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Note: Due to the circumstance I’m in the middle of a rural community, a community abandoned by its state for a certain amount of infrastructure, this cast will not upload! Until further notice, I’m back to writing vs. speaking every Friday.

Howdy! Lots of firsts with this post:

• First time writing a post in a month!
• First post written while protests against police brutality are met with police brutality.
• First time using WordPress Blocks 💀 (so bad I have to go back to the Classic editor before finishing 😅)

We’ll see how this goes…

May Goal Review

1. Survive the Journey
   1. Won. A good win, too! There are a few details in the cast yet to be uploaded, though even more will need to make it to another post of my journey across the country with minimal human contact. Suffice to say, I’ve learned a lot on how to live on the road, even during these tougher COVID-19 times.

June Goal Proposal

1. BITS
   1. BITS, or Body-Interaction-Thought-System. It’s goal is to make many of the math-heavy tabletop RPGs out there simpler. I’d like to publish this to you before June is done.
2. Mods
   1. Make a board game mod! Or twelve! Already have a Civil War modification in the world for Risk, so we’ll see that before July (with some playtesting, too!).
3. White Papers
   1. I’d like to get at least one done that’ll involve merging two miniature wargame lines into one. Should be quick to write, though the time will be in the thought.
      

      

4. Tabletop RPG
   1. Make a TRPG. Leaving it pretty open to be a oneshot (play the game and be done forevermore) using BITS, translate a game system into BITS, or have something presentable of the BRUTES (working title) smash-and-grab system being tinkered with.

That’s May! This is June! I’ll get you a the podcast episode someday for more.

As for you out protesting,  you are awesome. Stay as safe as you can. Thank you for your bravery; see you on the other side of things! Cheers!

Download for home. (7m 51s)

Yes, there are more excellent games out there than any of us have a lifetime to play, so we get what we get.

For me, there are a few board / card games that have redefined how I view design problems where it comes to pleasing “Game Feel“. Having many hours behind me with these titles, I am who I am:

• Twilight Imperium
• Risk
  • My published mods to the game.
• Warhammer 40K
• Dune
• Exploding Kittens
• Unstable Unicorns

Listen to the cast for more and the how and why they are on the list!

Cheers 🎲

Download for home. (18m 37s)

Yes, there are more excellent games out there than any of us have a lifetime to play, so we get what we get.

For me, these are a few of the video games that gave me the most, changing the course of who I am:

• Halo 2
• Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
• Starcraft
• Kingdom Hearts

Listen to the cast for more and the how and why they are on the list!

Cheers 🎮

Download for home. (4m 44s)

Wow!! This is my 25th cast already??? 😱 That’s really cool! Definitely grateful for that 😊 (Podcast 1 throwback!)

What are you grateful for? During the pandemic lock-down, an effort that is meant to save millions of lives, I feel the need to express my appreciation for a few things:

1. Getting to know myself.
2. Getting to know others close to me.
3. Getting to relax.
4. Getting to daydream.

There are more, though I’m guessing these you’re most likely to empathize with 😉 What would you add to the list?

Download for home. (4m 4s)

April was great! I learned what I do when I’m chill. May is all about applying that while on the road away from everyone. By the time you read this, I’ll already be away! (Don’t worry, podcasts will keep coming!)

The cast this week is a short one so give it a listen 😉

Download for home. (13m 53s)

I tried big goals! Itty bitty goals. And a few in between.

Failed a lot along the way, too.

But what’s worked best for me? Listen in to the system I use for defining goals, and therefore, my life.

If you’ve tips and tricks for setting and achieving goals, drop a comment – I’ll owe you one!

Download for home. (22m 22s)

This is a long one. Listen – it’ll be worth it.

Have an announcement I’m leaving in the cast. But to help you, below are abridged bullets my notes on dealing with stress and making decisions when things are uncertain.

(Most of these tips come from my mentors, both virtual and live, so if anything here helps you, they will be of greater utility!)

Dealing With Stress

1. Sleep.
2. Eat (fats and proteins).
3. Make lists.
4. Meditate.
5. Long walks.
6. Visit nature.
7. Intense exercise.
8. Cut down the schedule.
9. Remember and consume intense media.
10. Discover minimally viable life.
11. Days > years.
12. Bonus not included in the cast: Cut down on stimulants. (Looking at you, coffee!) ☕

Making Decisions

1. Doing > planning.
2. What do I enjoy more?
3. What is required for me to feel satisfied?
4. Will I be better for having done it?
5. Am I living my best life? How can I?
6. What do other people want more?
7. What would I need to do if I was to die in three months? Six?
8. What would the decision look like if it were easy?
9. Make the decisions / choices simpler.
10. 90/10 Principle (upgrade from the 80/20 Principle).
11. Say “no” if I can’t give it a “HELL YES!”
12. Say “no” if there are no next steps or long term benefits.
13. Say “no” if I am considering this because of guilt or obligation with no merit for myself.
14. What’s the worst possible failure? How can we mitigate that?
15. What would I do if not afraid?
16. Will worry help the outcome?
17. What do I fear that lacks unrecoverable risk? 💀
18. Does it tell a white truth?
19. How close is this to my sought-for legacy?

Tell me, what are your strategies for dealing with stress? Techniques for making decisions? Comment – I and others could learn a lot from you!

Cheers!