caligater

This week’s gater snacks are inspired by the music I’ve been listening to this weekend. Nothing cutting-edge or super-underground—just music I enjoy. Get your groove on!

{Senagalese mellow groove} Baaba Maal – Mamadi

Give this song the full five minutes. It builds, and it builds beautifully. I love Baaba Maal’s voice because it reaches deep into my heart…I often listen to his albums when I write. “Mamadi” translates as “Tribute to Parents.”

{Neo soul} Raphael Saadiq – Staying in Love

Whenever I listen to Saadiq’s album the Way I See It, I inevitably build a playlist of all my favorite original soul artists…some Aretha Franklin, a healthy dose of Otis Redding, a bit of Howard Tate. And I usually include some of Saadiq’s songs among those greats.

{¡Sabroso!} Tito Puente & His Orchestra – Hong Kong Mambo

Give me a DJ spinning this song, a hardwood dance floor, my dancing heels and a partner. Groove time!

{Chill} Great Lake Swimmers – Your Rocky Spine

I don’t get sick of this one. And I love love LOVE love love the banjo. (As well as the mandolin and harmonica…perhaps that’s another playlist.)

What have YOU been listening to? I <3 new music…and I’d <3 if you shared the song(s) you’ve been listening to.

“You will hit a stride in life and you’ll be unstoppable.”

My dad said this to me a few weeks ago. I wanted to refute him—to tell him that he was just indulging my whining about currently feeling directionless. But I thought better of refuting him. He is my dad, after all.

I want to believe my dad’s words—I want to peer into my future (even the next few months would suffice) and exclaim, “There—I see it! There’s my stride!!” Somewhere in a corner of my brain, I know my dad is right. I just don’t know how his words will play out. Not yet.

I’m ready to become unstoppable, but first, here’s my valediction to stillness.

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I have written about giving myself space…slowing down and reprioritizing…learning stillness in motion. In my time of stillness—the last three months—I have:

• Read. A LOT.
• Written. Thousands and thousands of words.
• Incubated ideas. Excellent ideas, terrible ideas.
• Slept. Mid-afternoon naps are excellent.
• Spent time with my mom, dad, siblings and nephews.
• Critically explored my current skills and figured out some skills I want to develop.

I’ve sat still, breathed, reflected—the things I set out to do. And I’ve completed so much by setting out to not complete anything. I have accomplished my goal of sitting still.

I never imagined I could sit still as long as I have. And to be completely transparent, it was mostly uncomfortable. I always felt that I ‘should’ be doing more—I should be working long hours, volunteering at events or devising new projects. But in the stillness, I learned about my own strengths and weaknesses. I also learned more about the world around me. I’ve learned better how to observe with intention and how to ask quiet questions.

I’ve had time to breathe and be still. And I’m ready to move again.

Now, as I begin my unstoppable stride, I will concentrate on:

• Helping
• Working
• Connecting (<< can’t help it…I love meeting people!)
• Learning

That’s a vague list, huh? I’m okay with that. I’m excited for a wide-open horizon.

I think my dad is right. I hope my dad is right. {Thank you, Dad.}