Essays by Ken Lane
By Ken Lane
Essays by Ken LaneMar 06, 2024
Why Your Should Nickname Your Stuff
Read this episode here: https://kenlane.substack.com/p/nicknaming-your-stuff
Don't Find a Job You Love
Preparing for My No-Buy Year (2024)
Read full transcript at: https://kenlane.substack.com/p/no-buy-year-2024
My Jar of Quotes, Organized By AI
I dumped my jar of favorite quotes into AI and asked it to organize them by theme. This episode is the result. I hope you enjoy and are inspired.
Howdy: How to Disarm Your Distractions With Friendliness
https://kenlane.substack.com/p/howdy
Have you ever noticed how most folks you cross on the street will mirror your demeanor?
A nod for a nod.
A wave for wave.
A "good, thanks" for a "howareya?"
Ok, maybe a hug attempt receives a "whoa whoa whoa, easy there, big guy."
For the most part, you can disarm most folks with "friendly enough" neutrality—shifting your weight toward kindness.
Thoughts tend to work the same way.
(More continued in episode because it won't all fit in the description box.)
Raise the Blade: Philosophical Epiphanies While Mowing Grass
What I Wish I Had Known About Training: 7 Rules for Fitness Beginners (From Kenetic)
Here is an episode from my fitness blog, Kenetic:
A Complex Fascination With Simplicity
Read and subscribe here: https://kenlane.substack.com/p/simplicity
Why (On Earth) I Date-Stamp Everything
Running Your Own Race: Not Necessarily an Essay About Running
Read this piece and subscribe to my newsletter at https://kenlane.substack.com/p/run-your-own-race
Writing For My Wife
I was recently reading Stephen King’s writer’s manual, On Writing—in which the horror/thriller novelist spills his great writing beans for any aspiring author.
One section that resonated with me immensely covered the utility of having someone in particular in mind while you’re writing—someone you’re writing for, almost as though the story was a letter. I couldn’t help but begin to grin to myself and wag my finger toward and away from the page. “Ah, Stevie boy—it is as if you already know me.” When it comes to non-fiction writing, I pretty much write for myself. I am usually imparting some knowledge to my past self or perhaps a future self that has forgotten a life-enhancing truth.
But when I write fiction—which is very new for me—yes, I still somewhat write for myself from phrase-to-phrase by the seat of my pants. I have no idea what is going to happen, as though I’m the one reading it.
But I’m really writing for the biggest story buff I know—my wife.
My wife immerses herself in stories like few people I've ever met. Whether a graphic novel, anime series, Korean drama, or a story told in person (even the gist of a movie), she is the queen of suspending her own reality in service of becoming one with the story. She is the ultimate investor.
So, as I've begun to let the gravity of an unfolding story lead me along, perhaps my greatest motivation is to build worlds for my wife—places for her to step inside, meet characters, ride along with them, gasp, nod, tsk, and yell at the page—which she's been known to do.
And I can't wait to do it all over again.
My wife, reading a story I freestyled about an unknown flying intelligence attacking a rural neighborhood.
The first draft of this piece using my “new” 75-year-old Smith Corona Clipper.
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4 Reasons to Compose Thoughts With a Typewriter: A First Draft
Read this piece or sign up for my newsletter here: https://kenlane.substack.com/p/4-reasons
4 Reasons to Create Your First Drafts in Ink
Originally featured: https://kenlane.substack.com/p/ink-first-drafts
The Spellcheckless Frontier
Sign up for the free email newsletter and read this piece: https://kenlane.substack.com/p/spellcheckless-frontier
Your Favorite Pen
You can read this essay or subscribe to my Substack here: https://kenlane.substack.com/p/pen
Let's Steal From Japan
You can read this piece on my Substack site: https://kenlane.substack.com/p/lets-steal-from-japan
30 Minutes in the '30s
Originally featured at https://kenlane.substack.com/p/30s
The Laziest Way to Tidy Up
Audio version of https://kenlane.substack.com/p/the-laziest-way-to-tidy-up
The Mindfulness Practice of Trail Running
The Mindfulness Practice of Trail Running
as found at kenlane.substack.com
Repetitious clomping, panting and gasping along the unforgiving pavement, my feet quickly leap from the sidewalk as though falling from a long day into bed onto the dirt trail drizzled with tired pine needles. The trees greet me along the singletrack and welcome me into their world—wishing me farewell in a single wave as one would wave at train passengers.
The trail narrows, making me feel like a bullet in a rifle barrel. Pace becomes subjective. The limbs silently cheer me forward as my only spectators through the wilderness.
My eyes scan my future—charting courses through the rocks, roots, trunks, limbs, drops, and berms. They send instructions to my legs faster than consciousness can grasp. Messages arrive just before the next foot falls. Just as the mind speaks to the feet, the feet respond with progress reports about every step. Lean in, dial back. This ankle is solid, but that ankle needs help. Stop, go, pivot, dig in, ease off, climb, drop, slow down, let'er rip. The conservation never ceases.
If depression involves suffering past trauma and anxiety is triggered by rumination of the future, there is no room for these in the mind while dashing through the forest. To dwell anywhere but in the moment would result in a dropped call between the mind and legs—spelling one spilled in the dirt and bramble.
Running through the less-manicured wilderness is as much a practice for the direction of the mind as much as it is the body. A practice of or practice for what? For present existance. Contentment with the current batch of air in one’s lungs without pondering the breath that came before it or the one that will come after it. The past breath belongs to the forest and the next breath is not promised.
The past is gone. The future is not here. This breath and this step are all that exist. Enjoy them and put them to good use.
Gamifying Productivity and Avoiding Burnout for Asynchronous Workers
You can read this essay at https://kenlane.substack.com/p/gamifying-productivity-and-avoiding
Laundry in the Coal Mine
From post: https://kenlane.substack.com/p/laundry
How Is This the Best Thing That’s Happened to Me?
How could a difficult situation actually be the best thing that's ever happened to you?
Original article: https://www.thekenlane.com/best-thing
Becoming Besties With Death
You know it to yourself to become besties with Death.
Written version here: https://www.thekenlane.com/becoming-besties-with-death/
How to Design Your Inner Role Models
Learn how to design inner role models that understand your motivations to help you better live up to your potential.
Full written version: https://www.thekenlane.com/inner-role-models/
6 Reasons to Make Analog Journaling a Part of Your Life
In an instant-download, “Prime delivery,” K-cup culture, intentional slowness seems to enrich common activities with meaning and renewed enjoyment. Enter analog journaling.
Enjoy the written version of this piece here: https://www.thekenlane.com/analog-journaling/
Running on Cruise Control
Read the full transcript of this episode here: https://www.thekenlane.com/running-on-cruise-control/
Also, feel free to subscribe to thekenlane.com/subscribe
How to Make Chores Suck Less
Make your chores suck less with one simple mind hack.
Determine How to Spend Time With One Question
Not sure how you should spend your time? Now you can figure it out by asking this one question.
Accompanying article: https://www.thekenlane.com/stlt/
My Favorite Place in the House to Start My Day
Spending some time in this place in the morning may extend your life and even better—make airport terminals a little more comfortable.
Find the original article corresponding to this article: https://www.thekenlane.com/favorite-place-to-start-my-day
Two Ancient Notions That Helped Pull Me From the Depths
Learn more about what two ancient notions of Stoic philosophy helped pull me from the depths of anxiety.
Original post found here: https://www.thekenlane.com/two-ancient-notions/
Who Tells Your Story: Cementing a Legacy Through Good Work
What can the widow of a Founding Father teach us about cementing a legacy? More than volumes could ever contain.
See the full version of this piece here: https://www.thekenlane.com/who-tells-your-story/
5 Reasons Why I Left Social Media (and 4 Things to Consider)
About a month ago, I kicked my very last connection to social media. The following piece contains five reasons why I've decided to opt-out of social and four concepts to consider if you're thinking about doing the same.
This article version of this episode can be found here: https://www.thekenlane.com/leaving-social-media/
If you like this piece, consider subscribing this podcast or my newsletter at https://www.thekenlane.com/subscribe/ — it's free and I have nothing to sell. Unsubscribe anytime.
Choosing Your Shovel: A Field Manual to Leveraging Fear & Managing Anxiety
Are you experiencing useful fear or useless anxiety? How can you tell the difference? What can you do about it? Learn in this field manual.
Taken from the original post: https://www.thekenlane.com/shovels/
Your Clothing Code: A Guide to Owning Only Your Favorite Clothes
Wouldn't it be nice if all of your items of clothing were your favorite? Well, it's possible with a well-constructed clothing code.
See the article version of this episode and view my own clothing code: https://www.thekenlane.com/your-clothing-code/
A Great Little Life
Many people want to live a great big life. Not me.
The original content for this piece can be found at thekenlane.com.
Am I Glad to See You: A Story About Visiting Dying Friends
Probably the most difficult thing I've written, but the most meaningful. https://www.thekenlane.com/am-i-glad-to-see-you/
I Talk Too Much (And What I’m Doing About It)
I'll admit it — I talk too much. But here's what I plan to do about it. Full piece: https://www.thekenlane.com/i-talk-too-much
"Jump, Fatboy, Jump": A “Skinny Fat” Man’s Jump Rope Rediscovery
For the first time in my 30 years of life, I found an activity that actually made me crave exercise. What was it? Jump rope. In this episode, I discuss my rediscovery of a childhood activity and using it to reshape my relationship with fitness.
This content of this episode was originally posted to thekenlane.com in July of 2019.
The Rich Poor Man: Insatiable Affluence vs Contented Poverty
The measure of a rich person should not be the digits on their bank statement, but the measure of the void between longing and contentment.
The content of this episode was originally posted on thekenlane.com.
The Greatest Piece of Financial Advice I’ve Ever Received
Many of us are living beyond our means not because of how much we were paid, but when we were paid.
The content of this episode was originally posted on thekenlane.com.
Helping Relieve Anxiety & Depression With God's First Question
Most of us have no idea where we are emotionally at any given moment. There's one statement that can help us recenter.
The content of this episode was originally featured on thekenlane.com.
Waking Up: We’re Focusing On the Wrong Metric
An early start to your day isn't nearly as important as this other vital metric.
The content of this episode was originally published on TheKenLane.com.
6 Thoughts Upon Reactivating My Facebook Profile After 16 Months
After 16 months off of Facebook, I reactivated my account. The following are six thoughts I've had about the first 24 hours back.
The content of this recording was originally posted on TheKenLane.com.
The Broken Autopilot.
For most of us, our autopilot is taking us in the wrong direction.
The content of this episode can be found at thekenlane.com.
Get Exclusive: The Digital Alternative to Social Media
I set out to find a way to obtain my favorite social aspects of Facebook without all of the side effects. Here's my suggestion.
The content of this episode was originally posted on TheKenLane.com.
You Owe It To Yourself to Give Your Craft the Focus It Deserves
It's never been easier to be knee-cap your own personal growth. You owe it to yourself to put your craft in the captain's seat.
The content for this episode was originally posted to TheKenLane.com.
Don’t Abandon the Tools You Forged in 2020
Before you write off the year as a loss, you likely developed several life-enhancing tools this year. Don't leave them in 2020.
The content for this episode was originally posted on TheKenLane.com.
For Your Future Self: 4 Attributes of a Sustainable Existence
We all would like to start new positive habits, but how should you determine which habits are worth the effort?
The Importance of Determining How Much is Enough & Why
When was the last time you thought about how much stuff is enough versus how much you can afford?
The content of this episode was originally posted at TheKenLane.com.
How to Make Self-Improvement Suck Dramatically Less
Most one-size-fits-all self-improvement plans suck because of one missing piece—you. Let's discuss how to make self-improvement suck less.
The content of this episode was originally posted at TheKenLane.com.