Friday, July 24, 2026

Tuesday, July 14, 2026

We think as we write

Photo by Kyle Larivee on Unsplash


Ryan Holiday provides a good argument against using AI or ghostwriters in his book Wisdom Takes Work.

We think as we write. Indeed, we cannot finish a sentence until we have carried the thought all the way through. We ponder opposing ideas as we pause between keystroke, the pen becomes our third eye. It doesn't even need to be prose - a drawing can help, a diagram lets you see the problem in a new way. 

On the page we see the pattern. Transcribing the passage or a quote, we get to feel real genius and insight pass through our mind and our fingers, processing each word, weighing and understanding the wisdom.

Thursday, July 9, 2026

Every misconception is a poison, there are no harmless misconceptions (Tolstoy, paraphrasing Schopenhauer)

Photo by Bruno van der Kraan on Unsplash


Ryan Holiday uses the above quote in his book Wisdom Takes Work.

Interestingly, when I searched up the quote it emerged as 'Every lie is a poison; there are no harmless lies. Only the truth is safe'.

A lie and misconception are not the same thing, but I see why Holiday uses it. It's the truth that he's wanting to promote. Plus, a life-long pursuit of the truth, despite our many pre-conceptions, opinions and misconceptions.

As we age, the tendency is to get wrapped up in all of those things, but even my young students can get fixated on their own versions of events.

Part of my job as a teacher is to work towards them finding the truth away from their biases.

Sunday, July 5, 2026

Positive thoughts bring positive outcomes (Raisa Jimenez)

Photo by Zac Durant on Unsplash


The school holidays have kicked in, which means a change of pace and routine.

The alarms on my phone have been put on hold for two weeks, the family time has already begun with the Denver and Melbourne branches joining us at Maple Grove, and the school work is put away until the second week.

The FIFA World Cup, Joan Didion and Ryan Holiday books, and my records all beckon and jostle for attention as we look to visit family in New Plymouth, Palmerston North and Wellington in the first week.

Raisa's message will be front and centre during this time.