Super duper magic wand waving time.. I had cataract surgery last fall and I don't need to wear glasses anymore!! Dance emoji happening! I've worn coke bottle glasses since 4th grade. It is total liberation. So when people say getting old sucks... look forward to your cataract days!
I've been expanding my view of God and my faith into a meta/cosmic/universe leveI and I'm wondering how can it be applied in my day to day existence, so that I can continue to grow and unfold.
It's changed every part of my life from how I view myself and how I interact with people around me. It's a curious question that pervades my entire life.
I’ve been in a similar space recently, though coming at the question from an agnostic background. Shared an amazing Substack Letters series with Sam on this topic—it simultaneously took me deep deep into my complicated experience of spirituality, and also totally exhausted me for a time. It’s not easy work but it’s rich work, respect for doing it brother.
this gives me so much encouragement and inspiration to dive into where i am with this question. and how I'm coming at it from growing up so fundamentalist and sure of my theology and worldview.
I feel you on this one Minnow. I've been exploring my own spirituality and my relationship to Truths I can't explain. Although mine tend to be more gnostic than through the lens of religion. It's helped to have a guide, someone else on the path to have conversations with.
But I wonder if I'm really living it in my day to day existence.
I've been meditating and talking to Andrew Taggart for like 6 months now. Every one is different. We had a deep conversation about Suffering (Samskaras) and it helped me recognize that my biggest fear is being unable to do something -- anything.
Recently we've been spending a lot of time on non-duality and studying the works of Atmananda. These conversations and the experiments we do have been blowing my understanding of the world apart. Highly highly recommend.
I'm there too, Minnow. In fact I mentioned God this morning in my pages for the first time. That surprised me a little, although it probably shouldn't have.
i think this idea of getting closer to God is such common language in our culture. that in some way we have to do things to reach up to God and get higher so we can be closer to him. it adds this layer of "should's" and goals that feel much more modern/capitalistic than it does what religious traditions tell us.
Yeah, I agree. I'm not thinking of 'shoulds' for myself as such though. I'm coming at it from the same angle as Rick Rubin does, that the creative act clears away the detritus that can block our connection to God, or to source, or to the universe, or whatever you want to call it. That's why I write every day. Not because I feel that I should, but because I really fucking want the good stuff that is revealed when I do it.
Been thinking a lot about how I pull off living in the city AND the woods! 🗽🌲
I mean this literally, as I'm exploring buying property in upstate new york and working through the various practicalities of a dual-residence between the two places, but also more metaphorically, as I try to find balance between the fast pace of the cultural frontier and my yearning for a more semi-monastic nature-filled lifestyle.
How do I balance work, family, friends, and my own physical and mental health? And is balance even the right word? It sometimes feels impossible to be fully present for all of them
Reminds me of that quote you commented on the other day:
“Being a role model is the most powerful form of education. Too often fathers neglect it because they get so caught up in making a living they forget to make a life.”
Thought experiment: Try replacing the word 'balance' with 'contrast'.
Personally, I don't want an even split of time and energy across all of those areas of my life (balance).
I want to be intense and efficient in getting shit done that needs to get done but I don't particularly enjoy (most work I do for an employer, physical fitness, life admin, etc.).
And I want to be gloriously lazy and inefficient spending time with my family, working on a completely pointless part of my golf game just because it's fun, reading and writing, eating and smoking cigars.
The shit that needs to be done provides the contrast that makes the other stuff so much more enjoyable.
This past week I've been chewing on some big questions around fostering intergenerational community in the Hudson Valley - in Kingston, NY specifically :)
Sep 19, 2023Liked by Sara Campbell, Steph Soussloff
This is one of the biggest things I get from freemasonry in Scotland. I've been contemplating a lot on that recently as I head towards the role of master of the lodge next month.
Sep 19, 2023Liked by Sara Campbell, Minnow Park, Dan Hunt, Lyle McKeany
Can one man or one woman or one child bring peace to a city? I doubt it; I disbelieve it; I almost despair.
But can one person bring peace inside? I believe that. I have witnessed that. I am struggling to prove that to myself.
Can that person’s peace help bring peace to another? Yes, I believe that. And may that person’s inner peace help bring peace to yet another? Yes, I believe that too.
Will that cascade happen? I don’t know; it may not. It very well may not.
But I believe it can. I will not despair. I do not despair. In walking and in stillness, I do not despair.
Wow. Love this, Russell. My writing is largely to bring myself some inner peace and thereby make myself more useful to my family. I like to think I'm leading by example, although that can be problematic when I'm hiding in avoidance mode; that's not an example I want to set.
Sep 19, 2023Liked by Sara Campbell, Minnow Park, Dan Hunt, Lyle McKeany
what would marketing look like if it nourished the human spirit instead of depleting it?
i've been pondering this FUQ for a few years, but had mostly been exploring in the realm of solopreneurs and creators. this is a big part of why i'm so excited to be working with foster right now. it's a chance to start playing with non-coercive marketing in a more complex context, and see how this philosophy might scale up and work for larger orgs and companies.
Love this prompt. I imagine it would be like the best teacher / coach you ever had growing up. Someone who listens to you, understands that you don't have it all figured out, connects you to the correct resources and lets you explore on your own, jumping in to guide you in the right direction when needed.
Sep 19, 2023Liked by Sara Campbell, Minnow Park, Dan Hunt, Lyle McKeany
How do I maintain the aliveness and presence I feel being at conscious festivals and in nature while being back in a city like London?
How can I sustain a livelihood as a full-time oil painter?
What trade-offs am I willing to make in going deep on one thing when I feel called towards many things? (painting pictures as an artist, seeing exhibitions, chanting kirtan, writing, ecstatic dancing, yoga)
Sep 19, 2023Liked by Sara Campbell, Minnow Park, Dan Hunt, Lyle McKeany
Is fearless self-expression truly the way to peace and fulfilment as I believe it is? Does believing it to be true make it so? Would it be true even if I didn't believe it?
Sep 19, 2023Liked by Sara Campbell, Minnow Park, Dan Hunt, Lyle McKeany
On the heels of that New Yorker piece re: Hasan Minhaj, thinking a lot this week about emotional truth in storytelling, where fact matters over fiction and vice versa
Such a pertinent question and definitely worth the read! When I saw the headline I rolled my eyes a bit and approached it with a ready made opinion, but came out at a different place than I thought. Need to sort through it more
Sep 19, 2023Liked by Sara Campbell, Minnow Park, Dan Hunt, Lyle McKeany
"What can I learn from my children?" is one open question that's been on my mind.
I'm a father of a 3.5 year old and a 5 month old. When our first child was born, my initial reaction was to teach him, to be a "good" father. But later on there was one special moment that altered my mindset: My son was looking up at the moon, and I saw in his eyes the essence of curiosity and wonder. I felt a rekindling of my own curiosity. I was reminded that there is so much beauty and amazement in the world to be experienced—I just need to slow down, take it in, and see the world through the lens of a childlike mindset.
Yes, I'll be a good role model. Yes, I'll keep my kids safe. I'll help them with basic mechanics like counting numbers and how to tie shoes. Of course, I'll guide them into adulthood. But I suspect there is substantively more I can learn than teach.
What am I learning from my children? Curiosity, fear, emotion, self expression, play, truth, the magical joy of stomping in a puddle... What else can I learn or relearn or unlearn...?
i love this one Yashmi, and it fits into the "not super smart" newsletter. i wonder what are the questions the one that is doing the "denying" is asking you, and how long those questions have been around too...
Love this. It can be hard these days to try things without the notions of 'monetising' or 'brand building' coming into the equation. I love playing guitar, but since I turned semi-pro with live shows and teaching, I struggle to find time to play just for the love of it. I'd love to get back to that again.
Sep 19, 2023Liked by Sara Campbell, Minnow Park, Dan Hunt, Lyle McKeany
The dance between humility, being in service to others, moving away from identity & the need for recognition - while simultaneously welcoming praise, celebrating growth, and letting myself more boldly take up space
geeeeeez. you should ask some BIGGER questions. this feels so small... lol
but seriously, I love this question, especially because I've been thinking a lot about ego and shadow. but how can we give ourselves the space we give others, especially when we don't allow ourselves to take up space.
maybe there are season of giving and taking up space, but this is such a great one to explore.
love the concept of seasons where we flow between the two. and cultivating the awareness to recognize when we're acting from shadow / out of integrity - versus shining our light in expansive, inspiring ways.
essentially -- how can my 9 expand into a healthy 3 while still embodying 9's core values?!
A big one for me is and has always been, how do I reconcile my seemingly unquenchable need for wildness and chaos with a healthy, productive life?
And lately, it’s how do I remember to bring f&$king reading glasses with me everywhere? 😭
I *just* realized I should be using reading glasses the other day
Oh lol, I’m so sorry.
Super duper magic wand waving time.. I had cataract surgery last fall and I don't need to wear glasses anymore!! Dance emoji happening! I've worn coke bottle glasses since 4th grade. It is total liberation. So when people say getting old sucks... look forward to your cataract days!
Hahaha it’s all a matter of perspective (pun fully intended), isn’t it?
This happened to my aunt, and she was thrilled that she went in for this one service and came out seeing better! Happy for you!
I've been expanding my view of God and my faith into a meta/cosmic/universe leveI and I'm wondering how can it be applied in my day to day existence, so that I can continue to grow and unfold.
It's changed every part of my life from how I view myself and how I interact with people around me. It's a curious question that pervades my entire life.
I’ve been in a similar space recently, though coming at the question from an agnostic background. Shared an amazing Substack Letters series with Sam on this topic—it simultaneously took me deep deep into my complicated experience of spirituality, and also totally exhausted me for a time. It’s not easy work but it’s rich work, respect for doing it brother.
this gives me so much encouragement and inspiration to dive into where i am with this question. and how I'm coming at it from growing up so fundamentalist and sure of my theology and worldview.
I feel you on this one Minnow. I've been exploring my own spirituality and my relationship to Truths I can't explain. Although mine tend to be more gnostic than through the lens of religion. It's helped to have a guide, someone else on the path to have conversations with.
But I wonder if I'm really living it in my day to day existence.
what have been some resonant conversations you had recently?
I've been meditating and talking to Andrew Taggart for like 6 months now. Every one is different. We had a deep conversation about Suffering (Samskaras) and it helped me recognize that my biggest fear is being unable to do something -- anything.
Recently we've been spending a lot of time on non-duality and studying the works of Atmananda. These conversations and the experiments we do have been blowing my understanding of the world apart. Highly highly recommend.
I'm there too, Minnow. In fact I mentioned God this morning in my pages for the first time. That surprised me a little, although it probably shouldn't have.
I look forward to seeing where this takes you.
can i ask what context did God come up? prayer? rant? request? a curse? hahaha
You mean you *don't* read my pages every day? 😜
It was in my conclusion, which reads:
"I can't collaborate with Oprah. But I can keep writing every day - even just for me. I can incrementally improve every day and get closer to God."
you got me. lol
i think this idea of getting closer to God is such common language in our culture. that in some way we have to do things to reach up to God and get higher so we can be closer to him. it adds this layer of "should's" and goals that feel much more modern/capitalistic than it does what religious traditions tell us.
Yeah, I agree. I'm not thinking of 'shoulds' for myself as such though. I'm coming at it from the same angle as Rick Rubin does, that the creative act clears away the detritus that can block our connection to God, or to source, or to the universe, or whatever you want to call it. That's why I write every day. Not because I feel that I should, but because I really fucking want the good stuff that is revealed when I do it.
Been thinking a lot about how I pull off living in the city AND the woods! 🗽🌲
I mean this literally, as I'm exploring buying property in upstate new york and working through the various practicalities of a dual-residence between the two places, but also more metaphorically, as I try to find balance between the fast pace of the cultural frontier and my yearning for a more semi-monastic nature-filled lifestyle.
I vote for the woods!
I feel you
How do I balance work, family, friends, and my own physical and mental health? And is balance even the right word? It sometimes feels impossible to be fully present for all of them
Reminds me of that quote you commented on the other day:
“Being a role model is the most powerful form of education. Too often fathers neglect it because they get so caught up in making a living they forget to make a life.”
—John Wooden
Thought experiment: Try replacing the word 'balance' with 'contrast'.
Personally, I don't want an even split of time and energy across all of those areas of my life (balance).
I want to be intense and efficient in getting shit done that needs to get done but I don't particularly enjoy (most work I do for an employer, physical fitness, life admin, etc.).
And I want to be gloriously lazy and inefficient spending time with my family, working on a completely pointless part of my golf game just because it's fun, reading and writing, eating and smoking cigars.
The shit that needs to be done provides the contrast that makes the other stuff so much more enjoyable.
This is really well said and hits on why the phrase work/life balance has always felt off to me. Thanks for the thoughtful reply, Ali!
This past week I've been chewing on some big questions around fostering intergenerational community in the Hudson Valley - in Kingston, NY specifically :)
YES
This is one of the biggest things I get from freemasonry in Scotland. I've been contemplating a lot on that recently as I head towards the role of master of the lodge next month.
👀
this is vast and amazing!
Oh I love that
How does a dragon blow out a candle? That’s what I’m curious about at the moment 😂
Can one man or one woman or one child bring peace to a city? I doubt it; I disbelieve it; I almost despair.
But can one person bring peace inside? I believe that. I have witnessed that. I am struggling to prove that to myself.
Can that person’s peace help bring peace to another? Yes, I believe that. And may that person’s inner peace help bring peace to yet another? Yes, I believe that too.
Will that cascade happen? I don’t know; it may not. It very well may not.
But I believe it can. I will not despair. I do not despair. In walking and in stillness, I do not despair.
this gives me Wendell Berry vibes...!!
Wow. Love this, Russell. My writing is largely to bring myself some inner peace and thereby make myself more useful to my family. I like to think I'm leading by example, although that can be problematic when I'm hiding in avoidance mode; that's not an example I want to set.
what would marketing look like if it nourished the human spirit instead of depleting it?
i've been pondering this FUQ for a few years, but had mostly been exploring in the realm of solopreneurs and creators. this is a big part of why i'm so excited to be working with foster right now. it's a chance to start playing with non-coercive marketing in a more complex context, and see how this philosophy might scale up and work for larger orgs and companies.
the friendly alchemist, magician, marketer.
Love this prompt. I imagine it would be like the best teacher / coach you ever had growing up. Someone who listens to you, understands that you don't have it all figured out, connects you to the correct resources and lets you explore on your own, jumping in to guide you in the right direction when needed.
Somebody who doesn't make it about themselves.
I’m really curious about what you’ll find with non-coercive marketing on larger scales. Excited to hear your insights along the way!
How do I maintain the aliveness and presence I feel being at conscious festivals and in nature while being back in a city like London?
How can I sustain a livelihood as a full-time oil painter?
What trade-offs am I willing to make in going deep on one thing when I feel called towards many things? (painting pictures as an artist, seeing exhibitions, chanting kirtan, writing, ecstatic dancing, yoga)
Is fearless self-expression truly the way to peace and fulfilment as I believe it is? Does believing it to be true make it so? Would it be true even if I didn't believe it?
this goes back to what you said on my comment: the expression itself is enough to heal, no matter the result on the other side of it.
On the heels of that New Yorker piece re: Hasan Minhaj, thinking a lot this week about emotional truth in storytelling, where fact matters over fiction and vice versa
Ooh yeah. I have not been able to read that piece yet but it’s a great question and personally I have so many thoughts! Love to see you explore this.
Such a pertinent question and definitely worth the read! When I saw the headline I rolled my eyes a bit and approached it with a ready made opinion, but came out at a different place than I thought. Need to sort through it more
"What can I learn from my children?" is one open question that's been on my mind.
I'm a father of a 3.5 year old and a 5 month old. When our first child was born, my initial reaction was to teach him, to be a "good" father. But later on there was one special moment that altered my mindset: My son was looking up at the moon, and I saw in his eyes the essence of curiosity and wonder. I felt a rekindling of my own curiosity. I was reminded that there is so much beauty and amazement in the world to be experienced—I just need to slow down, take it in, and see the world through the lens of a childlike mindset.
Yes, I'll be a good role model. Yes, I'll keep my kids safe. I'll help them with basic mechanics like counting numbers and how to tie shoes. Of course, I'll guide them into adulthood. But I suspect there is substantively more I can learn than teach.
What am I learning from my children? Curiosity, fear, emotion, self expression, play, truth, the magical joy of stomping in a puddle... What else can I learn or relearn or unlearn...?
what a beautiful question. curious to know what you find out..!
How can I be more curious and stop denying myself the privilege of being an amateur, a novice, a person in the arena, trying things
i love this one Yashmi, and it fits into the "not super smart" newsletter. i wonder what are the questions the one that is doing the "denying" is asking you, and how long those questions have been around too...
Love this. It can be hard these days to try things without the notions of 'monetising' or 'brand building' coming into the equation. I love playing guitar, but since I turned semi-pro with live shows and teaching, I struggle to find time to play just for the love of it. I'd love to get back to that again.
Mine would be how can I bring forth a beautiful world while tending to my present and current reality?
How to break free from the mental limitations I put on myself.
I feel this one. I get in my own way *a lot*. That's part of what I'm exploring right now in my daily pages.
The dance between humility, being in service to others, moving away from identity & the need for recognition - while simultaneously welcoming praise, celebrating growth, and letting myself more boldly take up space
geeeeeez. you should ask some BIGGER questions. this feels so small... lol
but seriously, I love this question, especially because I've been thinking a lot about ego and shadow. but how can we give ourselves the space we give others, especially when we don't allow ourselves to take up space.
maybe there are season of giving and taking up space, but this is such a great one to explore.
love the concept of seasons where we flow between the two. and cultivating the awareness to recognize when we're acting from shadow / out of integrity - versus shining our light in expansive, inspiring ways.
essentially -- how can my 9 expand into a healthy 3 while still embodying 9's core values?!
(the perpetual strife of a peacemaker...)