Chris J Wilson

I’ve been thinking about minimalism again. My main prompt is reading “The Life We’re Looking For” by Andy Crouch. He lays out how “devices” can take as well as give and advocates for technology that makes us more engaged with our whole being rather than passive. As is common, I’ve started to see patterns everywhere. Suddenly stoicism seams very minimalist, I started to look at some of Patrick Rhone’s old essays and I’m wondering about how Christian “simplicity” is similar and different to minimalism. Oh and I’ve coincidentally decided to clear out my desk and draws at the same time.

In the past I commented that my big issue with minimalism is that it provides a diagnosis without a prognosis. I still believe there’s truth to that critique, but it doesn’t make the diagnosis less true.

Now excuse me while I go back to holding some old T-shirts and asking “does this spark joy?” Over and over again.

I’ve got the week off work (but my daughter is still going to pre-school) so I’ve drawn up a list of things to do that I would normally struggle to do due to lack of time or her presence! There’s a lot of big topic conversations with my wife plus making sure I’m fully present and engaged with her in the evening.

First item on my list - cleaning up my desk, notes and old clothes that need to be thrown out.

I had to renew my phone contract and had a chance to upgrade my four year old phone. In the end I decided against it. The offer sounded good but I wouldn’t have wanted to upgrade this year anyway so it was just spending money I didn’t want to spend.

As I reached the conclusion that I should declining the offer, I felt an uncomfortable pain. I knew it was a good offer, I knew I wanted the new shiny thing, but I also knew it wasn’t a good use of money and I’d be getting a phone and deal I wouldn’t have chosen otherwise.

I knew the decision was right, but I didn’t want it to be the right decision.

The end of the year is in sight.

And while there’s still time for me to purchase a new piece of tech, I think it’s safe for me to create this roundup list (especially with my current financial situation).

I haven’t bought too many items this year, but these three stand out above the rest.

AirPods Pro

My wife is the best.
I had resisted replacing my old AirPods with news ones but my wife convinced me.
She was right. They’ve helped me with countless video calls, blocking out noisy neighbours (and kids) not to mention hours of podcast listening.

And It sounds like the second gen are even better.

Samsung M7

There’s no perfect cheap monitor for Apple computers, but this is close.

It’s a

• 32"
• 4k
• USB-C connection monitor.

Back when I was deep in spreadsheets, reports and editing every day, this screen was invaluable. Now it is amazing for editing videos, recording screen casts (I can record a limited space on the screen and have notes in the rest) and for opening a ton of resources from Logos.

Caldigit ts3+

The two ports on the Macbook Air just aren’t enough.

Well, not when I make a video and have my camera, microphone, streamdeck, iPad, monitor and external hard drive all hooked up. This handy little device has made it all a dream.

Previously, I had a dongle that required some careful planning to get everything connected. Now I hook one thunderbolt 3 cable into my Macbook, and away I go.

**What about you? **What have been your favourite hardware tech purchases of the year.

6 years ago I started making some simple videos for students of English as a foreign language because it was a more valuable “proof of work” as a freelance teacher than the alternatives.

Today, I’m using those skills (and more I’ve learned since) for the onboarding videos project at work.

Plus I got a review copy of Logos 10 for the video review I published earlier this week.

You never know where a little decision might lead you in the future. Or how a fun little skill project might open other doors.

But also, don’t feel ashamed about having a hobby which is just a hobby.

As I read CJ Chilver’s recent post on the lazy billionaire, I was reminded of Patrick Rhone’s approach of using the Apple default apps as much as possible.

• Notes in Notes
• Tasks in Reminders
• Events in Calendar
• Podcasts in Apple podcasts and so on.

Some of these feel more controversial than others. Could I really give up my beloved obsidian? Would I be prepared to give up smart skip in a podcast player? How will I GTD if I don’t have a full armed and operational battle station, I mean task manager.

And I do notice that Patrick does make a couple of exceptions such as using a markdown writing app instead of the notes app (unless that has changed since his minimal mac days which it may well have).

In truth, there are some apps (like Snipd my current podcast app) where I don’t really use their functionality. I do capture clips from podcasts, but I don’t tend to review them. And it’s even rare that I use those snippets when they are automatically imported into my obsidian vault from readwise.

So I’m reviewing all my fancy third party apps. Maybe they’ll go and maybe they’ll stay.

Carrot weather is definitely staying.

Metaphors create new worlds.

They focus our attention, open our imaginations and help us to see connections.

But no metaphor is perfect. If there weren’t any limits or exceptions to a metaphor, it wouldn’t be a metaphor. (this is an extension of the ideas “the map is not the territory")

So it’s no surprise that our choice of metaphor can be important.

An example: consider these two metaphors for a journey.

Depending on the one you select, you will have a very different perception of the journey you will undertake.

• One might help you prepare better, the other might help you enjoy it more.
• One might focus you on the destination, the other might help you take in the scenery.

Rushing for the first and most obvious idea can trap us in typical ways of thinking.

So what are the implications

Three easy ideas to help explore more metaphors

1. Think of a metaphor for ideas or strategies
2. Consider the limits of the metaphor
3. Generate more metaphors and reflect on their strengths, weaknesses and differences.

I’d love to hear your thoughts.