leo.notenboom.org

Forced Downtime

December 8, 2025

Turning a pain in the neck into something restorative

A stark landscape photo of a frozen, fallow field. High contrast winter light on rough ground. A single withered stalk stands in the foreground. — (Image: Gemini)

The same day I was released from the hospital, Joan Westenberg posted an interesting essay, “The Harvest Will Come,” on downtime and the cyclical nature of creativity.

We accept that the world needs rest periods built into its operating system.

But when it comes to our own sense of meaning and purpose, our work, our lives, we expect constant summer.

The catch, particularly for our own sense of purpose, is that “downtime” is often frowned upon and even considered a form of failure, if not by others, then by ourselves.

Westenberg’s perspective is that of choice and/or the inevitability of going through less-than-creative periods, and of learning to accept them as not only inevitable but also healthy and restorative.

Uplifting

December 12, 2025December 7, 2025

When plans come together

We’ve been in our home for almost 29 years as I write this, and we’ve long known we want to stay here as long as possible. Of course, it’s a two-story home, which our knees and hips have often reminded us of.

A couple of years ago, we had the chair lift pictured above installed. It’s for the dogs, honest. Well, at least initially.

Happy Thanksgiving!

December 14, 2025November 30, 2025

SO Much to be Grateful For

A skeleton wearing a cervical collar siting at a Thanksgiving meal holding out a thumbs up. — Probably turning the head a little too much. (Image: Gemini)

To be clear, I’m writing this for myself, first and foremost. It’s how I process things, and I have a lot to process.

I’ve been overwhelmed at the number of people who’ve reached out with support (truly … more on that later). I know there are questions, and rather than repeat myself ad nauseam, I figured I’d make this little writing exercise/record public. Ignore it, or read it, or something in between. That you’ve cared enough to read even this far has already made my day. I’ll update it from time to time.

Two versions: TL;DR: WTAF! summary of the events of the last week, followed by OMG! TMI! gory details/trigger warning, etc. No blood, but there is poop.

Too Many Choices?

October 11, 2025October 11, 2025

A sign of our changing times?

thousands of musical notes in various styles and sizes wafting up from a pair of speakers — (Image: ChatGPT)

I like to listen to music. Reasonably good sound systems have always been a part of my DNA. One of my very first “big” purchases as a teenager was a moderately high-end receiver, turntable, cassette deck, and high-end speakers. I still have those 50+ year old speakers today (current version).

For decades my source(s) for listening to music were limited to the radio, and the music I purchased — first on vinyl, then CDs, and then digital downloads. Naturally, all of that has changed dramatically in recent years.

Newsletter Mania?

July 6, 2025July 6, 2025

How I ended up publishing four(+) different newsletters every week

Side view with a slight perspective effect of the Hoe double-cylinder press as marketed in 1881. It came in lengths ranging from 16 ft. (4.9 m) to 19 ft. 10 in. (6.04 m) and weighted between 8 and 12 tons; its price ranged from $5,500 to $7,500. The catalog further describes it as follows:This press is exceedingly strong, and the number seven size is capable of a speed of three thousand per hour; the smaller sizes, of course, running faster in proportion than the larger. As will be seen by the cut, it has been entirely remodeled, and the height reduced, so that its solidity, durability, and general efficiency are greatly increased... — Image: Public Domain via https://www.oldbookillustrations.com/

I mentioned to someone recently that I publish four separate newsletters. Two publish weekly, one twice a week, and one daily. They asked how I did that.

Well. It’s not something I set out to do. It’s more of a journey.

An important step on the path to success

Albert Einstein reading on an iPad. — (Image: ChatGPT)

On the 7 Takeaways home page I say:

Great content creators share one characteristic: they consume a lot of information. They read, they watch, they listen to a wide variety of topics that interest them. I started 7Takeaways because I want to be more like the people I admire, and I admire several great creators.

Here’s the thing: it’s more than great content creators. You’ll find that the most interesting and successful people you meet are those that consume good content across a wide range of topics and interests.

So, what’s “good content”?

Acknowledging Anxiety

May 14, 2025

(Updated from a couple of years ago. I was about to write something about “is this what finally kills me” — an anxiety that increases in intensity as we age — and noted that it was already a small part of this larger topic.)

It almost feels trendy to talk about anxiety these days.

In part, I suppose, it’s become more prevalent because of the pandemic, and politics, and social media, and, and, and …

But has it, though? Has become more prevalent, or just more visible?

Based on my experience, I would say: why not both?

Believing in Magic

May 2, 2025

Two people sit across from each other at a café table. One has a laptop and a microscope, the other a crystal ball and a notebook of dreams. They’re smiling, mid-conversation, with light from the window casting a rainbow across the table — symbolizing respectful coexistence of logic and belief. — (Image: ChatGPT)

When I refer to magic here, I mean it literally. Like, in the Hogwarts sense.
I believe that creativity is a force of enchantment—not entirely human in its origins.
I heard a respected neurologist say in an interview, “The creative process may seem magical, but it is not magic.” With all due respect, I disagree. I believe the creative process is both magical and magic.
– Gilbert, Elizabeth. Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear

Liz Gilbert believes in magic. Literally.

I support her in her beliefs — not because I think they’re true, I do not — but because beliefs exist for important reasons, even if we don’t all agree on what is and is not true.

Last Man Standing

April 2, 2025

Racing to the far end of the bell curve.

Sunset at Pacific Beach Washington. (Photo: leonotenboom.com)

I’m only 67 as I write this, but I’m more and more finding myself the oldest person in the room. (I almost put the “only” in quotes, since of course perspectives on whether that’s “old” or not vary fairly dramatically. )

It’s pretty easy to rationalize this. After all, younger people are being created at a pretty decent clip every day, and, as harsh as it might sound to say it, older people are dropping at a similar (technically slightly slower) rate. It’s only logical, it’s only math, that I might be traveling to the far right of the curve.

And yet.