Vertical Thinking

by Nathan Cheever

Have a good day, Have a good life

Days are the units of life

One golden afternoon last October, while taking a walk, I wrote a thought down: “Eventually, my life will just be as good as my days. So I need to enjoy my days if I am going to enjoy my life." Embedded in there is the idea that no one state or achievement will likely “make” my life. Instead of some grandiose event, life’s quality is subject to more prosaic influences like the quality of our relationships, sleep, self-talk, hobbies, and food.

Please consider rebelling

You really should

There is a terrible temptation (I know I’ve fallen into many times) to value yourself by your productivity. The meritocracy culture says monetary accumulation is the gateway to everything we desire: respect, independence, even happiness. Hearing rhetoric like: “with the internet, not being a millionaire is a choice” for people like me who’ve accomplished very little according to the rules of the game, it can feel absolutely crushing. Being ordinary is shamed as not hustling hard enough.

Article 13

Is there any value in the Past?

Article #13: Is there any value in the Past? Objection 1: It seems there is little value to the past because opportunity for action lies in the present. Since we cannot act in the past, and our purpose is to act rightly in this world, our focus should be on the present. The past holds lessons and data from which we may draw as required to meet our current needs, but the value of the past is defined only by its usefulness to the present and future.

Moderation in moderation

When it's time to go all out

There are special times in life to go all out. Last year, I went all out on a 50-mile hike alone, completing it in 19 hours. I learned some invaluable lessons like Don’t trust Google maps over mountains (I got lost) Always pack an extra almond poppyseed muffin. Stopping to rest only makes your legs hurt more. More importantly, I learned that after being alone and exhausted for hours, all the noise in your head quiets down, and you come to know yourself and your limits.

Plato, the moral revolutionary

Almost 2400 years ago, one of the greatest revolutions the western world has ever known set off. It was a relatively quiet explosion, not a famous battle or the overthrow of an empire. It was a young man watching his hero, teacher, and mentor put on trial and condemned to death. His teacher had dedicated his life to questioning others, for, as he put it, “the unexamined life is not worth living.

Small Talk as an Onramp

I've had it backwards for so long

As an introvert, small talk has never come easy for me. I enjoy watching the occasional football or basketball game. Still, I can’t talk at length about the recent trades or injuries. And the latest on TV or streaming shows? Nope, I’m lost. I don’t say this to boast, for if anything, it’s hindered me in quickly finding common ground in the break room. Last year, I caught a ride home with a coworker who lived nearby.

The Relationist

People are more than arguments

Last October I was walking to lunch with a friend. The Vice-Presidential debate happened the night before, and I glibly remarked about my hopes for the election outcome. Until that moment, I didn’t realize that my friend felt differently. After about 30 minutes of awkward but polite conversation, it was clear that we disagreed. I tried to mute my sarcasm, but it slipped out once when I said, “If Darth Vader pretended to support the policies you supported, would you still vote for him?

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