Captain’s log #6: Harshmode, stardate 26-10-01
Maintaining the Will to Persevere
This week, I’ll focus on perseverance for the quote, songs, and writing update. I’m keeping this update shorter because I don’t have much new to update on. The pressure wound healing continues, and my to-do list continues to grow each day.
I have begun to significantly boost my daily protein intake. I wasn’t getting enough protein, which was likely one of the main issues with wounds. Protein is typically the key ingredient for any kind of tissue healing. When you are a vegetarian like I am, protein becomes an issue. Vegetarian foods typically have low protein on average, making it harder to get enough from food alone without artificial supplements. Alongside that, I have also changed my multivitamin to something more complete. I’m hoping this new diet regimen helps bring things to an equilibrium.
While I focus on my physical recovery, I’m also looking forward to the return of my favorite sport. The NBA basketball season begins in three weeks, which is always exciting. Basketball has been my favorite sport since 2000. I’ll discuss it more in the next update as we get closer to the regular season. As I have shifted my time allotment to other activities, I haven’t watched pre-season in a few years. Over the years, I have altered my sports content consumption and become more selective. I no longer watch pregame, halftime, or post-game shows. I don’t watch any sports shows on any channels like ESPN. My focus is strictly on the games themselves, ignoring blowouts and games featuring teams under .500 record, unless my favorite team is involved.
Time is a daily limitation, and I don’t want to waste it.
Quote (or passage)
“Do not go gentle into that good night,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.”
–Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night poem by Dylan Thomas
This poignant poem was famously used in Interstellar (2014), and I loved the thought behind it. We shouldn’t accept the end just because life is difficult or painful. We must fight and do everything in our power to resist the end. Even when hardships and outcomes are beyond our control, we must never give up. It’s also not necessary to apply the meaning to death. Death can stand for any kind of failure or shortcoming or something beyond your control. While you may lack control over the result, you still control how you get there and what your values are. For perseverance is not about never losing or thinking losing is impossible. It’s about not giving up and staying present in the ring, fighting every moment.
What I’m listening to
Till I collapse, Eminem
One of my favorite songs. I’m not big into hip-hop, but this is a classic anthem on perseverance. This song focuses on digging deep and never giving up. You must give your all until you have nothing left. I see it as a fitting message about life: no matter what impossible challenges stand before you, don’t give up on your dreams. Everything lies in one having the will to go forward by any means.
Lakshya, Shankar Mahadevan
I couldn’t find something similar in vibe on my playlist. A few songs about not giving up and fighting through determination caught my attention. I chose Lakshya, which means ‘aim’ or ‘objective’ in Sanskrit. While the vibe isn’t the same aggression, it concerns perseverance and finding inner strength to keep going regardless of hardships. Lakshya (2004) is a film about a young man without goals drifting through life. He finally joined the Indian Army just as the Kargil War was breaking out. This title song plays while he is going through training. The message is that when one moves with courage, the distance becomes meaningless. No matter what happens around this individual, one must keep going and give it their all. Their aim is to be achieved by any means.
The Writing Desk
Since my last update, I line-edited chapters 26 to 28. I was hoping to finish 29, but I lost a couple of writing days to distractions. Some days, it’s difficult to avoid distractions. I’m not keeping to the pace I want, but my alternatives are limited. I continue to listen to music as I persevere day by day. The road is tough, one of the toughest in my life. But I can’t give up and won’t give up. My objective is to write multiple books in this life, regardless of the blood, sweat, and tears it takes to persevere.
One Thought
When the days get long, and I feel like my progress has slowed, I ask myself a question. Why do I write?
It has been my dream since I was young that I wanted to write multiple books one day. I wasn’t sure if I would get that chance in 2023 when I faced dangerous spine surgery and infections in blood (close to sepsis). After the surgery, I decided to take my dream more seriously. I also face other major health issues. The hardships continue to pile up, but I must persevere toward my dream by any means. Impossible odds? No matter. Nothing will stop me.
That’s what keeps me going, even when the days get rough. It will get rougher. But the will of fire must keep burning.
What film/show I’m watching
Last week, we watched one of the worst films ever made: The Room. It was so poorly made that it’s entertaining. I must say that it wasn’t my vote! I do not watch such movies, but it’s what won the poll. The writing, directing, acting, cinematography, sets, and production values were horrendous. I noticed one scene repeat four times with slightly different dialogue. There was about a 45-minute gap where the story didn’t progress. I felt dumbfounded, wondering how something could be this rubbish. And to learn that the filmmakers spent $5 million on this pile of junk?? Oh dear, I can list off my complaints, but I don’t think it’s even worth it.
This previous Saturday, we were supposed to watch Almost Famous (2000). However, folks didn’t show up, so we canceled it. For the month of October, we’re running a countdown to Halloween Horror Film Night.
Naruto re-watch has been my focus the last two weeks. I have already blasted through the midpoint, thanks to the cut that removes the fluff scenes and filler episodes. The storytelling is spectacular, and the character development brings immense joy. I first watched these episodes in my early 20s. Now in my mid-30s, I appreciate these episodes just as much as I did then. It’s amazing how much I recall from my first watch. The important thing is the lack of filler content, making it much more watchable. Don’t watch Naruto through the fillers. If you can’t find an altered cut, Google which episodes are fillers and skip them all.
Looking Ahead
I want to finish editing chapters 29-31 by the next update. You might notice my pace slowing down this time. I’m limiting how much I sit at my computer, hoping that will help wound healing.
That’s it for this biweekly. Post questions or comments concerning anything posted here. I’ll catch you next time. Carpe diem!
