Life isn’t all about being pleased with what you’re doing. Be pleased with what you are being. Matt Haig
A wonderful author, who partly uses his very scary history of Panic Attacks, as a chance to view the extreme rarity of human existence on this rock in space, as a very very special thing, Matt Haig.
...I have just finished his brilliant ‘Notes On A Nervous Planet’.
I strongly recommend.
My computer, seems to dislike me uploading images today, so here is a link to an external review...
https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/books/notes-on-a-nervous-planet-by-matt-haig-review-a3863166.html
I am 40, I listen to different music as to what I did when I was half that age!
I listen now for pure enjoyment of the sounds, as opposed to the composition of the song! I am a big fan of various podcasts when I can pay enough attention. At the moment it seems that I listen to Jazz or House Music (broadly speaking).
Jazzy/contemporary piano
I tend to start most days listening to the calming, soothing sounds provided by the ‘Soren Bebe Trio’. A Danish jazz pianist (landmark record ‘Echoes was originally released in 2019). My alternative is Nils Frahm, German contemporary composer who first appeared on this blog almost 10 years ago, and is still releasing brilliant music. If all else fails the Miles Davis Quintet ‘Bags Groove’ I a reliable source of a good mood!
House / Deep house
Daytime, the chances are that I may be on my MotoMed/gymbike if I am at home needing music. I wear headphones when I am inside the gym on Saturdays. I listen to the same playlist in either situation. I fell in love with this style whilst at university. This music of a 4x4 beat instills the human body with energy. Current playlist uses music from Homero Espinosa, Lau.ra, CircoLoco Records, DFTD, and of course I’ve squeezed some Chemical Bros and Subliminal Records. N this ‘eclectic playlist’!
Jazz/Blues
Then when I need music after, at the end of the day, my playlist entitled ‘Jazz’ suffices. Again, this is perhaps the wrong title, as it is widely eclectic. Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Kamasi Washington, are balanced by female artists Laufey, Emma Smith, and even some Diane Birch,…. And some Rolling Stones (Blue and Lonesome is almighty)!
I’m so pleased that I used to cycle. Whilst it provided me with many, many friends, physical fitness, employment, love of the sport, and much much more, there was one thing that perhaps surpasses the rest. Essentially cycling is a lonesome activity. The rider spends hours by themself. When alone, one thinks. One thinks about anything. Be proud of your mind, only you can think exactly as you do. That is special. Just stop...
… Reconsider.
… Think.
You are unique. In the entire history of mankind, no-one has ever lived identically to you! I would think about as much as I could. As deeply as I could. I always concluded that I was lucky to have the ability to cycle, and the time/ability to think. I knew that other sports/activities can give people so much, but few provided what I was receiving from cycling.
I cannot really believe that I am so convinced. I do however feel that I am direct proof of the existential theory. Something that can give so much, can take so much at a balanced level.