Mystery.
Difficulty.
Challenge.
Obstacle.
Uncertainty.
Have you noticed how often we avoid these?
What if they’re inviting us to a become a better us?
Ashton.Gustafson
Pause by the orchid. Listen to the bluebird sing. Be love.
Category Archives: Leadership
Discovery and Experience…
…are the gifts of presence.
The past brings us here and the future always comes to us in the now.
Unwrap and explore.
Episode 31: A Conversation with Ryan O’Neal of Sleeping At Last
Ryan O’Neal
Listen to any one of his songs and Ryan O’Neal of Sleeping At Last will take you and your soul on a journey you won’t soon forget. With cosmic curiosity and an awe of the intricate webbing of the universe, Ryan joins us in Episode 31 as we talk about the creative process, finding rhythms to sustain productive output, Spiral Dynamics, Fr. Richard Rohr, and The Enneagram.
We also discuss the recent release of his music video for “Saturn” where he collaborated with Tom Shea as well as the story behind his wonderful Atlas Project(s).
Ryan was so kind to allow us share his work throughout this podcast. You’ll hear “Sun” throughout the interview and we end with one of his latest songs called “Sight”. Make sure you read his blog entry on how “Sight” came to be. It’s beautiful.
Please also make sure to sign up for his newsletter (it’s not your normal newsletter), follow his work, and take time to allow his music to move you.
And as always, remember to share this episode with those you love and those you lead.
You can stream and download all other episodes of Let The Music Play in iTunes or at AshtonGustafson.com.
I heard the ice cream truck.
Then I walked around the corner and sixteen dollars later I was the new owner of four ice cream cones.
Typically, we hear about something before we go see about it.
Mind your music.
We’re listening.
Gifts and Gratitude
Rain that wakes you up in the middle of the night, the smell of coffee even before you experience the taste, the regrouping period after a laugh attack, and the orchid that calls your name when you walk in the local market…these are the recognized gifts of those who are awake to the grace peppered over their moments. If we can stay in such a state of awareness, we will turn every corner with holy and eager anticipation.
As you approach this week be on the lookout for the small, the mostly overlooked, and even the moments you would typically avoid (getting out of bed at 3 am to watch the rain).
Gratitude opens the gate to the garden of our souls. And if that garden is available and can receive the seeds, sun, and rain it needs to flourish then you just may find the theme of life that every human is longing for.
Our job is to open the gate and part the veil to make the garden available. It’s Another’s job to provide the seed, sun, and rain.
To be open and available with a grounding ‘Thank you’, truly, is a WONDERful place to point your days.
Ashton.Gustafson 