Four” favorite loaves, I noticed a subtle point of friction: having to pull out my baking binder to double-check recipe timings and coordinate multiple recipes in tandem.

Because sourdough requires a 2- to 3-day fermentation window, a delay of even a few hours in starting a levain can push the bake day outside my schedule. To solve this, I built a simple Dough Development Timelines spreadsheet that maps out aspects such as hands-on prep, bulk fermentation, and bake times, making my bakes much easier to plan around life.

This makes me wonder what other little systems in my life are in want of a little spreadsheet and whether this might spark a similar project for you, but with an entirely different subject.

📚 Marginalia: Mind, Philosophy & Books

The Art of Acquiescence

“The Stoics called it the ‘art of acquiescence’—the giving up and the assenting of whatever things are so that they can be what they are to become.” — Ryan Holiday

Whether it’s accepting seasonal temperature drops, adjusting expectations, or letting go of an imperfect day, assenting to reality as it is gives us the space to acquiesce to what could be. (Easier said than done, though I must confess.)

 💬 Over to You

What is one habit or routine in your life where removing a tiny bit of friction or letting go of a “completionist” rule could make room for a little more ease this week?

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