RESILIENCE, CONTENTMENT, & TIMELESS TRUTHS
It’s my hope that this space will feel like a welcome respite from the anxieties of the modern world, where so much feels cheap, disposable, transactional and temporary.
Hello!
Since 2016 I’ve been writing a bi-monthly email newsletter – a.k.a. “The Museletters.” (‘Newsletter' was never the right term, it’s always been way more muse than news.) The bulk of the email is a kind of snapshot of where I am at the moment and what lessons, if any, I’ve been picking up along the way. I also drop in what I’ve been reading, watching, and listening to lately, what I’ve been moved, provoked, intrigued, and inspired by. The response has been heartening, to say the least.
Over the years readers have let me know how grateful they’ve been to hear about my struggles and setbacks as well as my attempts to stay sane, centered, and open amidst them. It has served as a useful reminder of something I can’t hear often enough, that despite our society’s obsession with achievement and results, we aren’t all that interested in perfection.
We know ourselves to be wounded, fallible creatures and we have an unfortunate tendency to suffer with that knowledge in isolation, convinced everyone but us has it all together and figured out. Yet when I hear someone say “Sometimes I get really anxious and can kind of work myself into a panic over nothing” or “I’m worried I’m procrastinating my life away” it gives me the chance to say ”Same for me!” The sharing of our stories is the antidote to the modern maladies of loneliness and disconnection.
I love campfires, that blazing yellow and orange primordial glow around which we gather, eat, warm ourselves, sing songs, and tell tales. (My friend Matthew calls fire “Channel One” – i.e. mankind’s original television channel. This amuses me no end.) I like thinking of the things I do and make as a campfire. If you connect with this campfire, with its stories, songs, laughter, and warmth, stay awhile!
I’ve jumped over to Substack for a number of reasons. The Museletters will retain much of their original form and vibe but I’m also hoping to expand what I do, to share more regularly, interact more freely, and connect more deeply. (I also love that the whole Museletters library since 2016 is now all in one place and easily accessible.)
Most of the content will be free though you do have an option to become a paid subscriber. No pressure! Signing up for the paid subscription will get you some delightful bonus content (audio check-ins, AMAs, music demos, strolls down memory lane, pictures of Nelson, etc.) Read the main posts for free for as long as you like. And if you find yourself happily musing along with me and want more campfire, consider a paid subscription.
It’s my hope that this space will feel like a welcome respite from the anxieties of the modern world, where so much feels cheap, disposable, transactional and temporary. I find myself hungering these days for things with more depth: concepts, ideas, and rules for living that have been with us long enough that we know they’re not passing fads but rather timeless truths. I’m always on the hunt for deep wisdom that if applied to a modern life can lead to more meaning, resilience, and contentment.
Welcome. I’m so glad you’re here. JR
Reading is and has always been a healthy escape from a demanding world. One of the few times I can truly absorb a “campfire story” without being around an actual campfire.
I’ve all but shunned real time news and information lately, as I find it to be a major bummer…a constant bombardment of problems I have no chance in solving or contributing a solution to simply through greater awareness. It’s probable that I contribute more to solutions through ignorance of a world scale problem, as my state of mind is healthier and the amount of kindness I exhibit daily is greater. And, eliminating wasted time at least creates the opportunity to apply it to something more immediate and real (not that I always do).
Thank you Josh for contributing to the greater good through music, writing, speech, and action.