005 | Honest Work, Good Work
Writing you from THE GREY COUCH in my room while sipping on tea
Saturday • 9:53 PM
Dear Friends,
The week has gotten away from me, in part due to recovering from a cold the first half of the week, but writing you all a letter each week is quickly becoming one of my weekly highlights, and I wanted to make sure I sent you a letter Sunday morning as I said I would.
I noticed this week that I’ve been thinking about writing, but hadn’t sat down to write until now, Saturday evening … because I wanted to find the “right” time, to really be present and think about what I wanted to write and write something “good” or worthwhile. In other words, I was overthinking it. I think something is often “good” because it is, quite simply, honest. Honest things are not always good, but good things are always honest. (I think? That may very well be true or not.)
And so, whether it be in writing letters or writing music or doing anything really, I think my primary focus is shifting from good to honest. If it is honest, I need give it no defense. It is what it is what it is.
At this very moment, I am sitting on my favorite grey couch in my room, sipping decaf Earl Grey tea from my Maine mug, while listening to a Bon Iver record on vinyl.
It’s nice to have this space of calm after a long day. I’m finding the days to be packed, with all kinds of good things, but packed for sure. Working multiple jobs, graphic design school, writing music, personal study, and being with my people fills the days, and they are wonderful days, indeed. I don’t think I’ve ever worked harder, been more uncomfortable, and yet been more fulfilled.
After some travel and recovering from being sick, I finally feel ready to jump whole-heartedly into this year. I can’t wait for Monday!
I look around, and I am blown away by the people that have shown up in my life. As I have stepped more and more into who I am and rediscovered my true identity, I’m meeting the people who speak the same soul language, who are partners and friends to my path, and the relationships that have been with me all along have grown even deeper and more meaningful.
In other news, I'm trying to read too many books at once. Ha! Does anyone else have this problem? I feel my mental energy being all over the place with reading, and I want to give each book my attention and energy, so I think I need to set some guidelines. How about ... one fiction, two poetry, and two non-fiction. I know that probably still seems like a lot, but trust me, it's narrowing it down! :P
So then, here's my current stack based on the above criteria.
If I'm really itching to read something else, gotta finish one to trade it out!
May you find energy for whatever you need this week,
Shel
THIS WEEK:
Revisited a lovely conversation on the On Being podcast.
John O'Donohue - The Inner Landscape of BeautyWatched this one take video, and I couldn't stop smiling.
Maggie Rogers - Light On (La Blogotheque - Live in Paris)
