A while back I ran across a post by Frank Chimero in which he described how he kept a text playlist:
“[O]ne made of the best writing on the web I come across. I take this list and revisit and reread it every 4 to 8 weeks. You could almost consider it a playlist of text: it’s very select (I artificially limit it to 10-15 articles), I typically read them all in one sitting, and the order and pacing is very purposeful. Most revolve around what it’s like to be making things in 2010, and a lot of the people that I respect the most have pieces in it. It’s almost a pep talk in text form. I visit it when I’m down, when I’m lazy, when I’m feeling the inertia take over.”
Wow, I was at a lose for words. A pep talk in text form – so brilliantly simple!
Not one to stand still when something catches my interest, I feverishly spent the next couple of hours rounding up all of my favorite writings, talks, poems, and speeches, etc.. And from that I picked my top 5 (which was most difficult to do) in order to make it a list that I could review in full once a month quickly (in an hour or less) without loosing any of the ‘pep talk’ effect.
I should have talked about this earlier, but I didn’t want to talk about my “Good Life Playlist” until I had spent at least two months finding out for myself how well it worked. And boy, does it work.
This short playlist consisting of poetry, talks, writing, and photography has for the past two months helped me in ways I couldn’t begin to describe. It’s helped me remember over and over why I chose to be different, why I chose to make my own future rather than hand it to someone else, and why I am on this path even when the easiest (conforming to the status quo) was the most pleasant path in most situations. My playlist reminds me of why I do what I do; in order to lead a good life.
My “Good Life Playlist” currently consists of:
1. Anis Mojgani at The Seattle Grand Slam 2006
Anis plays with words in a way that I can only dream about. The first time I watched this I paused it at least four times from the meer fact that I couldn’t contain myself enough to sit still, and by the end I was nearly put to tears (almost). Watch this vid at you’re own accord, there’s some swearing (all in good taste) and you will be moved.
2. TEDxHouston: Brene Brown – Wholehearted
Brene Brown, and this vid, may be the reason I’ve now become completely obsessed with storytelling. Not only does she tell stories backed up by data and research, but she also enriches them with so much emotion, soul, and humor that it makes most other speeches bland in comparison. In the vid she talks about ‘Wholeheartedness’; how we can engage in our lives from a place of authenticity and worthiness; and how we can cultivate the courage, compassion, and connection that we need to embrace our imperfections and to recognize that we are enough (that we are worthy of love, belonging and joy).
This post by Merlin Mann has single-handily writing over half of the posts on this blog in that it’s reminded me over and over that I don’t need to be inspired to write (despite what others tell me). All I need to do is make ‘the clackity noise’ enough times a week and proceed from there. If you’re a writer (or desire to be one) I urge you to read this.
This series of posts written by Jonathan Harris in which he talks about society, life, education, nature, and technology continuously astounds me everytime I read it. Although it was written back in 2009 it’s still as relevant, if not more, today. Jonathan’s foresight is dead-on with this one.
This essay written by William Deresiewicz strikes every fiber of my being every-time I read it. Life is abudant with choices and the biggest ones to make are those regarding education, future, career, and passion. The problem with making decisions about these ‘big’ choices that our life consists of is that we’re all lost and unprepared about making them. This essay adapted from a talk William gave to a freshman class at Stanford University for me points to the proper way for each of us to handle those questions when we’re faced with them. If you have time to read the essay (a little long) then I say do so. For he talks about life in a way that makes you realize that society is wrong about almost everything (go figure).
… For the past couple of months I’ve used this playlist to pep myself up whenever I’m down and/or lazy (think of it as an ‘open in case of emergency kit’). Although the list won’t remain the same forever (items are replaced with other works as better articles are found), the purpose of the list sticks to the notion that it reminds me of why I do what I do and thus keeps me moving in the right direction.
I recommend you make your own playlist. It doesn’t have to be a Good Life Playlist; it can be a Writing Playlist, a Drawing Playlist, a Programming Playlist – anything! Find work that inspires you and make a quickly reviewable list of your top picks. Then save them somewhere where you can easily review them in times of need.
Inspire yourself when you’re down, lazy, or when you’re feeling the world’s against you with your own playlist.
photo credit: Adriano Agulló