My Sunday List
May 25, 2025
Words
“Radical changes and significant novelty in artistic style can only occur when there has been a radical change in human sensibility to require them. The spectacular events of the present time must not blind us to the fact that we are living not at the beginning but in the middle of a historical epoch; they are not novel but repetitions on a vastly enlarged scale and at a violently accelerated tempo of events which took place long since.” —W.H. Auden, 1951, from the foreword to A Change of World: Poems, by Adrienne Rich.
Music
Today’s song is “Rainbow,” written by Natalie Hemby, Shane McAnally, and Kasey Musgraves.
I was so fortunate to sit with Natalie yesterday for my first Poets & Prophets program at The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. She was an incredible guest and made hosting so easy. Her sweet spirit and empathetic heart resonated throughout the theater and I was so honored to witness it. The program will be up online soon—I’ll let you know when.
Joy
It’s Memorial Day weekend, which means my boy is home with me for the summer! He towers over me at 5’11” and approximately 150 pounds. He’s still the sweetest spirit I know. I’m lucky to be his mama.
Cherries. I could eat two pounds of them in one sitting.
Dolly Parton: Journey of a Seeker is open to the public! We had such a great time seeing Dolly see if for the first time. Alison Kraus and Union Station showed up to sing “Coat of Many Colors” and “The Seeker” and just blew everyone away. Dolly was her effervescent self, as always, and delighted those gathered with her presence. I’m so honored to be part of this exhibit.What a way to start a third act!
The way you do anything is the way you do everything.
Inspiration Card of the Day
I like to pull tarot cards some morning. I don’t rely on them for exact information or anything but I do like to use them as prompts to think about a situation in a different way, or to clarify something. We all use tools in our own ways.
Today’s card, pulled from Tasha van Ree’s the Untamed Elemental deck, is River.
From the guide book:
“Forgiveness. As in all life, River begins and ends at the source, polishing smooth all sharp opposition and offering generous opportunities to utilize her waters. She transforms and defines the landscape with her winding paths and gathering pools and acts as a meeting place for cleansing and quenching. Great civilizations have always been bound to her gifts; she is a timeless force. River is the living oracle of interconnectedness; it is her healing waters that dispel our illusions of sin, our perceived separations from the divine. We look to her to mend our brokenness, just as blood mends a broken bone.
River appears when forgiveness is required. Whether someone deserves your forgiveness or not has no relevance; your decision to forgive is a gift you give to yourself. Release the poison of resentment and move in the direction of your choosing; no one outside of yourself has the power to allay your joy. Often, the most difficult person to forgive is oneself. This type of forgiveness requires special tenderness and care. Call upon River’s unifying waters to wash away your misperceptions and forgive.“
I trust in the timing on this one. I do need to work on forgiving. First, myself. Then the rest comes easy.
Gratitude
Animals. We should take more time to try to understand them. My pets are my best friends—always there, always cheering for me, always loving me through my flaws.
Health. I am endlessly grateful that I’ve escaped big health problems so far in my life. I know that won’t last forever, but I’m working hard at thinking young—I think that has more to do with how we feel in our older years than most things.
Grace. Forgiving or being forgiven—whichever one it is doesn’t matter. When we seek grace for ourselves and others we bat back a rapidly encroaching lack of civility in this world.
Desires
Order. I have the kind of eye that finds fault wherever it looks. I realize it’s my job to find mistakes and refine, refine, refine things, but I never stop doing it. Sometimes it’s frustrating to always be correcting, but it’s a discipline.
Calm. I think order leads to calm. At least for me. I pray this will be a soothing summer—one filled with connections to friends and family and to the simple pleasures of warmth.
Prayer
Let me be good. Let me remember to talk to you and hear what you have to say to me. Let me value your divine knowing over anything and everything else, over anyone and everyone’s opinion. Let me be choosy about the counsel I seek. Let me be loyal, kind, and compassionate to my friends and family. Let me use good judgment and strength of character in every moment. Let me never forget that each breath is a gift from you, from this universe, from the miracle that is this moment of perfect combustion. Let me be strong in my faith. Let me receive inspiration. Most of all, let me love and be loved.
Intention for the week to come
May I be the best version of myself at every opportunity.
May I be patient. May I be kind.
May I have self-awareness.
May I clear clutter from my life.
May I welcome change.
May I love unconditionally.
May I slow down my emotions and keep them at arms length. They are clues—not answers, not truth.
Something I’m thinking about
How to leave things alone.
There’s so much power in refusal. I’m so guilty of thinking that if I just have one last conversation with someone about something we don’t agree on, I can change their mind. But no—it just doesn’t work that way. For the most part, we see things the way we see them and have little ability to be swayed, at least not in the other direction. If anything, staunch opposition mostly leads to staunch resistance. I want to learn to walk away when I know I need to.
Before enlightenment; chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment; chop wood, carry water. — Buddha
DO NOT EVER LET THE BASTARDS GET YOU DOWN.
Wishes
That we all receive the love we deserve.
That we all find comfort and peace.
That we all find time for the things that soothe us.
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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Have eaten 2# of cherries. It didn't go well. Eat 2# of anything never has.
Wishing you a wonderful summer with your son. Thank you for all you share. I could comment on all of it! Yes, to Something I'm Thinking About, I agree. And I love to hear about your work. They are lucky to have your light around them, as well. The Good Tarot by Colette Baron-Reid, is a nice oracle type daily draw, as well. Here comes June...