mcclellangg.com

Update August 2026

Aug 30, 2026

Back to school

Overview

Another month gone by. They say when you get older that everyday is Christmas. I'm not at that point yet, but I'm starting to see why the olds find humor in that phrase.

What did we get up to?

Countering perfectionism

I implemented an idea (taken from Fernando Boretti) to finish my Nvim learning retro:

  1. Create a spot on my Obsidian dashboard called Active Projects
  2. Include everything you are working on there, and want to finish
  3. Make time (10 minute minimum) to open the project daily in order to keep it mentally fresh

I started using a lightweight plan template, master_plan_MM-DD.md, and put it in the root directory of my creative projects. Here is an example gist of the plan I used for finishing my nvim Retro.

Beginning the project by asking myself the following was invaluable:

How much time do we want to spend?

I don't have infinite time to complete my projects (and I doubt you do either), so imposing that limitation, a time budget, forced me to deliver.

Delivering, no matter the outcome, is what will help get me away from my unhealthy perfectionist mind set. Which I previously mentioned I am working to overcome.

Another helpful tactic is that before stepping away from a project I always write a Next Task. This is an explicit task with clear and literal instructions for reentering the project.

I find this consistently gets me working, even when my executive functioning is shot. Starting is normally the hardest part, using the Next Task, makes starting seamless.

Practicing vs Learning

Last month I mentioned experimenting with learning one thing at a time. This was an effective strategy, but I think using the word practicing is more accurate.

Learning can be passive, and done in a variety of ways.

Practice is a daily ritual that requires constant creation for space to perform it. Space we often do not have by default within the attention economy.

I've identified I love having something to practice. Right now it's drawing. I've been continuing drawabox.

Previously thinking of it as learning was very confusing to me, because learning has a looseness to it that practice does not. When practicing I've found that making time for fun with the medium is just as important as the time spent improving, or actively learning.

Fun facilitates the "it just clicks" moments of understanding you get from the freedom allowed in exploring new concepts. You see what works, and what doesn't. Practice is great for learning and honing a specific skill, but not necessarily for finding out how to weave it into broader workings with the related medium. In other words, for finding out how, and when you should use the practiced technique.

I got older and am loved

I made it to the yearly checkpoint where I acquired another 'Age +1'. I was reminded that I am loved by so many people, and I thank all of them for their birthday wishes.

To paraphrase (and slightly alter) the words of Sol Smith I'm also reminded that I am fortunate to have one of the biggest imaginable advantages in life: the limitless and unconditional love and support of my siblings and parents.

I know I could always call them if I ever had trouble. I know there are others out there who can't say the same. So I remain grateful.

If you are someone like me who can often be prone to negative ruminations or ideations, it can be easy to forget that, and it is worth remembering. Remembering in tough moments of overwhelm, or intense rumination can be hard (and potentially neurologically impossible).

Maybe I should frame it and put it on my wall? I guess a blog post is a good start.

Outro

Anyways, all in all it has been a great month. I'm really proud of all that I have accomplished, and am looking forward to fall, and the coming cozy months. Aka break out the box red wine time!

Happy back to school to all the lovely teachers out there! May you be blessed with pleasant pupils, and the support you need to rock out another school year.

Content

Movies

  • The Fifth Element
  • Pitch Black
  • Friday Night Lights (Maximum catharsis, fkn love this movie)
  • Wicked, For Good (Love a good musical)
  • Spider-Man: Homecoming
  • Eighth Grade

Books

  • Visser
  • Lost and Now Found (INCREDIBLE book)
  • Animorphs n36
  • War Is a Force That Gives Us Meaning
  • Reading ... The Bonehunters
  • Reading ... Rice Boy

TV

  • Tires

Music

  • Audition (POS slaps)
  • Never Better (ditto above)

Articles

Advice

Just because you can do something, does not mean you should.

Never underestimate the impact of change. Even minor changes to expected routines can be debilitating. Give yourself grace.

Exercises are about the process, not the results.

Subsequent details to forms should be additive, subtractive details contradict the original tale of the form, dispelling the myth of 3D.

Your goal is not to draw the reference, the goal is to use the information in the reference to redraw YOUR construction.

Stats

  • I did ride my bike 1.5 miles so that's progress