leo.notenboom.org

The Unsubbenning

December 14, 2025

Reclaiming time and pace

a computer display with hundreds of unsubscribe buttons on screen — (Image: Gemini)

One approach I use to manage the incoming flood of information is to use a dedicated email account for newsletters and similar subscriptions. That way, I can focus on my “main” emails without distractions, while intentionally sitting back and reading interesting content later.

One benefit is that this email address is easy to ignore. If, say, I’m laid up in a hospital for a week, newsletters will continue to accumulate with no adverse effects. When I return to the account, I can choose what to do next. The typical approach is to declare email bankruptcy, delete the accumulation, and start over as new issues arrive. It worked well.

Responsible Recovery

December 13, 2025

Setting an example? Really?

An extreme macro photograph of a finger engaging the lever of an aluminum soda can. — (Image: Gemini)

My primary responsibility right now is to myself, to recover. That means physically (strengthening ambulation, improved balance, manual dexterity, etc), as well as psychologically, mainly via the written word.

In reality, though, the responsibilities go further. Much further.

To Whom Are You Grateful?

December 13, 2025December 12, 2025

There is much to be grateful for

A macro shot of a ceramic bowl repaired using the Japanese art of kintsugi (golden joinery). The cracks are highlighted in bright gold rather than hidden, and the bowl rests in a pair of cupped human hands. Rationale: This metaphor serves a dual purpose. It acknowledges "The Fall" and the subsequent physical repair (ortho floor), while the gold represents the tangible, valuable interventions of people (surgeons, friends) that make the "broken" object whole again. — I am Kintsugi (Image: Gemini)

When someone practicing a different spiritual or philosophical tradition wishes you well from within their tradition, what’s the correct response?

Acceptance.

It’s something I ended up reflecting on and even changing my approach slightly after hearing well-wishes from several different directions.

Ya Gotta Laugh

December 11, 2025

No, ya GOTTA

An individual in a hospital corridor using a walker, walking away from the camera wearing a traditional hospital gown slightly open in the back, but the lower back is covered with a "slow moving vehicle" triangle sign. — (Image: Gemini)

Needless to say, emergencies and emergency surgery, where terms like “paralysis” and “spinal cord injury” are being tossed about, are serious situations. I, in no way, want to minimize that. This is serious shit.

However, looking back at the events of the past two weeks, I note another theme as well, and it’s a theme I believe is partly responsible for my progress.

Humor.

Meaningful Yet Mediocre Meditation

December 10, 2025

Chuckling in the MRI

A person in it. The person's legs are visible as the rest of the body is being scanned. Above the MRI is a thought bubble emanating from the person that says "Oh, sh*t!" — (Image: Gemini)

I suck at meditation.

I don’t let that get in the way of doing it poorly, anyway, for the past 17+ years. My take is that the only truly “bad” meditation is the one that didn’t happen. Even then, that’s being unnecessarily judgmental, but there we are.

One of the techniques I use when meditating is to recite a specific “gatha” or short verse to myself. This comes from Thich Nhat Hanh’s book Present Moment Wonderful Moment: 52 Inspirational Cards and a Companion Book.

Damn Steroids

December 9, 2025

But not for the reasons you might think

I am not known for being a particularly passionate guy. Emotions exist, of course, but they’re typically kept well inside.

Imagine my surprise when, in the days after my fall and surgery, I was frequently, unexpectedly, weeping. My mind would touch on a topic and all of a sudden … tears.

I have two theories: reality and “the excuse”.

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?