SB 181: Back pain relief, working in traumatic times, writing with AI, books

Hi, I’m Matt. Welcome to Steady Beats: a newsletter about creating change at midlife in small and steady beats.

The van rumbled down the shiny new highway slicing through the Mexican jungle. Every so often, rope climbs traversed the road at treetop level, crosswalks for monkeys. From the front passenger seat, Michael Sklar turned to me and said two words:

“Steady beats.”

Michael helps Write of Passage students find their unique intersections of passion and expertise to write from. He felt Steady Beats was mine. It’s pretty simple: I’ll show up and work at something over and over again. Fitness, writing, learning Spanish, whatever.

We should have conviction in the compound interest of showing up.

At midlife, we should change. We should optimize. But with families and responsibilities, change comes incrementally.

In Steady Beats.

And that’s how we arrived at the new name for this newsletter, just 181 editions in.

---

Fitness Beats

Do you struggle with lower back pain?

I do, off and on. And following a couple of runs in Mexico on a dusty and uneven road, the pain is on again.

Over the years, I’ve tried various exercises and stretches, like this six-minute yoga/torture routine. Nothing but time ever seemed to make a difference.

Until now.

This simple exercise seems to be making a big difference, quickly:

And I’ve only been doing one set of 12—not two—each day, for less than a week.

As always with fitness: just try stuff. Carefully and wisely. But try stuff.

---

Productivity Beats

How do you work when life is traumatic?

I attended a webinar by Dr. Sherry Walling this week about how high-achievers can thrive when facing adversity outside of work.

Two ideas from her resonated for getting work done when life is tough:

• Listen to what you need. It changes. Sometimes it’s rest. Sometimes it’s diving headlong into work. Or a workout. Or a hobby. There is no single “This is how I deal with this!” answer.

• Journal to track your highs and lows each day. What energizes you? What crushes your soul? Pay attention. Adjust accordingly.

And something else I do: make daily deposits into physical, mental, and spiritual health. Move, read, pray, listen to music, create something.

Build a Resiliency Reservoir for when you need it.

---

---

Book Beats

The Baseball 100

I’ve just started Joe Posnanski’s breezy 868-page book, “The Baseball 100,” a history lesson on his rankings of the 100 greatest baseball players of all time.

• So far: entertaining and surprising. Posnanski doesn’t slog through basic player stats. Instead, he digs for obscure numbers and statistical patterns that made each player unique. He uses numbers to bring a player’s one-of-a-kind story to life—not to put you to sleep.

• To be noted: I’m trying a new note-taking process. I’m reading the physical book, and speaking anything I want to highlight into an Apple Notes file. With Kindle books, I chronically over-highlight. This process adds friction so I only capture the best stuff.

How to read recklessly

Austin Kleon says to welcome surprise into your book finding process. He reminds us:

I love this idea of reading recklessly. I can point to two things have helped me: Kindle sample chapters and weekly visits to the library.

Kleon links to Adam Sternbergh, who reminds us that books make the best souvenirs:

I love to buy books that will one day remind me of the time and place where I bought them

Finding books should be an adventure, not an assignment.

Stop Walking on Eggshells

I’m building out my Book Notes page here, with reviews and key ideas and highlights from books I read.

Stop Walking on Eggshells is the latest addition to the list, a book loaded with ideas and empathy for people caring for someone with mental illness—in this case Borderline Personality Disorder.

---

Writing Beats

Sasha Chapin wrote a compelling list of predictions about how AI will impact writing. A couple of highlights:

• Because of an increase in easily produced, competent pablum, formal experimentation and voice will be more valued.

• The writers who do best will thrive because they will, essentially, become media platforms; they will cultivate community, found social movements, exert influence, collaborate with other artists, commission young talents, sell products.

f you love writing, don’t make AI your enemy. Make it a tool to help you be prolific—but never let it replace your voice and the soul you put into your work.

---

Music Beats

Bruce Springsteen launched his new tour in Tampa this week. I am crushed I missed it, but grateful for the kidney I would have needed to sell to attend.

Before launching into “Last Man Standing,” Springsteen said:

“At [age] 15 it's all tomorrows. At 73 it's a lot of goodbyes. That's why you have to make the most of right now.”

You might not be 73 yet, but amidst our trials and busyness, let’s remember to make the most of right now.

---

Thank you for reading.

Let’s keep the Steady Beats going.

If you liked this edition, would you mind giving the heart a click? Thank you.