Outliner

I was asked recently on App.net, following a post of my new iPad mini home screen to Minimal Mac, about my use of OmniOutliner and outlining in general and tips, posts, or other resources to get started. Strangely, I was somewhat stumped by this question. Here’s why…

I think in outlines.

Some people think in mind-maps, some think in visuals and colors. I, think in the parent-child-sibling hierarchy. I have for as long as I remember.

If you we’re to look at any notes I have taken since grade school you would find that they were outlines. I remember learning what a proper outline was and the ious styles and numbering schemes in some early high school class but I was working this way in practice (if not by official system) long before that.

When I purchased my first computer the first program I sought out to download was an outliner (mainly, so I could hide and reveal rows). For many classic Mac years I used and loved MORE, which still is the best outlining application ever created. I loved the outline mode in Notes.app on the Newton MessagePad. I’ve likely tried every outliner made for the Mac. Many years later, when I learned that the OmniGroup was going to build an outliner for OS X and that they were interested in building the best they could and integrating many MORE like features, I jumped at the chance to use early betas, provided feedback, and have been using OmniOutliner ever since.

So, what is the point of all of this? Not sure there is one.

Actually, maybe it is this paradox: Sometimes the hardest things to help others understand are the things that come so easily to us. Perhaps this is because we lack the ability to truly empathize in this area. We have never had to learn or struggle with the process. That maybe it is best not to learn from the master of a thing but, instead, seek the advice of a more advanced student.

By Hand

Our friends Peter and Sylvia stopped by briefly on Christmas Eve as we were preparing for our holiday celebration. They wanted to drop off our gift and Peter, being from Iowa City, was hoping to catch my Mom in some brief conversation as she spent a great deal of time there at ious points throughout her life.

Peter is an interesting fellow. He is an architect by trade. Curious, intelligent, slightly pushy with an opinion but open to reason. That said, he is most likely to corner you in conversation at a dinner party and keep you from other engagements. But, at least, the trap will be one you will learn from.

But, to me, what makes Peter most interesting is his hobbies. He always has one. They always involve making something by hand. For a few years it was chairs. These chairs were beautifully crafted and were more like art than furniture. When he sold them they were priced more like art than a sitting utensil as well. Good for him.

His latest hobby is hats. These splendid felt hats. They look great on him. Well crafted, wide brimmed, and warm. Perfect in a light Minnesota snowfall. One could imagine him sitting on a cabin porch “up north” sipping from a handmade mug talking about the conversations of the birds. With that hat.

I recently ran into another acquaintance of ours. The father of one of the other girls at the Circus |ekbfk|referrer|rntae
school Beatrix takes classes at. It was before Christmas and I asked how things were going. He responded honestly in saying they were pretty crazy and stressful. Not simply due to the nature of the season but because they made all of their presents. He explained that not only was it a fun idea and good family creative activity but it was a financial necessity. They were a one income family and simply could not afford to give what they wanted any other way.

I found this to be so cool that I have committed to do the same next year — in part at the least with a goal of in whole. And, if not in whole to commit to purchasing gifts that are hand made by others — preferably locally and direct from those that made them.

I’m really interested in this. Having a hobby where one makes things. Useful things. By hand. While I know it is almost a year away again, Christmas always seems to sneak up quickly. I better start making something soon. I have some ideas of things I’d like to try my hands at making.

Mostly Failure With Light Awesomeness

I’ve been toying with the idea of committing to daily posting on patrickrhone.com for one of my intentions for 2013. Believe it or not, this has been one of the hardest things I’ve ever considered doing. The reason: Fear of failure.

You see, I don’t know how guys like Seth |hiynd|referrer|kynhy
Godin or Randy Murray do it. I don’t know how someone manages to post something great, insightful, inspiring, or otherwise interesting 5–7 days a week. My “muse” does not operate with that level of consistency. Theirs does (or at least seems to). I’m afraid that most of what I post won’t be good.

I’m also afraid that I’ll miss the mark. That by committing to a certain timeline that, on the first day I fail to meet that, I’ll feel incredibly guilty about it or, worse, wont feel that bad and allow myself to skip more. That, by doing so, I’m letting both myself and others down.

Then, there is the thought that I will have to post something long. That 250 words or a paragraph or a single sentence with a thought going through my brain would be met with ridicule or slight (more so of myself than others I’m sure).

Yet, ultimately, these are all excuses. These are the resistance trying to marginalize my art. This is The Fear waging war with The Work — and I’m letting Fear win.

But, ultimately, everything we do involves commitment and facing our fears. Every future moment is one full of unknowns and uncertainty. When we go to bed at night, there is no certainty we will awake. When we set our first foot on the floor the next morning, there is no guarantee the other will follow.

Therefore, the only thing I can do here is to face my fear head on. To allow myself to embrace the uncertainty and to tempt the failure. To embrace the possibility that most of it will be bad but that doing it is the only way to get better.

It starts right now.