Friday Fixations
What I'm into right now
Happy Friday, my fellow suffering beings. Each week, I share two things I’m digging right now (books, TV shows, movies, music, and the like) plus one online video of nearly zero cultural merit.
Yacht Rock: A DOCKumentary on Max. An excellent and cheekily produced documentary about the well-loved, oft-mocked, and widely misunderstood subgenre of 1970s and 80s soft rock, which included such excellent bands as the Doobie Brothers, Steely Dan, and Toto. The filmmakers scored interviews with some of the key players of the scene, including Michael McDonald and Christopher Cross, and they give us thrilling insights into the creative decisions behind the songs. NB: This film is part of HBO’s outstanding Music Box series, which has also produced terrific docs on DMX, Alanis Morissette, and the Woodstock ‘99 debacle.
World’s Greatest Dad. Catchy, crunchy, country-fried alt rock with a great female lead singer. One of my favorite new (to me, at least) bands of the year. This record is crawling with bangers. If you happen to be a fan of the band Ratboys, this is for you.
I find this dude hilarious.
Oh, one last thing… If you're interested in studying with some amazing meditation teachers, these upcoming virtual courses at Spirit Rock Meditation Center might be of interest. All of these teachers have been on my pod, and I fully endorse:
Matthew Brensilver: Buddhist Psychology Training
Vinny Ferraro: A Year to Live
Kaira Jewel Lingo: Insight Meditation Retreat
Cara Lai: Steadying the Heart
Subscribers can comment on this and all my other posts. You can also chat with me, my staff, pod guests, and one another—about podcast episodes + whatever else I feel like discussing. Plus: podcast cheatsheets (with time-stamped highlights + full transcripts), live-streamed meditation sessions, and live video AMAs. Join the party.
Keep a joyful mind!
John O Donohue for your weekend
In out-of-the-way places of the heart,
Where your thoughts never think to wander,
This beginning has been quietly forming,
Waiting until you were ready to emerge.
For a long time it has watched your desire,
Feeling the emptiness growing inside you,
Noticing how you willed yourself on,
Still unable to leave what you had outgrown.
It watched you play with the seduction of safety
And the gray promises that sameness whispered,
Heard the waves of turmoil rise and relent,
Wondered would you always live like this.
Then the delight, when your courage kindled,
And out you stepped onto new ground,
Your eyes young again with energy and dream,
A path of plenitude opening before you.
Though your destination is not yet clear
You can trust the promise of this opening;
Unfurl yourself into the grace of beginning
That is at one with your life's desire.
Awaken your spirit to adventure;
Hold nothing back, learn to find ease in risk;
Soon you will be home in a new rhythm,
For your soul senses the world that awaits you.
johnodonohue.com
I’d never heard of Godfrey…he’s fantastic!!! Thank you for starting my morning off with a lot of laughs!