These are the raw notes I kept during my 2022 writing review.
Top-of-Mind Impressions
- frustration with overall projects, ended in august
- initial joy in starting my own projects, srigarten and shipping old product
- after six weeks, lost sight of the big picture
- discover that eye strain is caused by one-sided lighting
- restart treatment of ADHD, trying to maintain function for my work
- by august, realize lost big picture and started to redefine them
- define: archetypes, the public square
- accept: that I do match specific traits for ADHD and ASD
- realized that ADHD medication prescriber is neurotypical and does not understand what I am going through at all. They lack the ability to assess and relate clinical symptoms more deeply
- accept: I have executive dysfunction in "starting tasks" that causes impairment
- accept: I have autistic traits that cause impairment socially
- realize: I have strong emotional triggers that are motivating
- realize: I need to be surrounded by people, yet people also exhaust me
- design: mitigations based on my specific combination of traits
- define: my process is writing, and I want to be a "writer of reality"
- realize: I have a personal mission that I want to see come to fruition, but what is it.
Coming Year Musings
I can see that there is an entire new system I can put together as package.
Creating software technology is the strategic move for 2023:
- Programmatic PDF generation
- Compact Calendar generation
- Web Application Framework
- Electron Application Framework
The key strategic projects are to make digital interactive versions of the Word Counting Calendar, the Compact Calendar, and any static attractive form using a nice graphics library.
The key support project is apps on the desktop/web. HTML5+Javascript on the web, also as an Electron app. This has broad utility across all my work.
Another strategic project is coming up with a way to quickly outline how things work so I can get through prototyping quickly.
There is a GUI and EVENT language I need to develop too.
End of Year Musings
The Wins of 2022:
- Building Srigarten
- Two Slot Aux evolutioon to 2 Minute Starts
- Understanding ADHD and ASD
- Strategic Horizons, Etc
Progress Made in 2022:
- Getting the Amazon store moving again
- Insights into
The Insights of 2022:
- Recognizing that I need external motivation and communication for work for real, and it's not negotiable. It arose in the GEMSTEP work.
- Recognizing that I am no longer willing to put up with subpar design process that shortchanges thinking ahead. Peer programming with GEMSTEP.
- Also, the idea that there is a middle ground between "doing the thinking work for people who are not pushing forwrd with it the way I want" and "resentful that I do this work and no one appreciates how much time it is saving us".
Reverse Chronological Review
I reviewed my writing in reverse chronological order so I could let earlier entries be colored by hindsight (my current thinking, really), as I'm looking FORWARD to the coming year more so than navel-gazing over the past.
December 12 - A New Roadmap
In this report I paraphrased the previous report's takeaways:
- action: I really am impaired by ADHD/ASD/GAD traits. It expresses as the difficulty starting
- brain: I really do think the average person can't relate to me because of (1) using conceptual models instead of direct pattern descriptions and/or (2) not using recipes but instead intensely pursuing understanding using overwhelming complexity and precision.
- emotion+logic: I consciously maintain a dynamic balance between driving emotion and pragmatic reason as I refine my all-encompassing sense of mission and personal ethics. This is not a common approach, I feel.
I repeated the mitigations from November (e.g. "don't work alone, ever"), and did a gut check to see what I was forgetting.
- I still have to do the hard stuff despite all the new mitigations. That's the challenge.
- I don't have a comprehensive personal mission statement to use as a qualitative assessment tool.
- I don't have a definition of the kind of writer I am
- I have not completed the Strategic Horizons and Public Square work either.
So what's next? I left it off there.
November 11 - Battling Impairment, Finding Heart
This was posted on the 30th because of the intense soul-searching I was doing.
Two forms of resistance from Cold Hard Sri-nalysis
- I have an impairment of executive function (ADHD)
- I have an impairment of connection (ASD)
Additional element from GHDR Nov Report
- My motivation is anchored by emotion; having a sense of personal mission is the ideal motivator
From this two new guidelines:
- Don't Work Alone, EVER
- Apply "Masking" to make others comfortable for my own benefit, not just theirs
- Reframe GHDR to focus on living the personal mission
Is there a label to help me transform?
- writer that happens to do design and development.
Wondered...
- Do I have a personal mission defined?
- What kind of writer am I?
- What happened to Strategic Horizons, The Public Square, etc (see journal 0831)
- Review all tropes, squirks, and consolidate where possible
October 10 - Fighting the System, Letting it Be
summary:
- made progress on physical space
- found stock for shipping
- correlating ADHD+ASD
- terrible sleeping schedule
- new podcasts
bought:
- Engineering and the Mind's Eye
September 9 - Progress in Four Phases
Context: using the system defined broadly in August. Report here.
- remembering how to effectively guide my day
- noted that srigarten is working well as a thinking space, now contemplating more custom coded features
- started rebuilding productivity system based on Barkley
- More Strategic Horizons, Piles, Archetypes
- Improved Nutrition, Debugged Eyestrain
- Return to Two Slot + Aux
- Printed Products back in Stock
- Make More Physical Space
Post 0909 Reboot Series
Expanded on August 8 Report
- Reboot 1: new routine
- Reboot 2: creative habit rekickstart, eyestrain discovery
- Reboot 3: tackling bills, daily logging day 2
- Reboot 4-6: weekend stimming - handling overwhelm, intro strategic piles, low energy strategies
- Reboot 7: remembering things take time - how to handle unavoidable effortful projects. introduction of 'destination nodes' as a replacement for a project, moving toward a defined strategic horizon. 'expeditions' are a way to gear up and include other people. and remember this takes time (via teknoel)
- Reboot 8: Revisiting old ideas with old friends. Don/Sean (connection I hadn't felt in a while). Egg roll collection
- Reboot 9: Describing the lizard brain, and how to beat it
- Reboot 10: Mistakes were made. Didn't moderate video game use, crashed. Someone asked about old Agenceum diagram, and remember that old stuff is still valuable. Introduction of constellations
- Reboot 11: Can't dodge the hard stuff. list of strategic horizons and piles. List roles attracted to (defined in Reboot 11 Note)
- Reboot 11 Note: Archetypes & Constellations addendum
- Reboot 12: The missing constellation is Inventor/Creator...why?
- Reboot 13: Rethinking Autism. read books, neurotypical, theorizing. start of ASD grappling.
- Note on Goal Setting: review definition of "strategic goal" on wikipedia
- Reboot 14-18: Stalling and Recovering...lost the big picture (personal mission?). Forever problem is taking action, first pondering of exec function issues
- Reboot 19-22: Debugging Productivity Stall. big picture why lost? Consider modifications to operational daily goals to try to recover it?
- Reboot 23: Defining Operational Goals. Draw a picture of public square, as diagram with operational goals
- Reboot 24: Technical Site Updates
- Reboot 25: Pagespeed and Sketchmaps. diagram of strategic horizons
- Reboot 26: Weekend without Adderall. Tried more brainstim, water, fresh air. Is daily journaling really important? (ed. yeah, writing is my bag)
- Reboot 27: Reboot Complete! process (1) Startup Routine (2) use KMS and daily journal, index cards, form questions (3) Shutdown Routine. Missing operational goal HARD PROJECTS that are blocking: printed product sells and creating physical space
- next few entries are about trying to make progress on the hard projects
August 8: Setting Strategic Horizons
summary of post:
- closed GEMSTEP dev work, forgot how to think/act entrepreneurially
- missed 'singular focus' from the project work; how do I re-apply it to direction?
Strategic Horizons
The design is based on Sri Truths:
- can't maintain singular focus for the sake of predictable production efficiency
- I identify questions/pursue answers as part of researching a hypothesis
- I work hard to answer questions thoroughly and well
- I am always excited to share and exchange information
- I have the artistic and technical skills to package wha I know in an attractive manner.
- I'm wise enough to consider buying off-the-shelf solutions to save time or heartache.
Sri Behavioral Certainties:
- I need to talk with engaged people as I work on stuff, otherwise I wither and die. More than 3 days is danger.
- I compulsive collect, package, and share information.
- I hate feeling "trapped" by "having to do things" even if it's me telling me to do them. This resistance is primal and unavoidable until I can get moving.
- I am good at finding answers to questions, and have little difficulty thinking on my feet when asked. Identifying questions that I can answer overcomes the 'trapped' feeling and converts it into an investigation!
Sri Behavioral Allowances:
- Allowed to be curious, hypothetical, theoretical and address these as part of doing "the work", as this drive me forward (necessary overhead)
- I can substitute other tasks for the "important tasks" if they are also productive (aka structured procrastination)
- I can engage in vigorous discussion at any time, because this keeps me engaged in the work (presuming it's work- or goal-related in some way)
- I must share a packaged something every day, at any level of polish.
Strategic Horizon Defined:
- Increase production of shareable stuff
- Like a research lab + marketing division
- People energy required, so virtual cafe/open studio counts as a supportive venue
- strong community of CURIOSITY, TOLERANCE, OPEN-MINDEDNESS, SELF-EMPOWERMENT, LEADING THROUGH POSITIVE EXAMPLE, GENEROSITY OF SPIRIT, EMPATHY, CONSCIENCIOUSNESS, and KINDNESS.
- Conversation with said people provides external motivation as well as sanity checks for the work
Operating Principles
- key: identify tangible daily delivery
- key: share the daily deliverable
- share: develop capabilities to share: dsriseah as daily deliverable display stand, lines of business to distribution deliverables
- conversation: document on drsiseah.com (Srigarten), develop new media channels (YouTube, Podcast). nurture community spaces (Discord)
July 7: Back to Meeee!
Was still in the midst of GEMSTEP. Reviewed goals from feb in the report:
- How did the blogging go?
- How did the streaming go?
- Did I create any video content?
- Did I get the shared project areas working on the Discord?
- Was I able to build areas for shared connection on other media platforms?
- Did I publically articulate the mission as I understand it?
- Did more people come into the DS|CAFE because of something I did on this list?
Hypothesized I should check these things (ed. I don't think I did)
- A return to regular blogging!
- A return to regular streaming!
- new: Creating more concise video content!
- new: Creating opportunities for shared connection through media platforms (e.g. Patreon)!
- new: Packaging and existing process regularly!
- new: Making the DS|CAFE Discord part fo the process!
June 6: Too Much Work!
No report, listed possible topics (ed. never did them)
- A Surprising Development with ADHD and Spironolactone
- A “Not Buying Spree”
- Pride Month thoughts?
May 5: Much Mental Processing
The report notes that development work improved by adding peer programming, frustrated waiting to be able to work on own projects due to my work.
Takeaways:
- Adderall Review - works if I have (1) maintained good self care and (2) am not burdened with negative emotions. Otherwise, tends not to work.
- Thoughts on Autism and GAD - explained by 3rd culture? Being a robot? Afraid of getting yelled out, always wincing and am ready for it. But I can negotiate scope.
- Being less angry and sweary - "Blame is simply discharging of discomfort and paint."
- Dealing with Transgendder Identity - Not letting the body be the gatekeepoer of my reality as a Sri. relating to people is more important to me, and I can do that in spirit. Though I wish that the physicality was there too.
Oh and Destiny 2 is such a good game but terrible ux
April 4: Working through
Straightforward completion breakdown in report:
- Website SSG tool advances
- Srigarten introduced!
- Discord creative sanctuary mission begins, choosing type 2 energy "unabashed love of a subject because it makes people happy" vs type 1 "critique and analysis of a subject, exploring different points of view without prejudice" (panda club vs panda talk)
- DSri creative mission on my mind: elbs and 'the-mission' entry (this is maybe duped with another later entry)
- Swears are offputting: I get really mad at things that let me down, builds negativity. Have to control this communication mindfulness (quote Brene Brown on blame)
Wanted to do Challenge-a-Day but stuck with work. Also, PMHNP-BC first full appointment coming up (ed. the beginning of disappoint)
March 3: Focus Level Up!
In the report I note that every year my strategic goals are roughly these:
- Try to do more
- Try to enjoy myself
- Try to develop products
But I vary the approach. This year's approach is
- ADHD might be a thing, redditor said adhd brain craves stimulation. I found understimulation theory interesting and it seemed it could repl[y to me. First experience with adderall. Used the remnant supply without headache (ed. I had misattributed headache to meds, when it was actually eyestrain)
Chronological Review
Main Reports
- February 2 Kickoff - Defining the goals for 2022.
- March 3 Focus Level Up! - Initial goals cleared. Added "daily making" criteria.
- April 4 Working through the List - Progress.
- May 5 Much Mental Processing - Thinking through mental health issues.
- June 6 Too Much Work - Burned out on work. No report.
- July 7 Back to Meeee! - Work commitments ending, looking forward to focus on my own work.
Related journal entries Defining Archetypes, Defining Goals, and Defining Operational Goals dig into the conditions for setting strategic horizons. Reboot Complete is the summary of progress made.
- August 8 Setting Strategic Horizons - Need for "singular focus" stronger than ever. Hypothesizing goal-less strategic planning strategy based on structured procrastination.
- September 9 Progress in Four Phases - Warming up to meet my strategic horizon goals took time, but the systems of the past are proving useful in the present!
- October 10 Fighting the System, Letting it Be - Limited progress on the big yucky goals that must be done, reflections on the challenges, and a reminder maybe that I should just let things be beautiful.
- November 11 Battling Impairment, Finding Heart -
- December 12 A New Roadmap -
February Initial Goals
2022 Activity Ideas
- Bring Back Challenge-a-Day
- Create as part of a social group
- Track for forward achievement, not for the past
- Commit to using SSG for the new dsriseah.com site
2022 Platform Goals
- Develop dsriseah.com and open to public
- Use Discord to Encourage Creative Sanctuary
- Describe the DSri Creative Mission
2022 Personal Goals
- Be less angry and sweary
- Develop more conviction
- Work with ADHD
- Work with Trans Identity
- Develop Sri-ness
August Update
Version 3 'GHDR Goals' from August 8, where I tried to identity the grand "strategic horizon" I was steering toward.
STRATEGIC HORIZON
- Sri building cool things to share
- Sri nurtures a project incubating community
- Sri builds public stand/magazine for sharing
- Sri build market stand where people can buy
- serendipity: create products from shared interests
- eventually: revenue to travel to where the processes are
MECHANICS
- A Tangible Deliverable Every Day (momentum)
- dsriseah.com is the produce stand (outreach)
- Add to produce stand as needed (outreach)
- Identify lines of business on the fly (outreach)
- Document discoveries on dsriseah.com (value build)
- Document personal insights in squirks (value build/)
- Share the Daily Deliverable (community energy)
- Develop media channels as needed (outreach)
- Nuture community spaces organically (outreach)
September Update
Version 3 'GHDR Goals' from September 9.
STRATEGIC HORIZON
- Sri building cool things to share
- Sri nurtures a project incubating community
- Sri builds public stand/magazine for sharing
- Sri build market stand where people can buy
- serendipity: create products from shared interests
- eventually: revenue to travel to where the processes are
MECHANICS
- A Tangible Deliverable Every Day (momentum)
- dsriseah.com is the produce stand (outreach)
- Add to produce stand as needed (outreach)
- Identify lines of business on the fly (outreach)
- Document discoveries on dsriseah.com (value build)
- Document personal insights in squirks (value build/)
- Share the Daily Deliverable (community energy)
- Develop media channels as needed (outreach)
- Nuture community spaces organically (outreach)
RELATED ENTRIES
0809
- Establishing a New Routine0810
- Creative Habit Kickstarting0811
- Tackling Bills, Daily Logging Day 20814
- Weekend Stimming0815
- Remembering Things Take Time0816
- Revisiting Old Ideas with Old Friends0817
- Where the Lizard Brain Roams0818
- Mistakes Were Made0819
- Can't Dodge the Hard Stuff0820
- The Missing Constellation0821
- Rethinking Autism Diagnosis0830
- Debugging A Productivity Stall0831
- Defining Operational Goals0901
- Technical Site Updates0902
- Pagespeed and Sketchmaps0903
- A Weekend without Adderall0904
- Reboot Complete!
GHDR SYSTEM NOTES
0825
- NOTE: Goal Setting0826
- NOTE: Archetypes & Constellations
October
RELATED ENTRIES
November
RELATED ENTRIES
December
RELATED ENTRIES
1231
- GHDR Review Notes