What I’m doing now

Updated June 30th, 2025, from North Carolina, where I enter the last 12 months of my enlistment.

GRE

I study math every other day using GregMat, focusing mainly on the Quant/Math sections. At first, I felt frustrated and bewildered at why seemingly simple yet advanced ideas were not taught in grade school math. Then I realized that they were — only that the last few steps were hardest to see at such a young age. Rediscovering math from the foundations proves quite a fun project.

Vocab is less of a concern for now. Many of the words prove familiar, and spaced repetition using Anki takes care of much of the prep there. That plus the Frequency Illusion help reinforce use of vocab.

Writing is like reading (for fun): cast aside until I have nothing else to do.

Bodybuilding & Rehab

Paratroop duty and ruck-running likely lie behind the torn labrum in my hip and back and shoulder issues. I plan to re-incorporate running to my fitness routine, though this will cost some focus on weightlifting, my preferred fitness method. I forewent lifitng for strength and numbers for the last year upon confirming the injuries and focus now on balancing hypertrophy with redicing body fat. Adding cardio through running ought to help balance out what seems like systemic fatigue from only weightlifting.

Next will be incorporating stretching and flexibility work. As with flossing and running and creative pursuits (see below), stretching remains a task I resist with abandon.

Watercolor & Photography

After years of hesistation and letting the Resistance beat me, I invested in both a mirrorless camera and a travel watercolor set to re-engage an artistic side that was squashed in childhood.

The investments scared me at first. To spend money on these pursuits meant acknowledging, like with fitness, that my own time was in my hands.

Making time to practice with both pursuits is my next challenge. The key seems to be bringing each set with me on any trip of consequence, same as I have a paper book or phone or laptop.