Happy Sunday Reader,It’s a blessing and a curse to get back into reading Stephen King books. A blessing because it’s better than scrolling on my phone or watching TV. A curse because it’s too tempting to read when I could/should/would be doing other things. Especially when the other things require me to think and create. I’ve travelled far and wide through pages filled with words weaved together into different worlds. I find comfort in those worlds. They go somewhere. You just flip the pages, and the ride keeps going. No choices, no decisions. Now, the real world? It’s filled with infinite choices, decisions, and detours. Uncertainty sprouts and grows like a dandelion in the spring. Part of me tells the rest of me things need to get done, deathly important things, it would seem. At least that’s what it feels like. The problem isn’t the feeling – it’s the stories I believe about the feeling. These stories I can’t seem to let go of. Stories that rip and pull at my attention like a loose jib line flapping in the wind. I tell myself, “If I could just secure that damn rope, I’ll be free to focus on the rudder and the waves.” Put another way: If I eliminate distractions, I can focus on the other things I’m worried about. But there’s nothing to worry about. The boat hasn’t capsized. The jib sail whipping in the wind isn’t pulling me off course. I’m still cutting through the water, headed into the horizon. I’m in the boat, and I’m sailing. When you’re cruising and contending through the elements, you’ll lose grip on your jib line from time to time. It’ll feel like chaos, but it’s just a distraction. Stay in the boat, stay in the moment, and the rope will come around.
August Notables:⛵️ August long at Wabamun Lake — Close to a full family reunion at the cabin. It felt like sliding into a pair of old slippers – familiar sights, sounds, and smells from my childhood. I enjoyed the easy vibes and sunny days. I’ll pass on tubing next time, though. Still not as fun as it looks. 🚶🏻♂️ Glenmore Reservoir dam — A long weekend walk took me across a dam I’ve driven by 100 times. I’d always wondered what it looked like on the other side. And I have to say, it wasn’t much to look at it. But for a second, as I looked out over the water on the other side, it felt like I was somewhere new. That’s the feeling I was after. 📚 Library books — There are two reasons I started reading Stephen King again: 1) Spotify’s sorta free audiobooks 2) finding a library in the neighbourhood. If it was listening alone or reading by itself, I don’t think I’d stick with it. But there’s something magical about listening to a story while you thumb through the pages of a physical book.
3 Lessons Learned:I. Plan less, do more, be amazed.Do you remember the last time you felt awe? Did you plan for it? Or did it happen in the midst of doing something? It’s worth thinking about (but not for too long). I’ve learned when you make choices without thinking through every possibility, you’ll be amazed at how often everything falls into place. Don’t underestimate how far instincts and imperfect action can take you. II. Social creatures need each other for energy and meaning.More than once this month, I left conversations with friends feeling revitalized. It was like blue mana potion flooding through my being. It was more than good vibes – it was renewed purpose. I’ve learned the closest thing I’ve found to fulfilment comes from connecting with good people. Life is a one player game, but it’s the people in your life that make the game worth playing. III. Books leave timestamps you can travel back to.Think of a book you read. It could be the last one or the first one. Do you remember where you were when you read it? Can you picture the relative period of your life? When I think of Cujo, I’m transported back to a beach in Nicaragua. When I think of Doctor Sleep, I’m lying in a dark bedroom, listening to the audiobook after laser eye surgery. I could go on and on. I’ve learned books can sometimes carve out chapters in your life. You live in books for days or weeks at a time. They become part of you. Books have a way of drawing attention, taking us deeper than screens ever will.
3 interesting things:
I’ll leave you with a quote 🤔
“Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.” — John Wooden Until next time, remember to live and let go, Scotty
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