Zach's PEN #35: Sweet 16

2021 Week 12: It's Allison's birthday, second vaccine shots, and hopeful economic news

Dear PENpals,

Today is Allison's birthday. The love of my life, my partner in crime, the sorceress who fashioned two of the cutest babies I've ever seen (bias alert) out of oxygen, magic, and take-out food. She likely won't read this but I just want to let all my PENpals know that she's the best wife, the most nurturing mother, and she has more than earned the very happiest of birthdays.

I'll keep this one short because I'm taking Allison for her second Pfizer shot here in a minute (!). I get my second Moderna on Tuesday (!!). It feels like the end of a fifty year period in the wilderness but I must acknowledge that I've experienced some pretty powerful transformations this year.

It's a stressful time with imminent Markee launch but I've stuck to my new habits. They feel pretty resilient. I still do need to see how they do in Failure Mode but this week I'll hit 100 days in a row both exercising and writing and—well—something seems to be working.

One really cool piece of news: Just found out that in Q1 2021, Short Order Production House broke even. This was a horrible year for production companies and I feel so fortunate that my team has gotten us back to this point. Very hopeful for what's to come.

Syracuse plays my inlaws' alma mater tonight in the Sweet 16. I don't understand why every game has to be at a million o'clock at night, but LET'S GO ORANGE.

This Week's Posts

I wrote about what technologies and thought technologies™ I've been using to write a daily post for the last 95 (now 96) days straight.

https://little.zachphillips.blog/2021/03/27/my-daily-posting.html

Zach Phillips (96/100 posts) @zachphillips

I'll probably change how I'm doing this soon, but here's a thread/post on the method I've used to write a thread/post every day for the past 95 days. A weekly newsletter became too much pressure, and I hypothesized that a daily post might relieve that pressure. I was right. 👇

I wrote about the universal basic income results in Stockton, California and an idea I've had for a long time for an incubator of sorts.

https://little.zachphillips.blog/2021/03/21/the-freedom-to.html

Zach Phillips (96/100 posts) @zachphillips

Some results from the universal basic income study in Stockton: Those who received unconditional monthly payments were MORE likely to work than those who did not. Turns out that the foundation of our economic thought, that humans are basically lazy and no-good, is wrong. 👇

I wrote some thoughts about tickling my children and tickling in general.

https://little.zachphillips.blog/2021/03/22/a-tickling-dilemma.html

Zach Phillips (96/100 posts) @zachphillips

Tickling is a highly controversial thing. The recipient's reaction is pure laughter and joy but they _totally, totally_ want you to stop. I tickle my 1- and 3-year-olds frequently, and it's one of the most fun things I do, but I do wonder if it's actually not nice. 👇

I wrote about how creating something small every day allows me to be more mindful, deliberate, and flexible with the bigger things I want to make.

https://little.zachphillips.blog/2021/03/23/the-creative-urgency.html

Zach Phillips (96/100 posts) @zachphillips

Previous me, more coercive, more giddyup, thought that publishing a daily post would take IMPORTANT TIME away from my BIG, IMPORTANT PROJECTS. After doing it 91 days in a row I'm surprised to say that it benefits everything else that I do, especially larger projects. 👇

I wrote about the old factory floors we lived with for five years and that were so tragic to pull up.

https://little.zachphillips.blog/2021/03/24/farewell-floor.html

Zach Phillips (96/100 posts) @zachphillips

I'd like to report a crime. When we renovated our apartment, we made the tragic decision to tear up these wonderful, beautiful, amazing, 100-year-old wood factory floors. This little thread is me offering my respect and thanks to this beautiful, functional surface. 👇

I wrote about a different way to interpret hateful words.

https://little.zachphillips.blog/2021/03/25/i-want-to.html

Zach Phillips (96/100 posts) @zachphillips

We aren’t there yet, our daughter is 3 years old and our son is 1, but I’m anticipating a moment in the not-too-distant future with one or both of them shouting at us in a rage: “I HATE YOU!” How might this relate to The Discourse and judgments of good and evil? Bear with me. 👇

I wrote about the barrier to practice.

https://little.zachphillips.blog/2021/03/26/practice-and-selfjudgment.html

Zach Phillips (96/100 posts) @zachphillips

I’m pretty sure that 100% of what makes practice seem hard is self-judgment. Get rid of “I’m bad at this—that was stupid—why can’t I—I should be better at this” and practice is not only easy, but delightfully fun and satisfying. 👇

Babies

Louisa and her pre-school friends

Babies fighting over a Les Paul this morning