In response to a question I was asked about having "I will live for experience" on my list of vows. You know, I probably could've better stated it as, "I will pay attention."
Great stuff, as always, Matt. Coincidentally, “Pay Attention” is the motto for my Travel Writing course. Grateful for the connection!
Interesting read. I knew very few of these things about you.
I wonder how much of it is paying attention and how much of it is being a person who values reflection? To be clear, I know you as a person who does both. But what connects the two: you are someone who values people and the experiences you have with them, experiences that embody Pirsig’s ideas of Quality in Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. The good stuff.
Side note: I hope you don’t mind me saying this, but your writings on music remind me of one of the first writers I felt cool for sincerely and deeply liking: Nick Hornby.
Jason, thanks so much for this thoughtful response. I feel blessed that you both take the time to share both your feedback, and to elevate and expand the ideas in the original post. And in doing so, elevate and expand my point of view and awareness.
And, I consider that Nick Hornby comment to be a compliment of the highest order. Thank you.
Paying attention has such massive payouts. A thirty second exchange can stay with you for a lifetime, somehow managing to tweak behavior, most often to the good, for decades to come. There is great success in small actions. I liked reading yours...
And Redacted's "...compared to what" is my favorite line from an album deserving of its praise. Now the guitar on the cover will always provide a personal note.
Great stuff, as always, Matt. Coincidentally, “Pay Attention” is the motto for my Travel Writing course. Grateful for the connection!
Interesting read. I knew very few of these things about you.
I wonder how much of it is paying attention and how much of it is being a person who values reflection? To be clear, I know you as a person who does both. But what connects the two: you are someone who values people and the experiences you have with them, experiences that embody Pirsig’s ideas of Quality in Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. The good stuff.
Side note: I hope you don’t mind me saying this, but your writings on music remind me of one of the first writers I felt cool for sincerely and deeply liking: Nick Hornby.
Jason, thanks so much for this thoughtful response. I feel blessed that you both take the time to share both your feedback, and to elevate and expand the ideas in the original post. And in doing so, elevate and expand my point of view and awareness.
And, I consider that Nick Hornby comment to be a compliment of the highest order. Thank you.
If I had to answer what I’ve learned from you in our years of friendship, paying better attention would be my answer.
So much learning, CJB—both ways. Thanks, always, for the bump when I need it, for the push when I need it.
Paying attention has such massive payouts. A thirty second exchange can stay with you for a lifetime, somehow managing to tweak behavior, most often to the good, for decades to come. There is great success in small actions. I liked reading yours...
And Redacted's "...compared to what" is my favorite line from an album deserving of its praise. Now the guitar on the cover will always provide a personal note.
Mark, thank you for this. Love it. And have always admired your attention to detail…