The Vernal Spring

In celebration, we did one of my favorite drills this morning, The Vernal Spring. There are only six of them. Wrapped around decreasing steady state seated grooves. One 10/10/10 max effort, seated, standing and counter seated, with biggest gears. Just one every ten minutes. Josh hit 900 watts once and I was very pleased with my 650 five times. It is a wonderful way to welcome the onset of more challenge and the thrill of taking what we have worked so hard to earn indoors, out. I do feel the like a stallion whose bit has been chomped to pieces.

But there are more lessons. We need patience. It may be the first day of spring but the season will be a long one. Seven months. With some of that Irish luck we worked on the other day the year will end on Alii Dr. in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. Motivation, dedication, endurance, inspiration, creativity and lots more hard work will win the day. Spring us upward and soften the fall. Because there will be falls. We will stumble. We will open spinning eyes to see the world from a horizontal perspective, flat on face. There will be blood. It will hurt and we will want to quit. We will question our motives. We will consider the cost. We will error.

With that as open (!) here is a mash-up of items that endlessly intrigue me.

On why you should stop trying to harness your brain, and instead help your brain get out of its harness

"The question becomes, what happens if you hit the wall? Because we've all got experience with this. You're working on a creative problem, and then all of a sudden that feeling of progress disappears ... What you should do then — when you hit the wall — is get away from your desk. Step away from the office. Take a long walk. Daydream. Find some way to relax. Get those alpha waves. Alpha waves are a signal in the brain that's closely correlated with states of relaxation. And what scientists have found is that when people are relaxed, they're much more likely to have those big 'A ha!' moments, those moments of insight where these seemingly impossible problems get solved. So when you hit the wall, the best thing you can do is probably take a very long, warm shower. The answer will only arrive once you stop looking for it."

How creativity works from NPR.

George Lois video. He, the original Mad Man (much to his chagrin).

George Lois' new book reviewed and discussed.

Cool video on the mojo of Motivation.

More on George Lois.

The vernal Spring. Day one, drill one. It's a new beginning all over again. Get up, get out, get on.