Great post with solid advice. Few things feel better than achieving something important to you through putting in the hours to do it well. I would love to see our education system reformed to be more conducive to real learning and the strengthening of willpower.

I can totally relate to this. I have really come to savor these little challenges over the past year. The banana thing especially hits home!

Turning everything you do into a kind of practice... It reminds me of a passage from the Bible, Colossians 3:17 - "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." When I was a Christian this passage always struck me as an overwhelming challenge, one that was and still is meaningful to me. To commit everything you do to anything or anyone requires a tremendous level of self-awareness and, obviously, dedication. I think the most important and respectable point here is that you are living with that kind of awareness rather than going on mental or physical autopilot, even in such small ways. Life slows down for us when we pay attention and suddenly vanishes for us when we don't. I appreciate the reminder to take advantage of that, so thanks!