A Grab Bag of Goodness
My novel Undo, Guster’s joyful music, and the gear that keeps me moving.
I’m excited to have received a few reviews of my first novel, Undo! I’ve also enjoyed a few delightful moments with friends and colleagues who’ve learned about the book, asked me more about it, and added it to their to-read list. Have you added it to yours?
And now, on with a grab bag of fun things I’ve wanted to share since I last wrote.
I arrived at the Taughannock Falls overlook parking area early one morning, ready to hike with a friend. Normally I’d be first in the parking lot at 7:30 a.m. but this morning, the parking lot had no fewer than ten cars. I wondered if it might be a large group of hikers or early-bird tourists, but nobody was visible. As I walked to the overlook to take in the falls before my friend arrived, all was answered. It was a wedding, just down the stairs from the overlook. I subtly took a photo of the scene. It was such a private, serene, and beautiful moment: a sunrise wedding in my very favorite place.
One of my favorite parts of my hot yoga practice is when Jackie, one of the instructors, shares poetry between the standing and floor parts of the practice. She recently shared Love Letter #102: The Fullness of Who You Are, a poem by Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estes. I love how it positions us as “catching up” to what we already are. It reflects a growth mindset, not a fixed mindset. It’s a reminder that we can all be whatever we want to be. We just need to catch up to that version of ourselves.
“We do not become healers.
We came as healers. We are.
Some of us are still catching up to what we are.
We do not become storytellers.
We came as carriers of the stories
we and our ancestors actually lived. We are.
Some of us are still catching up to what we are.
We do not become artists. We came as artists. We are.
Some of us are still catching up to what we are.
We do not become writers.. dancers.. musicians.. helpers.. peacemakers. We came as such. We are.
Some of us are still catching up to what we are.
We do not learn to love in this sense.
We came as Love. We are Love.
Some of us are still catching up to who we truly are.”
Amy and I enjoyed seeing Guster in concert in Hammondsport this summer. So, I was delighted to see them play on NPR’s Tiny Desk. I love the pure joy that emanates from these musicians as they perform.
I’m a big Stephen King fan. I laughed out loud when I read about the screenings of The Long Walk, a new Stephen King movie adaptation. No plush seats in this theater, no – if you fell below 3 miles per hour on your TREADMILL you were summarily dismissed from the venue. That’s a pretty decent clip, one that would become progressively more difficult with the passing minutes. I loved reading accounts from the actors about the grueling shoot days, since they, of course, had to walk and act for the lengthy shoot days. That’s a way to get your steps in! The Long Walk is in theaters starting tomorrow evening.
The New York Times wrote about bone-conduction headphones, which work by sending sound waves through your inner ear via – you guessed it – your bones. They recommend the Shokz OpenRun Pro 2, which I use for running. I also use their OpenComm model for work phone calls (read my review), and it always turns heads when I use it while traveling. I’ve worn Shokz headphones for many years now, and enjoy how I can hear the outside world and my music when I’m running. It’s a lot safer than the alternative.
A Tip for the Modern Worker
Embrace the crazy days. Some days are laid back. Others, crazy. The latter can feel overwhelming and unsustainable, but they're where the magic happens. When you're performing well and not letting the crazy overwhelm you, you're nailing it. Frenetic might not be fun when it's happening, though, so remember that the less crazy days will return. Yeah, it's that 'change' thing. You can count on it!
This tip is one of 365 in my Handbook for the Modern Worker. That followed my first book, The Art of Working Remotely, about my experience working from home since 1998. Depending on where you work and which way the wind is blowing, these may be banned books or fan fiction. I hope it’s the latter.
Mail Bag: If you work remotely and have come across an issue that needs solving, a thorn that needs removing, or just an observation you’d like to share, hit reply. I’d love to hear from you.