If there’s a trait I dislike a lot, it’s snobbery, or snobism depending on how you want to call it. It irritates me to the nth degree. For those who have been living under some rock and never had a chance to experience it, snobism is about claiming superiority based on perceived status, taste, or knowledge in a particular domain, and then using that supposed superiority to belittle or exclude others. Nice, isn’t it?
Contrarily to what many are thinking, it's not just about liking expensive things; it's about making others feel inferior for not liking or having those things, or for not adhering to a specific (and often arbitrary) set of standards.
If you’re a keen observer of the society around you, snobbery manifests itself as a sick craving to belong, to a perceived "elite" group and to distance oneself from those considered "inferior" or "common."
Along the same lines, snobs are quick to judge others harshly based on their possessions, background, education, tastes, or adherence to certain social norms. You generally can tell a snob by their affected manner or exaggerated display of knowledge or sophistication to impress others or reinforce their perceived status. Snobs also display a strong belief in social hierarchies and one's place (usually at, or near the top) within them.
As I mentioned earlier, snobbery isn't just about wealth; there are intellectual snobs that belittle others for not reading certain books or understanding complex theories. There are gourmet snobs that will make fun of those who don't appreciate haute-cuisine or specific vintages. Of course, there are also plenty of fashion snobs who judge others for not wearing designer labels or following specific trends, cultural snobs that look down on popular culture or mainstream entertainment and educational snobs that boast about their alma mater while dismissing others' education.
Finally, there’s the “Exception that confirms the rule” and come the “Reverse snobs" that are snobs about not being a snob, looking down on those who display conventional signs of wealth or status. This would suggest that we might all be snob. Really?
Tomorrow, we’ll study the deep roots of snobbery, so please stay tuned...
Sometimes, plastic ski boots break for no apparent reasons. I remember my days when I was in the ski boot business and we had warranty calls for “exploded” polyurethane (PU) ski boots shells. In December 2021, I bought a new pair of Nordica boots and after using it 21 times, it just broke at the toe.
Earlier this week a French friend of mine showed me how some Nordica boot shells after years of storage could be broken like one would break a large Easter egg chocolate in tiny parts. All that prompted me to investigate the technical origins of that mechanical breakdown. The culprit is called hydrolysis and it’s both a very common and frustrating form of failure for plastics, particularly PU, that are stored for long periods under certain conditions.
Hydrolysis is a chemical reaction where water (hydro-) breaks (-lysis) chemical bonds. In the context of PU, we have a polymer made up of long chains of repeating units, linked by specific chemical bonds (often called ester or urethane linkages). Water has a huge influence on this material. Ambient air humidity slowly attacks and breaks the ester or urethane bonds within the polymer chains. When the bonds break, the long polymer chains that give the plastic its strength and flexibility become shorter and shorter.
As the chains degrade, the material loses its mechanical properties. It becomes brittle, loses its elasticity, and its strength dramatically decreases. Eventually, the material becomes so brittle and weak that even a small stress (like putting on the boot, or even just temperature fluctuations) can cause it to shatter into many small pieces, much like a dried-out, old piece of chocolate. While water is the primary agent, several factors accelerate this degradation, like higher temperatures that increase the rate of chemical reactions, to the point that storing ski boots in a hot attic, garage, or shed will significantly speed up hydrolysis.
Even moderate warmth over many years will contribute to its deterioration. Humidity plays an active role. The more moisture in the air, the more readily water molecules are available to attack the polymer bonds. Add the time element to that slow process (we’re talking years, like 5 to 15+ years depending on the specific plastic formulation and storage conditions). Then this will vary with specific PU formulations as not all PUs are equally susceptible. Some formulations are more resistant to hydrolysis than others, which is why certain ski boots hold up better than others.
Comes also exposure to ultraviolet (UV) Light. Sunlight and UV rays oxidize and further weaken the polymer, especially if boots were stored in an attic or garage with important temperature swings. Even in storage, UV exposure from fluorescent lights or brief outdoor use, creates free radicals that attack the PU’s molecular structure. If direct UV isn't the main cause for these problems, general environmental exposure can also play a minor role in degradation. PU often contains plasticizers (softening chemicals) that leach out over time. As they evaporate or migrate, the material hardens and cracks.
You might also notice a greasy film on old boots—this is degraded plasticizer seeping out. The problem is PU because of its specific properties. Boots need to be stiff but also have some flex and they must be solid enough as well as able withstand cold temperatures that make PU more brittle. If stored in a cold garage, cycles of freezing/thawing sped up the breakdown. Finally it seems that from the 1980s to the early 2000s many PU formulations were prone to hydrolysis.
Modern boots often blend TPU (thermoplastic PU), which slows degradation. The choice of PU, combined with typical storage conditions (often in cold/warm garages, or attics, where they experience huge temperature fluctuations and varying humidity), makes them prime candidates for hydrolysis over extended periods. Morale of this story:
Take much better care of your ski boots so they don’t blow up from under you while you’re launching down Corbet Couloir at Jackson!
Executing a plan, whether it is to achieve a dream or any goal, either personal, financial or business related is always fun. In fact, it’s more about the journey (in that case, the process) than the final destination where all the pleasure resides. Action is obviously what turns planning into results and the first step is often the hardest.
So, we shouldn’t wait for perfection to take it. Generally, I begin by identifying the absolute smallest thing I can do now to get the process started. I block out time for that in my calendar and I treat it like a non-negotiable appointment. I continue by breaking down what I have to do into small, repeatable tasks I can work on consistently. Even 15-30 minutes daily can lead to incredible progress over time.
I do my very best to focus on one thing at a time, I don’t let distractions mess me up, my dream gets my full attention. This said, I remained prepared for unexpected obstacles and adjusted my plan as needed without being too perfectionist. It's better to take imperfect steps than not moving at all. What’s crucial is to stay consistently motivated.
To do this, I track my progress and my completed steps; seeing how far I've come. To me, it’s a powerful motivator and I never fail to celebrate my victories, no matter how small they are. When I feel discouraged, I remind myself of the main reason I am expending so much effort and I keep my goal in mind, reminding myself of the benefits that will come out of my work.
Most importantly and that’s the hard part for most of us, I remain patient: Big dreams don't happen overnight. It's a marathon, not a sprint. I trust the process and consistently stick to it. It’s only by following these steps, that I can make my beautiful dream come true with actionable steps. The journey has become something I enjoy so much, to the point that I find it as fun as the ultimate destination should be!
Having a dream we want to see come through is one thing, but how do we go about planning it and executing it, if we want to see it fully realized? Having a dream is the spark, but planning and execution are the fuel and engine that get us there.
Today, we’ll explore the planning portion of the task and for that, we need to define our dream clearly, namely the "What" and the "Why". For instance don’t just say “I want to continue skiing” or “I want to travel more”, be more specific “I want to be in Portillo, Chile for a week, next August” or "I want to spend two weeks circumnavigating Corsica next spring on a sailboat”.
First of all, I must be serious about realizing my dream, that’s a crucial condition. It’s clear that if I just decide to learn Italian, the required steps might be far simpler. Of high importance is to always remember that simpler dreams are always the easiest to reach, so keep that in mind! If instead, I’m planning a two-month trip around Asia, I will need a more robust plan like the following one.
To help me accomplish this, I need to ask myself the “What", like what exactly do I want to achieve?
How will I know when I've achieved it? (date and duration), Does that dream fit my budget, my constraints and values? Then, examine the "Why": Why is this dream important to me? What need or desire does it fulfill? Understanding my "why" will be my greatest motivator when challenges arise. I then close my eyes and vividly imagine what it will feel like, look like, sound like, when that dream of mine is realized. This gives me emotional connection and clarity.
It’s now time to go over the "How" and get on with a proper plan. A big dream can be too much, so it must be cut into manageable bits. I think about all the steps involved, no matter how small without limiting myself. I categorize and organize the different categories like financial, research, skills needed, logistics. I keep a clear chronological view of what needs to happen first? What depends on other steps being completed? Is the flow both logical and complete? What are the significant checkpoints along the way that will keep me motivated and will track my progress.
Finally, I take the time to identify all the resources I’ll be needing, like time, money, knowledge, people, connections, tools and equipment. The key to my final success will be my ability to anticipate all the obstacles I’ll face and devise solutions for each, a Plan B of sort. That, along with a realistic timeline should set me on my way to success.
Next time, we’ll see how to execute that beautiful plan of yours!
Now that we know some of the reasons for these disappeared dreams and aspirations of ours, let’s see if we can revive them and what it will take to do it successfully. I’m told that it’s never too late to reignite our passions and pursue new dreams! I know many seniors around my age that are proving that vitality and curiosity are not constrained by age.
I’ve already been on that road before when I returned to meditating in 2020 and started to learn Spanish one year ago now, so I know lots of things can be activated no matter how old we are! The first move is to refresh our view by recognizing that dreams don't have to be huge or impressive. They can be about learning, personal growth, contributing to our community, enjoying simple pleasures, or deepening relationships.
That’s right, just quality dreams and aspirations! One way to get started is by breaking down any seemingly large aspirations into tiny, manageable steps. to build momentum and confidence (what I call the “salami technique”.) Then, I do my best to focus on "Meaning" and "Purpose". It could be volunteering, sharing my wisdom, creating a product, an idea, or piece of art or something else, and it could also be enjoying the beauty around me.
It might also be the moment to reconnect with old passions or hobbies we used to like earlier on. For instance, what did we love to do when we were younger that we had to let go of due to our job or other responsibilities? Could we rekindle these interests? We can also let our curiosity guide us based on what topics, subjects, or activities that naturally pique our interest now? By following these, we might discover some new passions.
Executing on our dreams will inevitably lead us to learn new skills, like researching, reading or taking a class in anything that interests us. It could be a new language (like what I’m doing right now with Spanish), painting, woodworking, playing an instrument, learning more about my computer or my smart phone, photo, video, cooking, gardening, etc.
What attracts us involves some regular physical activity like walking, exercise or a new sport, so much the better. It’s just what our doctors ordered us to do! If we can unearth just one exciting dream, we might be on our way to big changes in our lives.
Our golden years can be a great opportunity to pursue passions that we have forgotten, put on hold, and are now free for us to rediscover. It's about embracing a new chapter of growth and discovery.
Tomorrow, we’ll see our we can set up a plan of action...
As we grow older our dreams and aspirations seem to dry up, and this often leaves us aimless, bored and dissatisfied. So I wonder if that’s an inevitable price we’ve got to pay as we grow old, that signals a shift in priorities and circumstances rather than a complete loss of ambition.
It’s obvious that changing priorities, as we go through life, has a lot to do with that reality. Much of our adulthood is spent raising families, building careers, and ensuring financial stability. The "dreams" of youth might have been about achieving certain milestones that once achieved or significantly attained, extinguishing the dreams that fed them there’s nothing worthwhile ready to take their place.
As we become older, our priorities often shift towards stability, comfort, security, and enjoying free time, rather than the intense "grind" of chasing ambitious or risky, goals. The desire to avoid stress can outweigh the desire for grand new achievements. It’s also true that our dreams in youth were influenced by societal expectations, like getting a house, a good job, but as we gain life experience, we often discover that what truly fulfills us is quite different, and those old "dreams" no longer feel exciting to us.
Then there’s the brutal reality that, with age, our physical capabilities decline. This can make certain dreams like paragliding, bungee jumping or climbing Everest less feasible, opening the door to a real sense of limitation. Likewise, chronic health issues or the fear of poor health can also dampen enthusiasm for future-oriented goals. Finally the loss of loved ones (spouses, friends, family) can lead to grief, social isolation, and a profound sense of loss of purpose, making a hopeful future senseless.
We also should ignore society’s suggestions that after a certain age, especially retirement, it's time to "settle down" or wind down. To many of us, it can lead to believing that the time for dreaming big is irremediably gone. From a medical standpoint there’s also anhedonia – a decreased ability to experience pleasure in activities that used to be enjoyable, or a lack of motivation to engage in them. This is not an inevitable part of aging but can be a symptom of depression, which is unfortunately under-diagnosed in older adults.
Let me just conclude that long and depressing list that chasing dreams can be exhausting. Decades of working hard, having a family, and navigating life's challenges can lead to a general sense of being "tired of the grind," where there is no more energy left for new pursuits.
Tomorrow we’ll try to find out if there are ways we can get our dreams out of hibernation?
Mental energy has always amazed me and it’s been a very important part of my life since I was a little boy.
True, when I was in middle school, I wasn’t doing much and I couldn't say too much about my energy level, in those days, when I was 11, 12 and 13 years old. After that period, it changed drastically and I recovered what might have been my true self.
Today, as I am much older, I looked at what I consider the three pillars of mental energy in me, namely my ability to dream, plan and look forward to, or hope for both dreams and plans to come to fruition.
In the next few days, we’ll take apart this triad and explore ways to regenerate or increase the flow of mental energy in us...
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