Gumnasia (it means to train naked), Daily Blog — Pierre du Plessis

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(It means to train naked.)

“Of all the things I have ever subscribed to, your emails wake me up, make me see things and consider my life differently. Don’t stop.”

— Jessica

Gumnasia, pronounced: goom-nas-ee’-ah, is the ancient Greek word for gymnasium.

The gymnasiums in ancient Greece were more than the gyms we know today. Along with physical exercise, wrestling, and steam baths the sessions also ended with philosophical study, training, and discussion.

This daily blog is my thoughts on how I want to be better, and do better work.

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The Greeks and Romans trained in the nude, that is what the word Gymnasium actually means, to train naked.

We need to practice living and we need to train to be proper humans. Training naked has no pretense and nothing to hide. So, this isn’t a declaration or a broadcast, nor do I have all the answers, but it is an invitation. An invitation to train with me to do better, uncensored and with no egos.

Get skin in the game.

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Fix or Feature?

Fix or Feature?

A friend of mine runs a fantastic Non Profit in Uganda, Uganda Shoes Trees. They also have a small coffee plantation in between miles and miles of tea plantations

Pierre du PlessisOctober 22, 2019DesignComment

Our humanity is fully realised when we share. Humans have survived and thrived because we discovered that it is better to share what you have with others. Because one day you won't have enough and that someone will share with you. Sharing, giving, is what makes us human. Get skin in the game, share. Pierre

Our humanity is fully realised when we share.

Pierre du PlessisOctober 21, 2019generosityComment

Regula V

Regula V

If you start your day well, it just makes sense to finish it well, one thing I do every day at the end of my day is a review.

GUMNASIAPierre du PlessisOctober 18, 2019regulaComment

Regula IV

Regula IV

"Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you." - Anne Lamott

Pierre du PlessisOctober 17, 2019regulaComment

Regula III

Regula III

Here is a practice, a regula, that helps me get my body and mind connected and in the right state.

GUMNASIAPierre du PlessisOctober 16, 2019regulaComment

Regula II

Regula II

Continuing the thread from yesterday,

What do you do first thing in the morning? The first thing that happens when you open your eyes?

Pierre du PlessisOctober 15, 2019regulaComment

Regula I

Regula I

Do you have a regula?

A regula is a rhythm of life, something that one finds in monasteries and the like, that describes the how of living and contains practices that allow for that 'how' to happen successfully.

GUMNASIAPierre du PlessisOctober 14, 2019regula, practiceComment

Do you know what the word company means?

Do you know what the word company means?

The word company, which we use to describe businesses, comes from the Latin

GUMNASIAPierre du PlessisOctober 9, 2019cultureComment

That is near insanity...

That is near insanity...

Woke up with this line from the film After Earth pulsing in my mind:

GUMNASIAPierre du PlessisOctober 8, 2019fearComment

Re-Member

Re-Member

Re-membering, to rejoin things that have been pulled apart.

I had a social media tiff with someone on social media the other day (you know how fruitful those can be...)

GUMNASIAPierre du PlessisOctober 7, 2019siloComment

Bread on the water

Bread on the water

Cast your bread on the water, an ancient saying probably referring the practice of sowing seeds in flooded rivers, then hoping that when the waters reside the seed will have taken root in the marshy fertile soil.

Pierre du PlessisOctober 4, 2019generosityComment

Tricky meeting coming up? Try this:

Tricky meeting coming up? Try this:

If you are like me, then this might help. I tend to have loooong arguments in my head AFTER I had a difficult meeting... "I should've said ..."

Pierre du PlessisOctober 3, 2019meetings, notetakingComment

Just one question..

GUMNASIAPierre du PlessisOctober 2, 2019questionComment

very melodramatic

very melodramatic

The stories my mind makes up is incredible in a terrible way, one little hook or one little comment and my mind races around in circles coming to the conclusion that all is worthless and we're just a day away from living on a trash heap.

GUMNASIAPierre du PlessisOctober 1, 2019identity, mindfulnessComment

one by one

one by one

Step by step, block by block, one small generous action on top of another, that is how you build something that lasts.

Pierre du PlessisSeptember 30, 2019goals, journeyComment

Seeds

GUMNASIAPierre du PlessisSeptember 27, 2019disciplineComment

Breaking the Law

Breaking the Law

Recently we went to a secluded beach to have a picnic, we brought a Cobb cooker along, it uses 6 coals to cook a meal.

GUMNASIAPierre du PlessisSeptember 25, 2019ethicsComment

meaning is genererated through

meaning is genererated through

Meaning is generated through connection.

Pierre du PlessisSeptember 23, 2019meaningComment

Three questions to end your week.

Three questions to end your week.

GUMNASIAPierre du PlessisSeptember 20, 2019reflect, examenComment

embodied

embodied

We live in our heads, at least I do.

GUMNASIAPierre du PlessisSeptember 18, 2019anxiety, fear, mindfulnessComment