That’s really the only question you need to answer and continue answering.
Answer that, and your cup will overflow, your sleep will be serene, and your life will be a gift you receive and a gift you get to give.
Nothing suffocates cynicism and pessimism like the constant pursuit of beauty.
Everything gets better when I read. My awareness. My marriage. My health. My joy. My energy. All of it gets an uptick in a better and more beautiful direction.
Here’s a few of the books I’ve enjoyed over the last couple months.
You may recognize the author, Dan Barber, from one of the episodes of Chef’s Table on Netflix. You’ll find it packed with incredible stories and if you’ve never awakened your inner foodie this will do it.
All too often we hold on to our yesterday’s and prematurely jump into our tomorrow’s. Rob wonderfully unpacks just how electric our present moments are with the wonder and awe that we are truly after. Rob joined us earlier this year at Let The Music Play Podcast to talk about How To Be Here.
You know the world isn’t flat and, hopefully, that finding meaning isn’t linear. But wait until you learn about consciousness.
Becoming Wise – Krista Tippett
Krista’s work at OnBeing is truly one of my most cherished gifts I’ve experienced over the last few years. In Becoming Wise she takes the gold gathered from many of her interviews over the years and couples it with her insight and personal alchemy. Krista, from all of us, thank you.
Present Over Perfect – Shauna Niequist
From the author that brought us Bread and Wine, comes a lovely memoir that is mapped full of roads to more peace, fulfillment, and simplicity. PS – She may be joining us at LTMP Podcast soon.
Enjoy.
Ashton
Mystery is not the absence of meaning, but the presence of more meaning than we can comprehend. Eugene Peterson
Wonder and awe is typically found in our own front or backyards. You realize that’s what we truly want, right? More than retirement, more than five-star hotels, more than fame, more than a following, and more than whatever you have currently prescribed as your life’s Z-Pak. We want to experience our days wide-eyed and wowed at the beautifully webbing and interconnectedness of it all.
And you may not even need to go that far. Chances are such wonder and meaning is probably just as thick in the room or situation you find yourself in.
If, and only if, you are with it.
If our presence is a choice, so is our meaning.
…are the gifts of presence.
The past brings us here and the future always comes to us in the now.
Unwrap and explore.
There’s never been another you. To own that reality is a choice.
It’s also choice to become a replica of what has already been.
Nevertheless, in all of our individual originality, we do all rhyme with Love.
One love…in billions and billions of never-before forms.
This is our story.
This is our song.
Ashton.Gustafson 