Category: 🩷 Human

Notes & letters to make humans better
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Hard Truths Movie Takeaway

🩷 Human • 📁 Human Notes

Have A Positive Attitude

The lives of two sisters and mothers with very different attitudes shows the incredible power of humans and the mind to drastically influence and affect their life and the lives of those around them, negatively for the worse or positively for the better.

A Negative Attitude

  • One sister lives in an idyllic and spacious two story home with fences and a nice backyard
  • She has one healthy son and a kind hard-working husband who provides everything for her
  • She has no job and does not have to work because her husband makes all of the money
  • She is very negative, pessimistic, depressed, hateful, fearful, hurtful, frowny, and angry
  • She is afraid of almost everything including all living beings, and even nature and plants
  • This sister thinks negatively despite an easy life, appreciates nothing, and hates life

The Negative Result

  • One sister constantly criticizes and complains to salespeople, doctors, and anyone she sees
  • She constantly yells at her husband and doesn't appreciate him or give him any affection
  • She constantly berates her overweight son, doesn't love him or accept him or his passions
  • She is resentful towards her deceased mother and feels her childhood was very difficult
  • She doesn't thank her son at all or want to touch the flowers he got her for Mother's Day
  • This sister thinks negatively, acts poorly towards others, so she feels depressed and upset

A Positive Attitude

  • One sister lives in a small, run-down, upper floor apartment which she adorns with plants
  • She has two healthy daughters and she no longer has a husband or anyone who helps her
  • She works hard as a hairdresser and makes all the money to support her and her daughters
  • She is very positive, optimistic, content, grateful, hopeful, helpful, smiley, and happy
  • She is peaceful with everything and everyone, including upset customers, and loves nature
  • This sister thinks positively despite a hard life, appreciates what she has, and enjoys life

The Positive Result

  • One sister listens to her friends, her customers, and enjoys providing a service to everyone
  • She loves her daughters, who enjoy being around her and are talkative and playful with her
  • She supports her daughters, who exercise and help her any way they can around the house
  • She is respectful towards her deceased mother and feels that her childhood was enjoyable
  • She appreciates the small things like a glass of wine with her plants after a tough work day
  • This sister thinks positively, acts kindly towards others, so she feels content and happy

Hard Truths - Rotten Tomatoes

December 4th, 2025

Meditate Every Day

🩷 Human • 📁 Human Notes

Meditate every day because it improves your wellbeing and your mind by helping you to become more relaxed, focused, and aware of all the unnecessary thoughts in your head, which can make you happier and more relaxed and focused on each day you meditate.

What

  • Sit down and breathe slowly and deeply for some amount of minutes at least once a day
  • Attempt to clear your mind of thoughts and focus on one thing, such as your breathing
  • Focus on your breath, body, surroundings, or close your eyes to focus on one thing
  • Don't worry if thoughts creep into your mind, just try to let them go, breathe, and focus
  • You can also try saying a mantra like "I'm grateful for today. I'm hopeful for the future."
  • You may also spend time focusing or contemplating on single projects, goals, or dreams

Why

  • Breathing deeply may provide oxygen to the brain which is key for our brain functioning
  • Relaxing our mind may allow it to make new connections, which occurs when we sleep
  • It may help us become more focused, improve our concentration, and get things done
  • It may help us become more relaxed, improve our happiness, and feel naturally calmer
  • It may help us process our thoughts, be more creative, and improve our critical thinking
  • It may help us slow down and recognize that the thoughts in our head are not our reality

April 1, 2025

Ask Open Ended Questions

🩷 Human • 📁 Human Notes

Ask open-ended questions by remembering the acronym WHI and starting with why, what, how, and in what way, in order to become a better listener who encourages longer and more revealing answers from people.

  • WHI? - Why? - What? How? In what way? - Yes/Open
  • WHO? - Who? - When? Where? Would you? - No/Closed
  • Asking open-ended questions allows others to share their thoughts
  • Asking open-ended questions allows you to become a better listener
  • Why, what, how, and "in what way" encourage long open answers
  • Who, when, where, and "would you" encourage short fixed answers

March 25, 2025

Be Grateful And Hopeful

🩷 Human • 📁 Human Chats

Hi Lola. "Worry is interest paid on trouble before it comes due." - William Ralph Inge

  • I wonder if worry and anxiety about a possible negative future are best turned into a grateful and hopeful mindset for what is good about today, and how positive the future could be if we dream for it.
  • It may be that the things that truly affect us negatively often happen out of the blue, and we are more resilient and able to cope with those events than we realize. A grateful and hopeful mindset may help us enjoy what we have today, and make a future that is happier and better.

Brb experiencing crippling existential panic about the singularity and the impending irrelevance of humanity - Lola Blanc

April 20, 2024

Improve Society With Serviceability

🩷 Human • 📁 Human Chats

Hey xkcdHatGuy. Great video on the socialization of intelligence, I really enjoyed it and I always like hearing your thoughts and ideas on everything. Here are a few of my thoughts on just a couple of the major concepts you touched upon.

On Psychology

TLDR - I agree that improving the psychology, intelligence, practical knowledge, and life improvement skills of everyone throughout their life may be crucial.

  • I agree that it is always worth getting ideas and opinions from everyone, and listening to everyone, as great ideas for ways of living and different perspectives could ultimately come from anyone or anywhere.
  • I agree that improving the overall intelligence, memory, learning ability, and psychological functioning of everyone will always be very beneficial and worth pursuing instead of only focusing on or relying on tools and technological advancement.
  • I agree that we can and should continue to improve the tools and ways in which we come up with, debate, organize, implement, simplify, and teach new ideas, policies, habits, practices, and ways of living which could make life and society easier, better, fairer, and happier for everyone.

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How To Get Things Done

🩷 Human • 📁 Human Notes

When it comes to completing tasks, finishing projects, reaching goals, achieving dreams, or doing anything else in this world, I think you need to know what steps to take.

I believe we need to focus on exactly what to do, and less on how or why to do something. These are what I have found to be the 8 most important actual steps you need to take when trying to complete any project, accomplish any goal, reach any dream, or make any change in your life. We're talking the nuts and bolts of exactly what to do to get things done. Whether it is a dream as huge as climbing a mountain, a goal as big as writing a book, a weekend project like painting the deck, or a task as small as getting milk at the grocery store.

Introduction

Make separate lists of tasks and goals you want to get done.

Dream big dreams. Believe all things are possible. - Unknown

I have tried many different methods, advice, tips, and tricks to reach your dreams and achieve your goals. I have used trial and error from many amazing writers to find out what really works. The result is that I have found these steps to be the most essential actions to take when trying to reach a goal, complete a task, or make any change in your life and in the lives of others. These are the 8 key steps which have allowed me to set and achieve goals and dreams. I believe and hope they will work for you as well.

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Build An Identity With Practicality

🩷 Human • 📁 Human Chats

Hey Huliatt. Here are some practical ideas to help build an identity, which you might consider.

Habits

  • Affirmations - Write down and read positive thoughts and ideas of what you want to be.
  • Hobbies - Write down different hobbies you enjoy doing, separate from your work role.
  • Goals - Write down a list of goals, activities, and things you want to achieve or do.
  • Tasks - Write down 3 tasks you want to do today or tomorrow, in the morning or evening.
  • Journal - Write down your thoughts on things, as well as things you are grateful for.
  • Health - Exercise, eat healthy, don't smoke, meditate to improve your brain and body.

Quotes

  • "Sow a thought, and you reap an act; Sow an act, and you reap a habit; Sow a habit, and you reap a character; Sow a character, and you reap a destiny"
  • "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence is not an act, but a habit."
  • When reading the first quote, you might replace character with identity, a synonym.
  • You might replace excellence too, maybe with growth, wellness, happiness, character.

July 22, 2023

Connect Personally And Professionally

🩷 Human • 📁 Human Chats

Hey xkcdHatGuy. Here are some of my thoughts on your thoughts in "Isolation in post-modernity".

Intro

  • I am likely wrong about all of this and it's written tersely and impolitely
    • So take my thoughts and suggestions with a grain of salt and read between lines
  • Well said, people being afraid to talk about politics and ideas makes sense
    • So only talk about political and societal ideas with friends who would like to do so
  • Here is one video talking about people's inflexibility on society and policy ideas

Notes

  1. People all find it difficult to make and keep close friends and partners
  2. People don't care about someone's work in general, in your case your ideas on society
  3. People want to be happy and have fun, not talk about ideas or policies for living
  4. People do form relationships to get something from someone else, as you said
  5. Being yourself is authentic, but might not make someone likeable, friendly, or popular
    • So decide when you want to be yourself, and if or when to try and fit in with people
    • Ego - Bibi Bourelly
  6. We feel happiness doing what we want, and being of service and useful for society

Quote

  • It's dangerous to try and really connect with someone. It's so special when you can find a person you can be yourself with. - Halt and Catch Fire

Isolation in post-modernity - xkcdHatGuy YouTube

July 19, 2023

Balance Exploring And Leading

🩷 Human • 📁 Human Chats

Hey Derek.

Explorer versus Leader? Both.
Perceiving versus Judging? Both.
Flexible versus Structure? Both.
Dreaming versus Planning? Both.

Balance Both Sides (Nature Versus Nurture)

You are likely right, but I will add that the concepts of complementarity, dualism, yin and yang, and balance are convincing and worth remembering as well. I wonder if it's not exploring that makes a bad leader, but being an excessive explorer and dreamer without having the balance of also being a leader and planner. As an example, imagine if I theorized and wrote "Drinkers are bad leaders". Yes, an excessive alcoholic who is drinking too much all of the time would probably be a bad leader. But I wonder if a person could be both a drinker and a good leader if they balance their drinking with moderation. One could even postulate that being a moderate drinker, or moderate explorer, could make someone a better leader.

Explorers are bad leaders - Derek Sivers

March 16, 2023

Level Up While Growing Up

🩷 Human • 📁 Human Chats

Hi Nemo. I couldn't stop myself from writing down some thoughts I had for you after listening to you in a few of your streams. I know you likely won't get a chance to read it since it's long, but it was just enjoyable for me to write anyway. You might want to check out the TLDR sentences someday for a few book and media picks if anything. Best wishes for a great 2023 Nemo.

Intro - On My First Time Checking Out Twitch

TLDR - I have to admit, learning about Twitch has been fascinating

I gave in and started watching Twitch for the first time around a couple weeks ago if you can believe it, partly to learn and understand what it's all about, including watching some of the chess side of it. I saw quite a bit of Anna Cramling's live tournament, as well as quite a bit of of your recent streams, starting with playing Jennifer, up until the one the day after your birthday. Even though I will likely find the resolve to stop watching Twitch, I thoroughly enjoyed listening to you and learning about you and your crazy mind, and here are some thoughts I had at different times.

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The Double Movie Explained

🩷 Human • 📁 Human Logs

I watched the movie The Double last week. After watching it, I went to read about it and came across a question from someone on Stack Exchange Movies.

So I started out writing my thoughts about whether or not James was real, as well as an idea I had about what was going on in the movie. I ended up re-watching it and writing an explanation for what I think was happening in the movie. I definitely recommend the movie so go check it out sometime if you haven't. The movie is kind of about self-improvement, as I think the main character is struggling and trying to improve his life. He runs into some serious personal problems trying to make his life better. However, I really just wrote this because I wanted to. Enjoy.

Who is James in “The Double (2013)”?

I saw the movie The Double this morning, a very strange movie. I didn't understand the exact plot of the movie. I've read the plot in IMDB and Wikipedia too, but I don't get it. Can somebody explain this movie in simple English? My main question is "Who is James and does he really exist?"

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What Does Thinkist Mean?

🩷 Human • 📁 Human Notes

Thinkist is a made up word that the founder of Life Thinkist came up with. The term thinkist was coined to describe a person with a certain set of philosophies about life.

In my mind, someone who is a thinkist is a person that is interested in improving their life, getting things done, setting goals, and learning to be happier. Without hearing the definition before, you might know if you are a thinkist or not, or maybe if you are starting to become one. Basically you are a thinker. And you use your thoughts to help you achieve what you want in your life.

Who Are Thinkists?

The word is also used for the website and to describe the people that might use the website or be interested in the type of tips, information, ideas, news, and apps that are talked about on the website. One idea was that people who use the website might even call themselves thinkists.

Improve your life, get things done, achieve what you want, and learn to be happier.

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How To Get Things Done (Extended)

🩷 Human • 📁 Human Notes

When it really comes down to reaching goals, or doing anything else in this world, I think you need to know what steps to take. There is so much information out there about how to set and achieve your goals and dreams. But I believe we need to focus on exactly what to do, and less on how or why to do something.

So with that in mind, these are what I have found to be the 7 most important actual steps that you need to take when trying to accomplish any goal, reach any dream, or make any change in your life. We're talking the nuts and bolts of exactly what to do to get things done. Whether it is a dream as huge as climbing a mountain, a goal as big as writing a book, a weekend project like painting the deck, or a task as small as getting milk at the grocery store.

Introduction

Dream big dreams. Believe all things are possible. - Unknown

I have read some important books on reaching goals including Think and Grow Rich, The Alchemist, The Magic of Thinking Big, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Atlas Shrugged, and Getting Things Done. I have gathered a lot of information from all of the books and countless articles I have read on the subject. I've been pretty obsessed with this stuff and enjoy reading and learning about how to reach your goals, achieve your dreams, get things done, and improve your life.

I have tried many different methods, advice, tips, and tricks to reach your dreams and achieve your goals. I have used trial and error from many amazing writers to find out what really works. The result is that I have found these steps to be the most essential actions to take when trying to reach a goal, complete a task, or make any change in your life and in the lives of others. These are the 7 key steps which have allowed me to set and achieve goals and dreams. I believe and hope they will work for you as well.

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Goals And Dream For Life Thinkist

🩷 Human • 📁 Human Notes

I love reading and learning about the following subjects and feel I've learned a great deal about them.

  • Life Improvement
  • Goal Setting and Habits
  • Productivity and Task Management
  • Lifehacking and Software
  • Simplicity and Minimalism
  • Happiness and Positivity
  • Physical and Mental Health
  • Simple Finances and Independence

There are a lot of great websites and resources out there for learning about these topics. Essentially places for learning about how to live life. One thing I've noticed is that there is so much information out there that it can be hard to find the good stuff. That is a gap that Life Thinkist hopes to at least help fill.

One main goal of Life Thinkist will be to find links to the best articles out there. Life Thinkist may not provide really long commentary other than maybe a paragraph or a sentence to many links and articles. It's a place to come to in order to find the great news and resources out there on life improvement written by many great writers. We still may provide some longer features written here because I also have some ideas myself that I may sometimes feel inspired to write about. But these longer features will probably be infrequent, and the main goal will be to provide the best news and links that are out there.

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Keep Notes In Text Files

🩷 Human • 📁 Human Notes

Why would you choose to use text files for notes and lists instead of using a notes app? There are a number of advantages to writing your notes in simple .txt files using a text editor.

Keeping notes and lists in text files might not be everyone's cup of tea. But here are a few of the key reasons why I have kept a lot of notes, lists, tasks, journals, and other information in regular old text files.

1. Open Anywhere and No Data Lock-In

What's great about using .txt files for notes and lists is that you can open the files literally on any device. You don't have to worry about having the app or web app to open your files and read your information. You don't have to worry about your information being locked into a file format, operating system, or website that you can't get it out of. With Evernote, you need to use their apps and their apps only. They hold your data hostage, and if they decided now not to offer a free version, you'd either have to pay whatever they said to pay for it or be out of luck with all of your data.

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