My Sunday List
January 19, 2025
Words
…in a way—nobody sees a flower—really—it is so small—we haven’t time—and to see takes time like to have a friend takes time. —Georgia O’Keeffe
Music
These are the last five songs I put on my favorites list on Spotify. I have no idea how they go together other than I like them and they all soothe my soul in some way. So, here’s a mini-playlist.
SULA (Paperback) - Jamila Woods
Farther Along - Ellen McIlwaine
Paddle to the Stars - The Dip
Nobody Knows - Olive Jones
A Promise - Meernaa
I watched
It’s a luxury to sit and watch. Not necessarily what’s on whatever screen, but to take time to see the world around me. I’m currently sitting in an airport—I scooted down to Alabama for the weekend to meet my bff, Ashley. It was nice to get to visit with her and watch the water of Mobile Bay for a while.
Nothing is disconnected. What we learn through sitting still is invaluable, whether it’s becoming more closely connected to our own thoughts and feelings and their importance and insignificance, or the emptying of the thoughts and feelings that can occur when we find a focal point in nature on which to concentrate. The natural world is a mystery that is forever being uncovered, and the older I get, the more I know the answers I most seek are found there—in the crest of a wave, in the swoop of a pelican, in the way a cat gets smaller when it’s cold.
I had to stop seeking attention and acceptance outside of myself in order to find what I most needed, which was my own attention and acceptance. The smaller I get, the more comfortable I am in the world.
I am, however, going to make time for this soon.
Book
The Book by Alan Watts.
Gratitude
I woke up this morning. Gotta start there. Everything else feels like an embarrassment of riches today.
The truth is, I’m busy making new memories. When you’re with someone for a long time, your worlds get tangled like vines. Isn’t that the point? Regardless, it sometimes takes a sharp blade to get the worlds separated again. I’m grateful for the ability to step forward with courage.
The way you do anything is the way you do everything.
Why Don’t You…
(apologies to Ms. Vreeland, of course).
Learn some new words?
Polish your shoes?
Call someone you love?
Dress the part?
What I made
I wrote a lot this week. I continue to be grateful for my writer/editor position at The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. There are a few major exhibits coming this year and we have a lot to do to get them ready to open. Artifacts came in for one of them at the beginning of last week, and I’m so excited to learn how an exhibit comes to life from its inception. To interact with the collections of a person is an intimate thing and one that demands much sensitivity and respect. I have a panel due this week that should be around 150 words. Just to give you an idea of how far we dig, I have about 10,000 words of research with which to construct that 150. And I know I could keep on digging. As we’ve discussed here many times, art is never completed, you just quit working on it.
Favorite photo of the week
What brought me joy
Sunshine!
Snow!
Black cashmere.
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.
Humble me and lift me out of my pit. Send me the tests I need to remind me to choose the path that leads my soul home and to turn to you with every breath. Please strengthen my faith so I might hand all matters 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
Love. What it is and what it isn’t. What it can be and what it can’t be. Learning the difference between love and dependence, love and anxiety, love and anything that isn’t love. I read something the other day that said something like this: “Whatever practices take you away from love, stop them.”
It’s simple when you think about it that way, isn’t it?
I also thought quite a bit about David Lynch, who passed the other day. Melba Montgomery and Buck White, too, two more legends we lost last week.
And of course, the fires in California. I don’t have the right words for that situation. No one does.
Before enlightenment; chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment; chop wood, carry water. — Buddha
Habit
Okay y’all might think this is weird, but I’ve been using mouth tape for sleeping. And I think it’s weird too, to tape your mouth shut and go to sleep. But it ensures that I breathe through my nose, and there’s something about it that makes me rest so much better. Maybe y’all want to try some? Just a weird tip I guess.
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
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You may be moving toward smalldom but you loom large to us. Carry on
Hi. Still a sleep tech. I don't think taping your mouth shut for sleeping is weird. Starting to see it more and more.