Walking Through Savannah's Squares

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Experience in Savannah, Georgia

A walk through Savannah

It was a beautiful spring Sunday in Savannah.

Crisper than you may expect this time of year in Georgia, but the sun made it comfortable.

We had just celebrated the marriage of some good friends the previous day.

The only logical choice to begin our last day in Savannah was BBQ for breakfast. Our Uber driver recommended a local spot.

We knew it was an authentic recommendation when he got out of his car to get some for himself.

We chatted for a while. He had lived an interesting life, having spent 7 years in Central America.

He fits right in here with his Southern hospitality. He was incredibly kind, offering to drive us the rest of the way to town after lunch for free.

We started our afternoon in Chippewa Square — the very square where Forrest Gump was filmed, sitting on the bench telling people his story.

After a good long chat, we headed off to explore a bit more.

We bounced from square to square, stopping to check out a few art galleries along the way.

They were stunning.

I do enjoy looking at art and these kinds of small local galleries are my favorites.

Our walk culminated as we strolled down Jones St. The “prettiest street in America.”

I can see how it earned that designation.

It was a blissfully relaxing and slow day.

Weekly Write-up

I’ve always been a goal-setter.

If you’re achievement-oriented, you can likely relate.

After all, what’s life if we don’t have something to shoot for?

Goals have kept me motivated and on a path toward progress.

But I’ve recently stumbled across the idea that goals might do more harm than good.

I’d never really thought about it until now, but this notion does jive with my whole “enjoy the journey rather than the destination” vibe.

If I’m focused on a goal, I’m focused on my destination.

Sure I can argue that focusing on my destination helps me build a plan to get there. But when I set goals, I often ignore all of the progress that comes before the goal.

I’ve noticed this thought pattern deflating my confidence lately.

What happens if I don’t achieve that goal? It feels like failure. It feels like I didn’t do enough. It overshadows all of the positive progress I’ve made.

All because of a rather arbitrary endpoint I fixated on to motivate myself.

Alternatively, I can set a direction, and focus on the day-to-day work, welcoming the different unexpected twists that are to come as part of the journey.

I don’t know the endpoint, so why fixate on it?

Plus, how do I even know that’s the right endpoint?

Maybe there’s a different way to think about it.

Let’s use an example:

I have a desire to be financially and location-free. That could be a goal, and I could choose to approach it in different ways.

I could put a timeline on it, to add a sense of urgency or pressure.

Or

I could choose to use that as a direction, or a priority, without the pressure of how or when I get there.

I prefer the latter. There’s more flexibility and space for spontaneity.

If I focus on achievement in the short term, I’m putting blinders on. I pick something and stick with it, regardless of whether that thing is the RIGHT thing.

I become closed off to opportunities that may be better because there is no time to explore. Those opportunities are now a distraction.

That doesn’t seem right.

So I think I’ve changed my mind.

Airplane Content

Almanack of Naval Ravikant

Naval is one of the best thinkers of our generation — a cross between Steve Jobs and Socrates. His formulaic approach to building a life well lived is incredibly practical, direct, and thought-provoking.

Eric Jorgenson was kind enough to compile all of Naval’s best quotes, stories, and thoughts into a book so that we can all benefit from his wisdom. I promise you’ll view the world differently after reading it. If you’re anything like me, it will leave you thinking of all the potential that exists in this world for you to take hold of.

AI Travel Art Piece of the Week

Please enjoy these ‘roos relaxing in a Russian bathhouse.

Cheers ‘til next week,

T.O.