Where I live, out in the woods, where the trees shade tall grasses and there’s a ton of little holes, burrows, hollows and crevices, we get a lot of snakes.
Most of these are harmless, although a 6 foot plus black snake can still give you good start if you’re not expecting it, or you’re laying on the ground working on a car or motorcycle - but it’s not these you have to worry about.
On my property we don’t have the more impressive timber rattler, but we do have copperheads in spades. Although there’s a commonly repeated myth that the baby ones are more dangerous (usually for some ridiculous reason like not understanding how to control their venom output), the big ones can pose a threat, especially to small kids like mine.
One of the things about the little snakes is - they’re so innocuous, at first, and they can be hard to spot, camouflaged among the leaves and sticks of the forest floor.
But they grow up.
Our own habits and behaviors are a lot like this. Unnoticeable at first, and by the time we realize they’re a major issue, and extremely poisonous, they’ve already got their fangs sunk in deep.
We have a saying here at Ulfheim that goes for all kinds of snakes - no-legged, two-legged, and internal:
“The tall grass cut low. All snakes exposed.”
In order for that tall grass to be cut, the blade must be swing often and for long hours.
All snakes of all manner must be exposed by relentless “mowing,” and time in maintenance and preventative work, otherwise they’ll take over the whole plot.
8.12.26
Intake:
- I’m writing today’s email to the band “My Skin Is Multicam.” Sort of like electronic music, sort of like hypnotic black metal, but something not exactly either. Good for the gym, for writing. Listening to their music isn’t an endorsement of one country or another from me.
- My son and I enjoy watching movies together (when he’s been a good lad!) often. It’s an interesting exercise as a father watching things with your own kid and seeing if what you enjoyed as a kid stood the test of time. Before things were totally screwed up across the board, it’s pretty wild to watch things like the old animated Robin Hood and see what it praises or holds as exemplary.
The protagonists stand up against corrupt government and unjust taxation, show generosity and compassion to their people, display unbreakable loyalty to their friends through hard times, and maintain a sense of humor and “stiff upper lip” even in dire situations. Also, marriage + romantic devotion, and an undying sense of hope for the future. We could all do with a reminder of these things.
Worth a rewatch if you have little ones of your own, and a wild comparison to the trash offered today.
Output:
- Switching things up in the gym a hair this week to embrace a bit more volume at the expense of higher weight, which I’ve had to admit is just making a lot of other things hard. Back, knee, etc. are having a hard time dealing with it, so more reps it is. There’s always a way to get that progressive overload, sometimes it’s just about not being so stubborn you sacrifice progress for dogma.
- Ordering some more merch this week and next. I'll roll out one or two classics/reprints, one or two new ones, and maybe one or two surprises. Also planning to restock backpatches and a couple other things. Let me know in the comments if there’s something specific you’d like to see make a comeback, or a debut, and if enough people are interested, I’ll do what I can.
Takeaway:
Been getting myself back to writing on a more disciplined schedule again, which is nice.
I highly recommend choosing at least one creative pursuit and trying to dedicate 10-30 minutes to it a day at minimum.
Handwriting. Drawing. Music. Writing. Sculpture. Poetry.
If one of our objectives is the preservation of the beautiful, we should also be doing our job to make sure more of it is being created! We aren’t just trying to tend to the ashes, but to keep the fire burning.
Pick something. Do it. Please share with me in the comments or send me a message, I love seeing that stuff.
If you need help getting started, my journaling course has helped a ton of people organize their thoughts, their day, their creativity, and accomplishing their goals. Like all my courses, it holds a 5 star rating from nearly everyone who’s bought it.
Thanks for reading!
- Paul W.
I'd love to pick up a black "Silence is golden" reprint, and Ekwiduhudar on forest green.
Black sun w/ the knights helmet has been often admired by a like minded friend from Germany trying to make a go here, plus I'm happy to say, in no small part to the fine programs you run, I've outgrown my own!