My Sunday List | Grounding, Digging, Staying.
September 01, 2024 |
Words
The theory behind aesthetic life is that you should rack up experiences. But if you live life as a series of serial adventures, you will wander about in the indeterminacy of your own passing feelings and your own changeable heart. Life will be a series of temporary moments, not an accumulating flow of accomplishment. You will lay waste to your power, scattering them in all directions. You will be plagued by a fear of missing out. Your possibilities are endless, but your decision-making landscape is hopelessly flat. As Annie Dillard put it, how you spend your days is how you spend your life.
—David Brooks
Music
Chill Lofi Study Beats on Spotify. These instrumental playlists set a great tone for my day, whether I’m working at the museum or getting things done at home. A low, soft tone makes me feel like I have a blanket around my shoulders and I am therefore, safe–safe to feel, think, and create. When we aren’t safe, we can’t do anything but survive. Here’s a thought: Instead of teaching children they must do this or that in their lives to be successful, what if we teach them how to regulate their nervous systems first and see what happens? Grounding practices should probably be taught first as absolute ground zero–instead we teach how to react to others as the first guiding principle and that teaches us to be co-dependent and always outside ourselves. Music is a wonderful, stabilizing tool that will save your life.
I watched
Buddy Miller play a fantastic show at The Ryman the other night–he was opening for Steve Earle, who was headlining a show on his summer solo acoustic tour. John Henry, Sis, and I all had to get to bed after a long day so we couldn’t stay for Steve’s entire show, but what we heard sounded legendary, as always.
The real BIG bonus was getting to see Lucinda Williams backstage. I’ve always admired Lucinda and her work, but it was her book that made me fall deep, and I got a chance to tell her. It was such a sweet moment. We’ve known each other for over two decades, and it’s those long relationships that matter more and more to me as I get older. If you haven’t read her book, it’s well worth your time.
Book
Besides the stack of five or six things I’m reading at, I’ve been plowing through this:
In preparation for THIS!
The plan is to meet once a month and talk about a music-related book. In honor of the name of the establishment, the first book is, of course, related to Waylon.
If you’re local — come join us at Waymore’s.
Favorite moments
Soaking up the last few days of summer with my boy, who is six-feet-tall and has an amazing amount of facial hair for a fourteen-year-old.
Having the best time with Sam Callaway and watching him grow and become a crazy cat.
Whenever I got a chance to paint.
Daily visits with Sis.
What I’m wearing
Right now, I’m wearing yoga clothes. It’s so hot and dry in Nashville that all I can think about is the day when it will be time to wear a jacket with a high armhole and a pair of wool trousers and boots. And when it’s cold I’ll be waiting for the day I can wear white linen. Note to self: be where you are and notice that every season is necessary and a blessing. Even the extremes.
The way you do anything is the way you do everything.
Poem
wisdom is not loud
nor does it whisper
it is a resonance
that realigns you with a better direction
it is a knowing that arises with undeniable clarity
it is an expansion that makes the mind lighter
wisdom is gradual,
often showing you the same truth
but from different angles,
until finally it clicks so deeply
that it becomes part of your being
as the wisdom within you matures,
it becomes easier to let go,
to stop fighting yourself,
and to move with nature instead of against it
__yung pueblo
I’m grateful for
The sun, the moon, and all of the magic in the universe.
My incredible, beautiful, graceful, supportive friends.
My family and my home and my animals.
The air I breathe and the sustenance I receive.
My very cool job.
Music.
No matter what happens, the sun continues to rise and fall. And that’s all there is.
What I made
Space.
A better home, by redoing, organizing, refreshing, and fluffing.
I’m working on a big Scout painting.
Something wonderful I noticed
Somehow I manage to see 11:11 almost every day.
Doing so is considered to be a sign that the angels are on your side. It also means to be aware of your thoughts because they will manifest themselves – it’s so important to keep the thinking positive. It’s also a sign of transition. And I’m always in some kind of transition.
What brought me joy
Impromptu gatherings around my dining table + cat toys + my sweet dogs that are scared of a 3lb. kitten + swimming pools + visiting with Stephanie and eating cookies on a Friday night + my painted kitchen floor + being home on the weekends after a lifetime of traveling + my sister’s unique heart and soul + handmade pottery + perfect light fixtures + watercolors + the smell of dirt.
Prayer
Thank you, Great Spirit, for the life you put in me. Thank you for the blessing of this experience. Please give me the strength to turn all things over to you and the faith to know you will work miracles in me through whatever you place in my blessed path. Allow me to gracefully release what is not meant for me, and to hold tightly and lovingly to what is. Allow me clarity, focus, and courage. Allow me to rise to my highest vibration each day. 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 breathe peace in, and breathe love out.
May I be humble.
May I have the self-possession and grace to meet others with kindness and acceptance.
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 be grateful.
May I allow myself to trust.
May I have CLARITY.
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
How the past imprints itself on the present and how to sift out and discard what isn’t necessary from those lessons so it doesn’t impede my life.
I understand that’s a gigantic sentence. So be it. That’s the mission.
Before enlightenment; chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment; chop wood, carry water. — Buddha
Habit
Checking the weather. Hoping for rain.
Watering all the living things so they might not die as a result of the drought conditions of eighty-two percent of middle Tennessee.
Praying. Listening to what rises.
Sitting and doing nothing for as long as I can.
Best Word or Term
personalia: the collective personal belongings, writings, and information of a particular individual.
I plan to leave as little personalia behind as possible when I die, so the second half of my life will be spent editing what I spent the first half accumulating.
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 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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I think all kids should have to also learn DBT skills.
Great writing!
Allison, I can't say enough about every word in this Sunday List. Thank you, for it all. I am stunned. David Brooks and everything after. What a blessing for my soul. Grateful for you.