Chronicle – Intro

by dhu13 on April 22, 2010

Some time ago, after an inspirational team meeting where we all decided to commit and go for it, Hari sent me this text message:

Advice to you if you don’t mind: Chronicle everything. The progression, the ideas, the motives, the inspiration, and the events. One year later, you’ll have

Mar 30, 11:15 PM

everything you need to put a book together.

Mar 30, 11:15 PM

Every 2-3 days if possible

Mar 30, 11:16 PM

***

When I first started this blog, I had pretty grandiose notions of what it could accomplish. I thought that if I just created the right inspirational content and got it into the hands of the right people, the whole world would come together to “solve” college depression. My hope was that college students struggling with depression would stumble across my blog, find a friend in my words, and find the courage to take action to overcome their depression.

Reality check - didn’t happen.

What did happen, roughly:

1 I rambled.

2 I made an ass of myself trying to publicize these ramblings.

The third thing that happened, I think, was that my (soon-to-be) team saw how crazy I was (see 1 and 2), and for whatever combination of reasons decided to take the time to give me a little direction. Eventually, they decided to join me.

Thank you, blog.

***

But this story doesn’t have a happy ending.

Just a few weeks after Hari sent me that message, we fell apart. As anyone who’s ever tried to start a venture probably knows, it’s hard as hell to keep a team together (especially when you’re broke).

To be honest, sometimes I feel like I’ve failed. Big time.

But then I remember that failure is only failure if you haven’t learned anything from it.

With that in mind, and at both Hari’s and Colin’s suggestions (and with Dan’s blessing), I’ve decided to briefly chronicle what happened this past half year or so. If nothing else, it’ll help me sort out just what there is to learn from this whole experience.

Man, do I hate writing. Retroactively, I always come off somewhat more juvenile, sentimental, arrogant, self-centered, inconsiderate, irrelevant, or just plain crazy than I’d like to…

-David

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Update – Indefinite Hiatus

by dhu13 on March 10, 2010

Hey all,

I’ve decided to take an indefinite hiatus from writing. There are many reasons, but perhaps the most important:

I’ve found that the moment I get into a didactic mindset, I become incredibly boring.

As for our venture, my team will be spending the next few months really getting to know college students who are struggling with depression, primarily in the Boston and NYC areas. We hope to gain the type of understanding that will allow us to shape our venture into something much more specifically and intimately connected to the needs of those who are struggling with depression. This will take a significant amount of time, but when it comes to designing a potential solution, we absolutely are thinking long-term. Who knows what will come, but we know we’re going to learn a hell of a lot.

I don’t know when I’ll next be back to write again, but for now, I’ll leave you with this:

Do the things that will make you proud.

Struggle as hard as you can for whatever you believe in.

Corny and generic as they are, these are pretty much the only two rules I live by. I’ve found that in the face of uncertainty, when no one else is willing – or even able – to give me guidance, these two rules get me by. I’ve made a lot of mistakes, but I don’t regret them because I know I live by these two rules and always will.

Best of luck.

-David

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Permanence – Taking a picture in the Chinese countryside (I just wanna BE)

February 26, 2010

I recently spent some time in China over the Chinese (lunar) New Year. Let me share with you today a brief incident that reminded me of an important lesson.
Now, I’m normally not a picture taker. I don’t like lugging around a camera because I feel like it inhibits my freedom, and there’s always been something [...]

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The Work of Psychoanalysts in the Public Health Sector – Intro (The concept of “containment”)

February 14, 2010

Been reading this book (title above, edited by Mary Brownescombe Heller and Sheena Pollet) that according to the back cover “provides a comprehensive insight into the ways in which psychoanalysts think and work.”
Here are some thoughts on the concept of “containment,” as illustrated through the lens of parent-infant relationship.
“CONTAINMENT”
 
THE THEORY (described by Bion, 1962, paraphrased [...]

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“Dancing” – Intro (Your Individual Style)

February 9, 2010

Been reading “Dancing” by Ellen Jacob. Here are some quotes and thoughts from the first chapter, titled “Your Individual Style.”
***
“What makes you a good dancer is not trying to be someone you’re not…What makes you a good dancer is being yourself, but more so.”
Don’t know about you, but this reminds me of the “longing for [...]

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On Pride – Intro (Humility, a source of strength and pride)

February 8, 2010

Pride is a messy concept, and I guess it makes for a somewhat messy blog category too (Shame, Self Worth, Confidence, anyone?).
Top dog on the list of Cardinal Sins (7 Deadly Sins), we hear premonitions about how Pride will lead to your downfall, etc. No one likes an arrogant big-headed jerk unless they are one, [...]

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Update

February 7, 2010

Hey all,
Just a heads up – I’ll be spending a lot of time now freelancing and working on a book, among other things, so I’ll be blogging more sporadically.
I should still be able to do one or two posts a week, but I won’t be able to pull the 20+ entries in a month anymore.
Please [...]

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On Motivation – Wanting to give up

February 5, 2010

I would like to dispel a myth today – the myth that successful people are determined from day one and never for a second think about giving up.
Of course I can’t make this claim with absolute certainty. I suppose it’s possible there are outliers – people with wills of steel (or perhaps just a powerful [...]

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On Problem Solving – Intro (Constant vigilance, serendipity, and freelance writing)

February 2, 2010

The other day I was walking down Princeton’s (somewhat) famed Nassau Street when I ran into a friend’s mother (shoutout to Suzanne and David Kinsey, and to their ever-so-familiar green plates and couch).
We were both on our ways, but we did stop for a brief exchange of words and kindness. I asked about the state [...]

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On Therapy – Intro (It’s all about the people)

February 1, 2010

When I think about some of the enormous challenges facing the world today, I realize that I firmly believe the solutions for many of these challenges lay right before us, out in the open, absolutely within reach. (Forgive my youthful idealism)
I believe that for many of these challenges, we don’t necessarily need high technology or [...]

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