Johari Window

I recently came across a concept I had used many years ago called the Johari Window. It specifies four quadrants, with the intersection of what we know about ourselves and what other know about us. In one dimension are two columns, What I know about myself and What I don’t know about myself. Two rows are What others know about me and What others don’t know about me. The intersection provides the four quadrants of:

-          Open – Known by me and others

-          Hidden – Known by me but not by others

-          Blind – Known by others but not by me

-          Unknown –Not known by me or by others

This provides a good model to learn more about ourselves with input from other people.

It can also be a good model for developing characters in fiction writing. Put together a list of what is Open, Hidden, Blind and Unknown about your protagonist and other key characters.

Have you heard about the Johari Window before or is it new to you?

Watching Tennis on Television

How many of you watch tennis on television? With the French Open just completed, we’re now on track for Wimbledon and the US Open.

I played competitive tennis as a kid and in college, but now play a racquet sport called platform tennis. I’d rather play sports than watch them on television, but when I do watch tennis, I prefer to see doubles rather than singles.

But over ninety percent of the television coverage of tennis shows singles. I guess I don’t enjoy watching two players on the baseline hitting balls back and forth. I like the strategy of doubles and the net play. The irony is that most people who play tennis, play doubles, yet the coverage favors singles. About the only time doubles is shown on television is when the Bryan Brothers or Williams Sisters are playing.

I’ve concluded that this fits in with our culture of the celebrity. The networks feed the desire to see the individual triumph rather than the teamwork of doubles. Personally, I think the teamwork aspect of doubles adds to the excitement and interest, but I appear to be in the minority.

What do you think?

Boulder Aging Advisory Council

Yesterday, I attended the monthly meeting of the Boulder County Aging Advisory Council. The meetings rotate monthly through different locations in the county, and this time we were up in the mountains at Allenspark. Here’s a picture of my car pool with Mount Meeker and Longs Peak in the background.

One of the subjects we’re studying is how to provide more senior housing options in the county. This is a real challenge given the projected significant growth in aging population over the next two decades. We need to find more flexible solutions that allow seniors to age in place in their communities. Unfortunately, many local zoning regulations go counter to some effective solutions such as multiple non-related adults living in the same home and easily adding mother-in-law units to existing property.

Do you have any good solutions to the housing situation for older adults in your community?

Doing Something Different

I find that I develop habits and do certain things the same way, time after time. This is useful for brushing teeth, taking showers and shaving, but in my writing world, I try different topics and different genres.

My published novels are mysteries, including geezer-lit and paranormal. But I’ve also completed manuscripts for historical, middle grade and young adult mysteries. Then I’ve also written several mainstream novels.

Right now I’m once again trying something different. I’m interviewing a 94-year-old World War II veteran and prisoner of war about his experiences. He has the most amazing stories that I’m trying to capture and document. We haven’t decided what we’ll do with the result, but I’m sure learning a lot and enjoying getting to know him.

In your own life where do you do the same things and where do you try something different?

Be in the Now, Turn Off the Autopilot

Do you ever find yourself operating in autopilot mode, not really being aware of what you’re doing? A recent small example for me. In the morning I turn on my computer and then go to shave before sitting down to writer. Several times recently, I’m shaving and can’t remember if I turned on my computer or not. It had become a habit and I didn’t even pay attention to what I was doing.

Now there is something to be said for not wasting a lot of brain cycles doing something like turning on a computer, but it does beg the question. Am I paying attention to what I’m doing? At the time I was turning on the computer was I thinking about something I had done the day before or thinking ahead to something I’d be doing in the future? I clearly wasn’t in the present.

I know I can easily get lost in the past, trying to relive some event that didn’t turn out very well. Likewise, I can stress over things that are off in the future. There is something to be said to be in the present, live it and enjoy it. This doesn’t mean giving up on planning. But the planning exercise is something that is being done in the present.

The present moment can be an interesting and exciting place. Do you find yourself operating in the past or future and missing the present?

Life, Writing and Other Miscellaneous Activities

I’ve received a number of comments from people who have enjoyed pictures I’ve posted after I take walks.

Here's the background. I write every morning when not doing events or family activities. 

I typically take a break in the middle of the day to play platform tennis twice a week and walk on other days. This is my mental break as well as a chance to get exercise. If I remember, I take my camera along and snap a few pictures. 

Then in the afternoon I do administrivia and social networking.

What's your daily schedule?

Here are a few pictures from the last week:

Superheroes and Superhumans

Do you watch Superhumans on the History Channel? We’re inherently intrigued by people who have special powers. I think back to when I was a kid and how much I enjoyed comics about superheroes.

We have a game we play with our grandkids and other young friends called Heroes Unite. It’s a card game featuring Spiderman, Hulk and Captain America. Needless to say, it appeals to all ages.

And speaking of age, since I write mystery novels about geezers, I like collecting examples of older people who exhibit superhuman capabilities. Here are a few:

Hiroshi Hoketsu was the oldest competitor at the 2012 Olympics in London, competing in dressage at the age of 71. He’d like to be in the 2016 Olympics but is concerned because his horse is getting too old.

Lucile Bledsoe is still flying and giving flying lessons at 90.

Eamon de Valera was president of Ireland at the age of 91.

Olga Kotelkko, age 93, holds 17 world records in the Senior Olympics age category 90-95 including every track and field event.

Nola Ochs graduated from college at 95.

Herman Wouk published his latest book, The Lawgiver, in 2012 at the age of 97.

Father Geoffrey Schneider is the oldest active teacher in the world at 99.

Grandma Moses was still painting at the age of 100.

What are your own examples of super humans?