My Sunday List
January 11, 2026 || The second weekend of 2026 || The weather in Nashville: High 40 degrees, Low 21
Words
“The least movement is of importance to all nature. The entire ocean is affected by a pebble.” —Blaise Pascal
“The wise do not hurry, nor do they try to control everything—instead they move intentionally and understand their impulsive reactions function as a barrier to their peace. —Yung Pueblo
Music
Olive Jones: “All in My Head.”
In a world of so many soundalikes, Olive Jones stands out in my opinion. I like how this track never gets hotter than a simmer—it’s just a slow, steady groove. I’m looking forward to hearing the full album in March.
What does autotelic mean?
Autotelic: The autotelic personality is an individual who generally does things for their own sake in the here and now, rather than for some later goal. Common traits include curiosity, persistence, low self-centeredness, and a desire to perform activities for intrinsic reasons only. No external rewards are as important as the process of living and doing things for the sake of doing things.
Catalog of Gratitudes
A warm home.
Books.
Having interests that keep me learning.
Love in all its forms.
the language of art.
the art of language.
being just a little intolerant of myself.
The way you do anything is the way you do everything.
What I’m Reading
I’d hoped to read five books before the end of the year and went so far as to list them here last fall. Alas, I didn’t read all five, instead, I’m still on number two, the second in the three Guralnick books in the pile. I’m about halfway through Careless Love. Of course, we know how it all ends and that it wasn’t pretty, but it’s still a fascinating read. What strikes me most about Elvis is how trapped he was, and even when he was allowed to acknowledge that to himself he couldn’t change it. I keep thinking, “what a waste.” His enormous talent was so often frittered away. I’m going to go right into The Colonel and the King so I don’t harbor resentment at Colonel Tom Parker.
What I’m writing
I’m inching forward on details for the novel. Planning a research trip for the spring. Trying to stay close to the world in my mind when I don’t always have time to devote to its development.
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.
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 travel, and tread, lightly.
May I slow down my emotions and keep them at arms length. They are clues—not answers, not truth.
Something I’m thinking about
Solitude.
I guess I think about it a lot. What I spend most of my life doing, writing or editing or otherwise creating, usually demands solitude. I can’t think unless there’s a certain amount of calm. It doesn’t worry me too much—solitude is something I seek, and I definitely feel the difference in happily working away by myself and the chill of loneliness rolling in like a grey fog. One of the most beautiful things middle age has brought me is patience with my feelings. On my good days, I can grasp the concept of being in control of my emotions, and not letting them be in control of me. Solitude brings me the opportunity to wrestle them to the ground—always fertile territory.
“All great art contains at its center contemplation, a dynamic contemplation.” —Susan Sontag
Anaïs Nin of why emotional excess is essential to writing and creativity:
“You must not fear, hold back, count, or be a miserable with your thoughts and feelings. It is also true that creation comes from overflow, so you have to learn to intake, to imbibe, to nourish yourself and not be afraid of fullness. The fullness is like a tidal wave which then carries you, sweeps you into experience and into writing. Permit yourself to flow and overflow, allow for the rise in temperature, all the expansions and intensifications. Something is always born of excess: great art was born of great terrors, great loneliness, great inhibitions, instabilities, and it always balances them.”
Before enlightenment; chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment; chop wood, carry water. — Buddha
Talent: hitting a target no one else can hit.
Genius: hitting a target no one else can see.
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
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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Access to the chat feature on the Substack app.
Paid subscriber only Saturday posts.
A discount code to use in the shop for 24 hours when I list paintings.
Surprises from time to time — free merch, access to things in the shop before free subscribers.
In this award season, I nominate you for Best Substack!
And such a wonderful black and white photo to add color to your words!🖤🤍