#103 How a video measures my treadmill run
02/25/2023
I believe it is safe for me to refer to the above video as a “treadmill video” instead of a motivational speech at a graduation ceremony. My speed on the treadmill has changed, the calories burned during those 16 minutes have significantly improved, but the voice coming into my ears while I am on the treadmill has been the same for the last one and a half month. And it is the voice of Admiral McRaven, the person who gave a commencement speech at the University of Texas often referred to as the “Make Your Bed” speech. A peculiar observation that I want to share related to this incident is how we often measure things in the non-SI units. For example, have you ever thought/calculated how many songs it takes you to reach your office/college from the place you stay? I have. While buying a fruit have you ever thought how many of these fruits would be needed to balance you out on a weighing scale? I have. Similarly if someone asks me how long do you run on a treadmill. My answer would be one video of Admiral McRaven. Can you think of any different way of measuring things?
Although every second of this video is worth listening to, every lesson shared by Admiral McRaven is worth striving for, here are a few lines that pump up my pace and endurance -
“Little things in life matter. If you can’t do the little things right, you’ll never be able to do the big things right.”
“Nothing matters but your will to succeed. Not your color, not your ethnic background, not your education, not your social status. If you want to change the world, measure a person by the size of their heart, not by the size of their flippers.”
“You will fail. You will likely fail often it will be painful. It will be discouraging. At times it will test you to your very core, but if you want to change the world, don’t be afraid of the circuses.”
“If I have learned anything in my time traveling the world, it is the power of hope. The power of one person, a Washington, a Lincoln, King, Mandela, and even a young girl from Pakistan, Malala, one person can change the world by giving people hope. So if you want to change the world, start singing when you’re up to your neck and mud.“
Sometimes the ache of missing some(one)(thing) can leave us feeling hollow inside, like a piece of us is missing. In moments like these take comfort in the memories. Remember the happy moments, the laughter, the good times, and the special moments you shared. These memories can help you feel connected to the person or thing you're missing and bring back a sense of joy and happiness. Hope. The biggest driver on Earth. The most magical word. Hope because it keeps the ball rolling.
Microsoft has been in the news a lot lately because of their partnership with OpenAI and launching the new Bing! Let me tell you something interesting about the tech giant. The Guinness Book of World Records has acknowledged Microsoft for creating the most silent room on the planet. The development of this room took two years and it is constructed with six layers of concrete and steel. Additionally, the room is not directly attached to the surrounding building. It is impossible to stay inside for more than an hour because within a few minutes, the sound of your blood flowing, heart beating, and bones creaking become noticeable. The absence of sound reflections from the walls impairs spatial awareness, which is usually dependent on sound waves bouncing off walls to orient oneself. Maybe expect a job position titled “Chatterboxes” to test out this new room! What would be the range I wonder? 💭
See you next Saturday, have a great weekend!
Cheers!
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