The There There Letter: Vegetating, Valuing, and Venturing
Three things from DAH.
DAH is me, David Anthony Hance. I write, organize, plan, produce, manage, direct, act, sing, promote, and make change (not the coin kind).
First up this week, Vegetating …
It is so very tempting during our often-stuck-indoors times to just veg out. Do nothing. Although I find that more difficult to do than not. It's the difference between indolence (pure laziness) and idleness (which might be laziness but feels more like inactivity). Idleness is a bit more like waiting, waiting for something worthy of attention and action. Cogitating before creating isn't such a bad thing, and I think I'd rather idle, then work with focus and inspiration in short bursts. So much preferable to unfocused and uninspired long hours of sort-of work. I think I've always worked this way, at least when I'm focused and inspired.
How To Be Idle: An Interview with Tom Hodgkinson
Second up this week, Valuing …
But if I am to work with focus and inspiration, I need to identify what is of value, and to value myself. Those things are tied up together. I need self-value in order to identify work or objectives of value. Sometimes, what I really value is hidden from me because I haven't been clear about myself, or I'm distracted by inadequate idleness (cogitation time). And I differentiate between solid self-value (respecting self-worth) and high self-esteem, which when leads to pride and pomposity, two things I don't much admire.
How Much Do You Value Yourself?
Third up this week, Venturing …
Nothing ventured nothing gained. Isn't that the truth? Variants of that saying date back to at least the 14th Century. I'm sure the notion that risk is sometimes necessary is much older than that. And I'm quite impressed at the efforts, the risks, so many are taking these days. I'm a customer of The Pip Wine Bar & Shop in Dixon, California. It opened just before pandemic closures began in March 2020. I've never been there when it's really open, except to pick up wine (very peaceful, just me and Amy, both masked). But Amy Grabish, the proprietor, is working her business any way she can. I've ordered online and by phone, and recently joined the wine club … Amy delivers to our home personally! I love local businesses that venture even when times are tough. I aim to emulate them.
5 Undeniable Truths About Taking (and Not Taking) Risks
A bit extra, from William Henry Channing (1810–1884):
To live content with small means;
to seek elegance rather than luxury,
and refinement rather than fashion,
to be worthy, not respectable,
and wealthy, not rich;
to study hard, think quietly,
talk gently, act frankly,
to listen to stars and birds,
to babes and sages,
with open heart,
to bear all cheerfully,
to all bravely await occasions,
hurry never.
In a word, to let the spiritual unbidden
and unconscious grow up through the common.
This is to be my symphony.
That's all for this week.
From Mary Oliver's poem "Sometimes" …
DAH is me, David Anthony Hance. I write, organize, plan, produce, manage, direct, act, sing, promote, and make change (not the coin kind).
First up this week, Vegetating …
It is so very tempting during our often-stuck-indoors times to just veg out. Do nothing. Although I find that more difficult to do than not. It's the difference between indolence (pure laziness) and idleness (which might be laziness but feels more like inactivity). Idleness is a bit more like waiting, waiting for something worthy of attention and action. Cogitating before creating isn't such a bad thing, and I think I'd rather idle, then work with focus and inspiration in short bursts. So much preferable to unfocused and uninspired long hours of sort-of work. I think I've always worked this way, at least when I'm focused and inspired.
How To Be Idle: An Interview with Tom Hodgkinson
Second up this week, Valuing …
But if I am to work with focus and inspiration, I need to identify what is of value, and to value myself. Those things are tied up together. I need self-value in order to identify work or objectives of value. Sometimes, what I really value is hidden from me because I haven't been clear about myself, or I'm distracted by inadequate idleness (cogitation time). And I differentiate between solid self-value (respecting self-worth) and high self-esteem, which when leads to pride and pomposity, two things I don't much admire.
How Much Do You Value Yourself?
Third up this week, Venturing …
Nothing ventured nothing gained. Isn't that the truth? Variants of that saying date back to at least the 14th Century. I'm sure the notion that risk is sometimes necessary is much older than that. And I'm quite impressed at the efforts, the risks, so many are taking these days. I'm a customer of The Pip Wine Bar & Shop in Dixon, California. It opened just before pandemic closures began in March 2020. I've never been there when it's really open, except to pick up wine (very peaceful, just me and Amy, both masked). But Amy Grabish, the proprietor, is working her business any way she can. I've ordered online and by phone, and recently joined the wine club … Amy delivers to our home personally! I love local businesses that venture even when times are tough. I aim to emulate them.
5 Undeniable Truths About Taking (and Not Taking) Risks
A bit extra, from William Henry Channing (1810–1884):
To live content with small means;
to seek elegance rather than luxury,
and refinement rather than fashion,
to be worthy, not respectable,
and wealthy, not rich;
to study hard, think quietly,
talk gently, act frankly,
to listen to stars and birds,
to babes and sages,
with open heart,
to bear all cheerfully,
to all bravely await occasions,
hurry never.
In a word, to let the spiritual unbidden
and unconscious grow up through the common.
This is to be my symphony.
That's all for this week.
From Mary Oliver's poem "Sometimes" …
Instructions for living a life:
Pay attention.
Be astonished.
Tell about it.
Pay attention.
Be astonished.
Tell about it.
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