Every day the sun comes up and literally provides a light for you to see your opportunities.
Opportunities to connect, opportunities to lead, opportunities to make your music, and opportunities to engage with the world through your humanity.
Most will choose not to look, not to engage, and not to experience the beautiful mystery revealed to the lookers every day.
Most are bored.
…the often overlooked, not public, and soft art of being human.
Except for the recipient of your humanity…
They may never tell you, but rest assured, there’s a song called You that’s buzzing in their bones.
There’s a song in you. A holy hum. A chord struck by the divine and eternally unfolding. Learn that song and stay true to it.
There’s also a light. This light is there to warm the room you find yourself in and illuminate the path of your journey. Learn that light and stay true to it.
If you’re going to be called something by the world, why not let them call you by those things that have been calling to you all along?
Song writers have at times called the art of song writing a process of ‘following the breadcrumbs’.
We should probably take the same approach with the wisdom we long to experience and author our lives with.
I’m always in about 10 different books at a time. So I thought to share some the latest ones that have been interesting and fun!
Here’s a few that you may enjoy unwinding 2015 with….
Beauty: The Invisible Embrace – John O’donohue
I read from this book in my last podcast and have journeyed further into O’donohue’s words since then. If you’re looking for deeper and calmer presence in your days a way to increase your awareness to the depths of beauty that surrounds you, this is something you should read. But please, read it slow…sip it and then live it. If you haven’t checked out LTMP Podcast, we would love to have you join us and check out the last episode by clicking here.
Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow
I’m late to the ball on this one. Nevertheless, I learned about the Broadway Musical, Hamilton, on 60 Minutes a couple of weeks ago. Today I started to listen to the soundtrack for the musical that is unlike anything I’ve experienced in a long time. Lin-Manuel Miranda’s genius shines so bright here…Story and music, I’m all in.
Franklin BBQ: A Meat Smoking Manifesto – Aaron Franklin & Jordan Mackay
You’re now getting a glimpse into the randomness of my library. But let me say, if you’re an artist or a foodie, you’ll love this. And if you’re neither artist or foodie or from Texas, at least you’ll have a new appreciation for the religion that is Texas BBQ.
Dark Matter and Dinosaurs: The Astounding Interconnectedness of the Universe – Lisa Randall
This book kept crossing my path in all kinds of ways. First, I listened to Lisa’s interview at On Being with Krista Tippett. Next, I received Maria Popova’s weekly newsletter from Brain Pickings and noticed she posted a review in this week’s in The New York Times. Congrats Maria! As always, thank you Krista! And Lisa, I’m thankful for wonderers like you!
Ok friends! I hope you get to sit still by the fire with one of these before 2016 arrives. Really, do you need anything more than history, beauty, dark matter, and barbecue?
PS – Don’t forget to check out my Project November, December: Gratitude to Joy on Instagram.
Ashton.Gustafson 