All the best with that article. I’m glad that you got something out of this post

All the best,

Adrian

I too was concerned about Stephen’s number 3, but no I get it after reading your post. I am most at home mentally when reading a good history book and physically/philosophically when pounding down the pavement on my road bike trying to break my normal 33 kph average speed. In both cases, I need to be present in that moment so I get the most benefit. I actually like to both activities becasue it give me a break from the “normal” world which is the online connected world. If I can’t focus on the history, or the ride, then I have become a connected “junkie”.

I also realize there is another aspect, when I read that book or achive an almost heart attacking causing 40 kph average speed, I should connect with others as to how that book or ride resonated within me. Failing to do that makes me a passive consumer of life. In the field of history, anyone can watch severla years of the old History Channel (when it was the War Channel) read a couple hundred military history texts and become a armchair general. It is quite another thing to read, comment via book reviews or blogs, then eventually publish a new piece of historical analysis. The journy to publication should ne as inteactive as possible with outer (conferences, teaching, blogging etc). I do teach as a second job, and write beook reviews, but have not activialy publsihed. Between you and Stephen, you have convinced me to get off my behind and as soon as this course is over, publish that historical article I have had ready for several years on the Battle of the Petitcodiac Sept 4, 1755.

Thanks for the clearer understanding.