Reading the Encyclopedia Britannica

A cluttered study…

Ursula: You could free up some shelves by giving away those Encyclopedia Britannicas.
George: But that’s my project. To read the Encyclopedia Britannica, not all the articles, say half of them. Before, you know… end of life.
Ursula: That’s  a challenge.
George: There’s a plan. Restricting myself mainly to the Micropedia for starters.
Ursula: Do you think you can finish this… this mission?
George: There’s an existentialist element. The focus is on the journey rather than the destination.
_________
Voice-over
The discussion goes on to cover creating a reading schedule, setting goals, prioritzing articles, taking notes and taking breaks, tracking progress. And the intrinsic value and enjoyment of the undertaking. Ursula asks if George intends to include the Macropedia but he replies he’s saving that for the afterlife.

Mastering scales before Rachmaninov

Step by step…

Piano Teacher: One step starts a long journey. 

Olivia: That’s why you only set small daily challenges?

I can do this...

Piano Teacher: Think of it like breakfast. You’re stressed. That day’s events distract. Take one spoon of cereal. Pretty soon you’re through eating, on your way, energized. Anyway, this week scales right hand. Next week scales left hand. Throw in a few chords as a reward. Then on to a simple piece.

Olivia: So you’re saying I shouldn’t start with the Rachmaninov?

Piano Teacher: Dream it. That’s OK. But it’s not this week’s goal.

________

Voice-over

Biting off more than you can chew sets you for choking. Not knowing what you are capable of results in unrealistic goals setting you up for a DNF “did not finish”. “I can do that” trap so you end up doing nothing and going nowhere. Daily exercising. Daily sketching. Daily Vocabulary. Daily writing. Excerpts grow into expertise and on to a life work and perhaps eventually a magnum opus.