Marcus Lopes's Blog, page 12

Be Gentle

For most of my adult life, I have been hard on myself. Extremely hard. I have always set high expectations for myself, and when I don’t meet them or come up short, I’m disappointed. While I have been trying to be gentle with myself, it’s not easy. Even though I know it’s unrealistic for me to believe that I will succeed at everything or get everything right on the first try, deep down that expectation is still there.

Changing Routine

The biggest challenge I’m facing at the moment is the adjustm...

Just Be

In the last week, I’ve switched from taking the UP Express (the train from Union Station to Toronto-Pearson International Airport) to the Kitchener GO Train to get to work. At every opportunity, I take a seat by a window and stare at the rolling landscape. Sometimes I read. Other times the 30ish-minute journey is a time to reflect, to disconnect and just be.

Hitting the ‘Pause’ Button

Just be. In a way, it’s sort of what I’ve been doing since I quit my last job back in June and then started a n...

It’s Not a Competition

Life is a journey, and it’s not always clear where we’re headed or why we’re moving in a particular direction. Sometimes it feels awkward, and we wonder when that period of awkwardness will end. I’m wondering that myself because it feels like I’m stuck in a funk—and all the world is passing by me or ahead of me. So, I remind myself: it’s not a competition.

A Way of Being Free with Kindle Unlimited

Ever since I listened to an interview with Rick Rubin, I’ve wanted to read his book, The Creative ...

What’s Next?

The end of 2023 isn’t that far off. As Halloween approaches, it won’t be long before Christmas displays start popping up in stores. Reflecting on the year so far, I’ve accomplished more than I sometimes give myself credit for. I quit a job where I was underpaid, undervalued, and that left me empty. I figured out how to spend most of the summer doing what I love. A recruiter found me and now—for the first time in years—I actually enjoy my day job. I published Bring Him Back to Me in August. And ...

Stay Focused

It started out almost as a dare from my chiropractor back in May: ‘Have you signed up for a race yet?’ He threw out the question at some point during each session, and I initially brushed it off. I’d been seeing him for just over a year, and in my mind I hadn’t seen the treatment as preventative as much as restorative. Run a race? No way! I wanted to stay focused on healing my body, not causing it more damage.

Overcoming Obstacles Free with Kindle Unlimited

During my training, I had a number of...

Less but Better

 

It’s been a difficult lesson to learn, but it is slowly sinking in: less but better. Because I have only recently recognized that I have perhaps pushed myself to the brink vainly trying—despite what I told myself—to do it all. And if I’m trying to do it all, I’m not able to (when I’m honest with myself) bring the focus and attention necessary to each task.

Reimagining Life Free with Kindle Unlimited

Over the years, I’ve worked hard to make time for what’s important in my life. That has meant t...

Readjusting Expectations

When I signed up for the Toronto Waterfront Marathon back in June, I was excited. It had been three and a half years since I ran my last, and first, marathon. My goal was to set a personal best, and try to shave about five minutes off my last time. But after dealing with a foot injury that also sidelined me for a few weeks during my training, I’m now readjusting expectations.

Learning from Past Mistakes Free with Kindle Unlimited

I struggled to run on my injured foot for several weeks because I...

I Got it Wrong

As an avid reader, I’m always looking to explore new ideas and concepts that challenge the way I think about, and see, the world. I’m curious about productivity, and studying the habits that successful people employ across all disciplines. Over the years, there have been moments when something I’ve read reveals that maybe I’m on the right track, or maybe I’m a little off the beaten path (not necessarily a bad thing). And recently, I experienced the most painful ‘aha’ moment of my life when I un...

Focus Deeply

When I quit my former job at the end of June, I really had no clue as to what I’d do next. But as I mentioned before, I ‘crashed’ due to the level of exhaustion that I experienced. The seven weeks I spent at home were both magical and frustrating. Magical because my schedule was open to whatever I wanted to do, which was mostly writing, running, and baking. It also became a period of extreme frustration because I’d lost my ability to focus deeply.

Old Habits Die Hard

Let me be clear: it was fan...

Find Your Footing

Entering the fourth week at my new job, I can say this: I’m exhausted. It’s not just because I’m back to getting up super early to write and run before work, but also because of how ‘draining’ being around other people can be. Especially when I think of myself as an introvert. It is still an adjustment, and even though I know it can take time to find your footing, that doesn’t mean it’s easy.

Getting Back on Track

As I continue to acclimatize to my new schedule and work environment, I’m also fi...