Captain’s log #8: stardate 26-10-29
Navigating by the Stars
Friends, welcome to the end of October! As darkness sets earlier each day here, the temperatures have also begun to plummet. Winter is coming. Yikes, but lets not dwell on that!
On the sports side, things are a disaster. My Colts are a dumpster fire. General Manager Chris Ballard was fired. Our head coach and his assistant coaches are next. Our quarterback Daniel Jones needs to go. His every throw looks like an interception in the making. He had 8 good games last year before his season ending injury, and the Colts’ Ballard rolled out the carpets. Now, he is out with Jones soon.
Who is more to blame – the fool or the ones dancing to the fool’s tunes? I would say the latter. Ballard went ten years promising championships and delivering mediocrity each time. Our head coach, Steichen, is no better. You can’t win if you don’t adapt and keep recycling issues year-in-year-out. Fire everyone, and trade or cut every scrub. The rebuild must be total while keeping a few young promising players. It’s a sinking ship with no first round pick and few tradable pieces. It’s going to be rough for fans.
I, at least, have basketball to look forward to. The Lakers look amazing in their first week, thanks to solid players. I see some growing troubles, including the lack of a backup center and questionable rebounding. A small trade might become necessary in the coming weeks, but it’s 5 games in during a 82-game season. There’s time for chemistry-building and personnel improvement. Our coaching staff and leadership on the floor is reliable for that.
As you can see above, frustrations for things like sports can also turn joy into bitterness. When you read the news about wars and disasters, it’s easy to enter tunnel vision. In such moments, escapism becomes key. You must find fun hobbies and enjoyment through the little things. In this entry, I want to consider the importance of joy in life.
Before I get into that, I want to share my sentiments on a Star Trek Captain we lost as I was typing this update. Sir Patrick Stewart, who inhabited a few iconic roles, passed away at 86. Some actors play characters, but Stewart became Captain Jean-Luc Picard on the bridge of the USS Enterprise. There would be no Captain’s Logs if not for inspiration from Star Trek and Patrick Stewart.
Hats off to the Captain who moved us. He also became Professor Charles Xavier, a figure who inspired a big piece of my journey and showed what’s possible in life. There can only be one Professor X, and it was the great Sir Patrick Stewart.
Rest in peace for a life well-lived. O Captain, My Captain.
Quote (or passage)
“Let your life lightly dance on the edges of time like dew on the tip of a leaf.” – Rabindranath Tagore, Stray Birds (1916)
Tagore is considered one of the finest poets in history and won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913 for his globally renowned works. I find it mesmerizing how he compares living to a dewdrop on a leaf. Dew finds its way onto a leaf’s edge, but it can’t remain there forever. It will eventually evaporate or drip off. That fleeting characteristic makes it even more valuable because that specific dewdrop will never re-appear or unite with that leaf again. Once it’s gone, it’s for ever and ever. Let it shine and bask in the light while it’s present.
Now substitute the dewdrop for yourself and the leaf for life itself. There’s something to be said about finding the joys of life while you still breathe. We spend so much time searching for the next goal or the feeling of closure that we don’t take time to enjoy the moments and seek pleasure in the now. Whether it’s in the music we listen to, the videogames we play, the inspiration we find in the arts, the movie/shows we watch, the laughter and conversations with friends or a budding, young romance. These are the things we stay alive for. We should find joy during the journey rather than on completion. Appreciate the fact that you’re here and that life exists – that you’re alive and conscious. Bask in the light while you can.
A moment in life isn’t forever, but it doesn’t have to be. You can find joy in moments and appreciate the beauty of life, like the dew on a leaf.
What I’m listening to
Three little birds, Bob Marley
Bob Marley was a free spirit from Jamaica who introduced the world to his ‘One Love’ world view. One Love is a Jamaican expression of unity and spreading love throughout the world. It became an universal message for compassion and peace through Marley’s music. Most, if not all, of Marley’s songs focus on some aspect of life and positivity.
I heard ‘Three Little Birds’ years ago, and the lyrics resonated with me. If you read the words, they sing of three birds who rise each day smiling in the sun, singing sweet songs. Learn from the birds by letting go of your anxiety and live in joy. Things will be alright!
Love you Zindagi, Dear Zindagi
This melodious song is from a Indian film Dear Zindagi (2016) and celebrates life. The lyrics are simple, with ‘zindagi’ meaning life. Accept that which brings your heart joy and release that which brings anxiety. Sometimes, life brings unpredictability, but we have a wonderful pairing with life. I love the simplicity and beauty in these sentiments.
The Writing Desk
I’m onto chapter 33! Only 13 more to go before I can say that I finished editing my first novel. Drafting this took me 22 months, but I took 3 months off in between and spent 2 months doing a full outline. A realistic estimate would be 17 months of writing (not to count a few months worth of writing blocks where I barely made progress). At the start, I was doing two weekly film reviews, taking three days that I could have been writing.
Editing took too long because of pressure wounds delaying everything. The wounds wasted productive time. I also had to learn and create processes for each step, slowing down progress. There will be more to learn as I advance. These are lessons that you learn in your first go-around. The next novel should go quicker.
As for our story, I last mentioned in Biweekly update #5 that chapters 23-25 were the low points for our protagonist, Kain. From there, Kain grows as a character, and his situation improves. He undergoes a promotion in the Crimson Syndicate, and we enter the heart of his mafia life. From the lowest point, things finally seem to be flowing–or are they? All I can say without spoilers is the stakes heighten in Kain’s journey for revenge.
A quick plot recap that I discussed in Captain’s Log #1: a Crimson Syndicate captain had slaughtered Kain’s family. Kain had infiltrated the Syndicate to gain access to the captain for justice. The story is in the midst of working toward that overarching goal.
What show/film I’m watching
For Film Night Saturday, we have been watching horror for Halloween October. This past Saturday, we watched Scream (1996). I watched it for the first time and had a blast! Several others who joined the stream also watched it for the first time. I won’t spoil the plot except to say that it was unpredictable. The filmmakers leave you guessing who the culprit is while on the edge of your seat. The writing, acting, directing, and rewatchability has withstood the test of time. It’s thoroughly enjoyable, even if the deaths are gruesome.
After a 4 year break, the second season of The Terminal List aired last week. The thriller depicts a former Navy SEAL, James Reece (Chris Pratt), on the run from the US government for multiple murders, including his platoon members, and his wife and daughter. While designated as the most wanted person in the world, he must investigate the events and hunt the ones responsible for destroying his life. This season is an 8/10. I enjoyed the acting, writing, cinematography, directing, action, and locations. Chris Pratt becomes James Reece with brilliant acting. The entire cast is well-chosen. I recommend this show.
This week, I have been watching ‘The Day of the Jackal‘, a British spy thriller starring Eddie Redmayne and Lashana Lynch. This show is technically a remake of a 1973 film of the same name (and a brilliant book of same name). In the original, a professional assassin hunts France’s President Charles de Gaulle. The show is a contemporary version that takes place in modern times with modern sniper rifles and targets (including a media mogul). The British MI6 have agents on the assassin’s tail, increasing the thrill. Redmayne’s side of the story is sensational, but Lynch’s MI6 side doesn’t feel as exciting. I have two more episodes to watch, but I give this a 8/10 (if Lynch’s end was better, this would be a 9). I recommend this show!
One Thought
‘The Terminal List’ had an inspiring scene showing the Memorial Wall at CIA headquarters. For security reasons, the CIA doesn’t mention names of those killed in duty. Instead, they have a wall of stars. Each star denotes a CIA member who gave their life in service, and a new star gets added when a member dies in service. The protagonist, Reece, recalls something his father once said to him:
“It’s easy to get lost in your fear. When I get lost and afraid searching for direction, I’ve learned there’s some places you can always look. [points up to sky] Those stars up there, they hung over the very first hunters who went out to provide for their families. And over all the warriors who fought in every war. And when a warrior dies in battle, that’s where he goes, to become a star showing the way forward for the rest of us.”
The quote is poignant and speaks to a warrior’s honor code (think of chivalry and bushido). When battles are fought, losses become inevitable. If one dwells on those losses, fear follows behind until one might lose hope. Finding inspiration from those who died fighting for their people instills strength and provides us courage to keep moving forward.
Just as a warrior might look to the stars for guidance, we must find stars in our daily lives. If we focus on only the darkness in the world, we too can become lost and paralyzed by fear. I look at the stars for hope and strength to keep going. It’s worth noting that past humans also fought the same internal battles we face today, and they found their way through. We must follow suit by finding joy in the little things, and allowing them to light our path through fears and anxieties and insecurities. These joys of life are our stars, showing the way forward for the rest of us, no matter the obstacles.
Looking Ahead
I intend to finish chapters 33 to 36 by the next update. Film Night Saturday is also ending in place of something more irregular depending on the holiday or special event. After this Saturday, I plan on running a couple of movies in December for the winter holidays. But nothing weekly anymore.
I may occasionally skip a biweekly update if I’m engrossed in other work. I began with an ironclad wish to update every two weeks, rain or shine. These updates take more time than I anticipated, but I won’t stop. They help me to think, reflect, and could be useful to someone out there.
I began this blog years ago with the belief that the most important thing a person can do is learn and reflect. But there’s only so much time to do everything. It’s crucial to pick your battles wisely to avoid burnout. Due to these biweekly updates, I have lost the motivation to do film reviews. Going forward, I’ll return to occasional film review but not every week. Some films are not worth a review, so for those, I’ll share something in my Captain’s logs. I’m no longer calling these biweekly updates – only Captain’s Logs.
That’s it for this update. I’ll catch you next time. As always, carpe diem! Seize the day.
