My Sunday List
Words
This self-centeredness leads in several unfortunate directions. It leads to selfishness, the desire to use other people as means to get things for yourself. It also leads to pride, the desire to see yourself as superior to everybody else. It leads to a capacity to ignore and rationalize your own imperfections and inflate your virtues. As we go through life, most of us are constantly comparing and constantly finding ourselves slightly better than other people – more virtuous, with better judgment, with better taste. We’re constantly seeking recognition, and painfully sensitive to any snub or insult to the status we believe we have earned for ourselves. —David Brooks, The Road to Character
Out of the crooked timber of humanity, no straight thing was ever made. —Immanuel Kant
Music
This whole record. I liked Leon Bridges from the beginning of his career, when he was finding himself through classic, Sam Cooke-style crooning and retro suits. He’s come into his own in an organic, almost vulnerable way — appearing to discover himself through a spiritual path that is reflected in his music, and which deepens with every album. I very much dig it, and can’t wait for his show at The Ryman in November, for which I have tickets.
Leon triggers Marvin Gaye for me. A very good trigger indeed. It’s also new and refreshing. Highly recommended.
I watched
I caught up on the new episodes of Disclaimer. Wow. So good. These two actors are tremendous, and of course, Alfonso Cuarón is the real deal (if you haven’t watched Roma, look for it).
Book
I’m sort of in book heaven now. I gave myself permission to not worry about how reading is done and just appreciate that I’m reading, however I do it. My life has changed quite a bit, in that I’m sitting at a desk most of the day during the week and am constantly looking at and analyzing text. Reading as an occupation is a dream, however, and I’m grateful for where I am.
Speaking of books, though – here’s one y’all might want to know about.
David McClister is a tremendous photographer and this is a gorgeous collection. Get it here.
One thing: I was asked to write something for it. I did. I didn’t expect to find it in the front of the book. I thought my words would be a few of many. I’m so honored to have my own fire featured in this labor of love.
Favorite moments
Being in complete joy, presence, and gratitude while doing a job I love. I’m so grateful to the Great Spirit for setting me on this path back to myself. I feel alive in a way I haven’t in a while. I have no idea what’s ahead, but I feel like it will be better and bigger – and different – than I could’ve imagined. I was talking to a friend the other day about giving up the pencil with which I’ve designed my life. I don’t need the damn thing because I can’t be trusted with the power. I’ve seen what happens when I insist on designing things the way I think they ought to be. No more! I’m busy with one thing – letting the Great Spirit have the pencil every single minute. Especially when I want to wrestle it back.
Watching cats play. Doing JC Vance proud in the neighborhood 🐱 👩
Choosing faith over fear.
What I’m wearing
I particularly liked this man-repelling outfit from Monday. I found this coat at Banana Republic last spring and am just finding a way to wear it now, which I think is to embrace its shape and celebrate the feel of an upgraded, oversized lab coat in a drapey fabric. I paired it with a classic, white button up and trusty cropped, twill trousers. A. Emery sandals bought on sale at Moda Operandi.
The way you do anything is the way you do everything.
Poem
find a partner who realizes how their emotional history impacts the way they show up in your relationship. they don’t need to know themselves perfectly or have healed all their old hurt; they just need enough self-awareness to see when their past is getting in the way of loving you well. they know that rough emotions from the past have a way of twisting the mind so that it stirs up unnecessary arguments. together, you lean on honesty with yourselves and each other to help get you through difficult moments. you support each other whenever old pain needs attention. you wholeheartedly agree that loving each other deeply and healing yourselves should be your top priority. —yung pueblo
I’m grateful for
love
healing
authenticity
trust
purpose
possessing pathways to joy
painting
enjoying my own company
enjoying others’ company without attachment, without need, and being able to do so by feeling at home in my own soul. That’s true independence, and I’ve needed to find it for so long.
music music music
reaching out to others just because I want to live my life from the seat of love, not because I want a reach back. That sort of freedom is JOY.
animals
my family
my friends
the way the light looks in the fall
Something special
Congratulations to The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum for receiving the National Medal of the Arts. I’m proud to be a part of such a special institution and believe deeply in its mission.
The medal was awarded by President Joe Biden during a special ceremony at the White House on Monday (Oct. 21). Kyle Young, Chief Executive Officer of the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, accepted the Medal on behalf of the institution.
The ceremony recognized 20 recipients representing the past two years. Primarily awarded to individuals, the CMHOFM was the only institution to receive the Medal among the new recipients. Established in 1984, the Medal is the highest award given to artists and arts institutions who are “deserving of special recognition by reason of their outstanding contributions to the excellence, growth, support and availability of the arts in the U.S.”
“Our museum and country music itself were both born of humble beginnings — an origin that made it common for many to dismiss the artform or any careful study of it,” says Young. “The National Medal of Arts is a treasured validation of our longtime commitment to country music’s cultural significance, even when our work was not considered a serious endeavor. For more than a century, this music has given voice to the thoughts, feelings, hardships, triumphs and values of our country’s people. This prestigious recognition, to me, says that our institution is on the right track — collecting, studying and cherishing country music while holding to a broad approach including all forms of American vernacular music in its narrative.”
As one of the most-visited history museums in the country, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum welcomed more than 1.6 million visitors in 2023 and offered more than 1,200 educational programs. Its flagship Words & Music program promotes language arts by pairing songwriters with school classrooms to create original songs. In addition, the museum offers the 7,500-square-foot Taylor Swift Education Center and the CMA Theater and Ford Theater which regularly host live music and cultural events. The museum’s collection facilities, including the Frist Library and Archive, houses the world’s largest assemblage of country music artifacts and serves as a research hub for understanding the genre’s history and impact.
What I made
Same as last week ⬇️ I hope to finish the painting today.
I did some painting – I’m working on a piece for a local watercolor show I was asked to be part of — it’s nice to sit down and lose myself in color again.
Favorite photo of the week:
What brought me joy
Chinese lanterns in fall colors + blueberries + handstand practice + consciously staying in my body instead of dissociating + finding sanctuary + a fire in the fireplace on a crisp, Sunday morning + fuzzy slides for my feet with slip skirts and sweaters.
Prayer
Thank you, Great Spirit, for the life you give me every day. Thank you for the blessing of my son, my sister, my family both biological and chosen. Thank you for the blessing of this experience, even when it seems like the hard times are too hard and too many. I know I must walk through periods of difficulty in order to learn what I need to learn until I transmute the lessons and see that every encounter with my woundedness is an opportunity to address it, not to try to numb the pain. Remind me to turn to you with every breath. Please strengthen my faith so I might turn all things over to you and the wisdom to know you will work miracles in me through whatever you place in my blessed path. Remind me my choices determine my experiences and my lessons can come through positive ones rather than the opposite. Allow me to gracefully release what is not meant for me and to hold tightly and lovingly to what is. Allow me to be open to change every day as you remind me it is the only constant besides you. Allow me to repair what is broken. Allow me awareness of my dissociative tendencies and keep me present so I may make choices that reflect the life I desire. Allow me clarity, focus, and courage. Allow me to rise to my highest vibration each day and spread truth and beauty wherever I go. May I learn how to truly forgive. With deep gratitude I pray that your will, and not mine, shall be done.
Intention for the week to come
May I be present and fully inhabit my mind, spirit, and physical body.
May I walk through the world with an open heart and without judgment.
May I be curious and ask questions before I decide.
May I breathe peace in, and breathe love out.
May I be humble and see myself clearly so I may accept my limitations while working to lovingly decrease them. May my progress be reflected through my actions, seen and unseen.
May I have the self-possession and grace to meet others with the kindness and acceptance I desire for myself.
May I find the flexibility in myself to gracefully accept the imperfections of life and not take inconveniences personally.
May I think before I speak.
May I think MORE than I speak.
May I first do no harm.
May I be grateful for what I have and may I not seek more for my selfish gain.
May I allow myself to trust but may I also always use my discernment.
May I have CLARITY and find a way to be CALM about it.
May I be patient.
May my vibration resonate in harmony with the universe.
May I remember it isn’t about me.
May I do good work.
May I have optimism and positive thoughts.
May I be open to what the Great Spirit knows is for me, and may I walk my path accordingly by remembering I can only take it one step at a time.
Something I’m thinking about
So many things.
Learning how to guard my open heart instead of keeping my heart closed out of fear it will be trampled because I don’t know how to protect it, for one. So there’s that. Feels like a pretty big thing.
Turning sadness and grief into L❤️VE so it can move through my body, mind, and soul and finally unsticking what’s been stuck so I can really heal. It’s not only about recent heartbreak, it’s a process of waking up to what I’ve held inside for so long, for most of my life as far as I can tell. I know now that my unprocessed childhood grief festered into a gaping hole I tried to fill with anything and everything and everyone – I thought my grief was insurmountable and I had to deny it and hope it would one day be magically gone – I look back on the first half of my life and just chuckle at my overdoing, full of puddin’ self. I had to get completely broken open and be out of resources, too tired to rev up the old defense mechanisms again. I’m in the process of letting it all flow out of me. I have no shame about that.Tears heal me, even when it seems like they’ll never end. Sometimes it just takes a while. Keeping them inside turns my grief into depression. That is not the result I want.
Learning to see emotions as guides instead of rules. Then aligning every decision with self-love and committing to walk away from anything that blocks my path to peace. Situations that make me less than my best self should be avoided.
That I stopped drinking alcohol over two years ago. I’m so glad and grateful.
Before enlightenment; chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment; chop wood, carry water. — Buddha
Habit
Smiling.
It does wonders for the mood.
Wishes
That we all are and will be well.
That we all are loved.
That we all put our pasts behind us every minute.
That we all have a glorious and fulfilling week.
That everyone who reads this will feel peace in at least some small way.
That you will forward this to one person you think might like it.
Have a wonderful, peaceful, joyous week. And thank you for supporting my work here at The Autotelic.
Peace. Love.
Allison
There are first edition copies of I Dream He Talks to Me and Blood in the shop. I will sign each copy that is ordered. If you would like it personalized, please send an email with your order number and the name you would like on the signature page to allisonmoorercontact@gmail.com.
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The fella in the photograph with Ali McGraw is Robert Evans, her husband from 1969 to 1973, and former head of Paramount Pictures.
* This shall be the first and 𝑜𝑛𝑙𝑦 time that "Allison Moorer" and "man-repelling" appear in the same statement. Pffft. Not possible, total malarkey.
* I'll have to get on Leon Bridges - don't think he had been on my radar, which encompasses everything you could imagine. Speaking of: a few weeks back I dropped a link in the comments here to a powerful track by the amazing Staceyann Chin, on Meshell Ndgeocello's latest. Hopefully SOMEone, anyone listened and was blown away.
* McClister. His work is iconic and so individual. The second I saw the cover shot on Hayes' album I knew I didn't need to check the credits...I said out loud "Yeah, that's a McClister". He's a giant.
So much love to all of you... ❤️✊