The Most Living: My Next Book?
Happy Friday!
I've just sent off an application to join a novel-writing course run by the literary agent Curtis Brown. I had to send them a synopsis and the first 3,000 words of a novel-in-progress, as well as a good reason for wanting to join the course.
The novel I chose to send them is called The Most Living, an almost absurdly complicated fantasy loosely (and pretentiously) based on Albert Camus' The Myth of Sisyphus.
If you're interested, here's the 800-word synopsis (I've already found one typo - grr!).
MINOR UPDATES
Wim Hof Method: I love the morning breathing (my girlfriend less so - listening to your boyfriend hyperventilating for 15 minutes isn't a relaxing way to wake up apparently). After only two weeks, I'm now doing over 40 push ups while holding my breath. For comparison, the Hundred Push Ups training programme doesn't hit 40 until Week 4. An impressive win for the Wim, methinks.
Barefoot Shoes: Another concept that shouldn't work, but does. I haven't worn 'normal' shoes for 40 days and don't intend to again any time soon. My Vivobarefoot shoes are ridiculously comfortable - my toes adore the wiggle room and the soles are almost silken. I'm not running in them, however. I'm going to leave that potentially injurious step until after the Gosport Half in November.
Positive Constraints: I'm still on No Sugar, although this only applies to the refined stuff. I'm caning the dried fruit at the moment, swimming in a bowl of cream - dreamy. My hair hasn't been washed with shampoo now for three months - and hasn't looked lovelier (ahem). All I need is a dash of bicarb once a week and lemon juice the rest of the time.
Finally, I recently took up No Toilet Paper again and remembered exactly how gross the concept of toilet paper is. No, really. At any other time of day, if you get covered in something gross, do you: a) Wash your hands with soap and water? or b) Smear the dirt around with a scrap of paper? I rest my case.
INPUT
Five inputs that have inspired me this week.
RECIPE: Fat Head Pizza made with almond flour and cream cheese. All the pizza, none of the carbs. See the photo - nom.
STUDY: Does “Science” Make You Moral? The Effects of Priming Science on Moral Judgments and Behavior Christine Ma-Kellams and Jim Blascovich (2013).
FREE EBOOK: Practical Stoicism by Grey Freeman (2017). A superb practical guide to using Stoicism in your daily life. What a gift.
ARTICLE: Wim Hof Method Google Doc This appears to be a crowd-sourced guide to the Wim Hof Method by people who've taken his courses.
COLD: The sea at Bournemouth. 16.9 degrees, total immersion for 15 minutes. YES.
OUTPUT
All the latest from the Davest.
Wim Hof: The Cold is Our Teacher (September)
Stoicism and The Word of God (September)
2040: Don’t Worry, Be Happy (August)
I'm off for a run and a sauna. According to one study, regular post-run saunas will increase plasma and red blood cell volume and can lead to a 32% increase in time to exhaustion, the equivalent to a 1.9% increase in race performance. Hot stuff!
I'll leave you with a little something from Marcus Aurelius, courtesy of MARGE:
'No soul', it has been said, 'forfeits truth wilfully.' And the same holds good for justice, self-control, kindness, or any other virtue. Nothing needs to be kept in mind more constantly than this; it will help you to greater gentleness in all your dealings with people. (Meditations 7:63)
- dc
p.s. Life To The Lees: Cycling Around Britain is still merrily asale.
p.p.s. Oooh... You can forward this email to a friend!
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