Forward Motion

Considerations 2/15/2021: Endel App, Robin Thicke, Make Time, Ted Lasso and more

Feb 17

Just your typical causal photo of me (shot by @sunlovesthemoon)

Considerations is a thoughtfully curated newsletter focused on creative inputs for multi-disciplinaries.

Intro:

Well—

2020 was a barn burner of a year (to say the least). Personally, it's was a rollercoaster—excitement, dips, a cool breeze on my face, sweaty palms, loop de loops, high likelihood of vomit, and before you know it, it ended.

There's a Bruce Lee quote that I keep circling back to —

“Do not pray for an easy life, pray for the strength to endure a difficult one.”

Going through tough things sucks in the moment. Sometimes it sucks afterward too. But often difficult moments become turning points in our lives. An opportunity to be better and live up to our ideals, or a chance to fall apart, giving us an opportunity to pause, reassess what's important, and start anew. Maybe this is my glass-half-full showing, but I find it better to be optimistic about the future (and mistakes of the past). Because what do negativity, despair and hopelessness bring us? Nothing good.

I've been meaning to put this email out for what feels like one hundred years, but every time I sit down to finish it I'll get sidetracked by other recommendations I want to add. Consistency is something I'm working on improving this year.

I could give you a baker's dozen of reasons why I've been inconsistent, but I'd rather not dwell on it and focus on what I can do to create more consistently. It sounds counter-intuitive, but I'd like to experiment with doing weekly newsletters instead of monthly. I think it would give me a better chance to keep things moving and prevent my ideas and what I want to say from ballooning.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on weekly emails vs. monthly, how you stay consistent in your own life, and what you like to see from newsletters you sub to.

Here are some interesting things I’ve been considering lately:

1. Two Shameless Plugs:

Listen to my Interview with Jessica Jollie on the Renaissance Life Podcast

Jessica Jollie is the owner of Yoga Landing, a boutique yoga studio based in Chattanooga TN, USA. This is a fun conversation. We go into a lot of different topics—overcoming injuries, starting a business, teaching, balancing work with family, and more.

Renaissance Life is a podcast for multi–disciplinaries and is dedicated to the pursuit of creativity, mastery, and a meaningful life.
Link to the Renaissance Life on Apple Podcast
Listen on Spotify
Listen on Overcast

New Patreon!

I've set up a Patreon page for The Renaissance Life. If you are interested in supporting what I do and also getting some extra value, consider becoming a patron (less than the price of a cup of coffee or two per month!)

What you get:

Downloadable Action Guides from each episode
Advanced Guest List Q & A

2. Endel App

Endel is hands down the best app I’ve used in a while. I think I've used it every day since I've downloaded it.

Here's a description from Wikipedia: “Endel is a company that specializes in creating technology with personalized sound environments to reduce stress, increase focus and improve sleep. The sounds are generated in real-time based on various inputs such as one's location, time, weather, cadence, heart-rate, etc.”

I’ve been using it to stay focused (like finished this email), relaxing while reading, and sleep soundly.

Find Endel on:

3. Music Recommends:

So many good albums have dropped in the past couple of months! Here are some of my favorite new listens:

Arlo Parks—Collapsed In Sunbeams

Robin Thicke—On Heaven, and in Heaven

Honne—no song without you

Pink Sweat$—PINK PLANET

4. Film

Derek DelGaudio’s In & Of Itself

In & Of Itself is a must-watch. I don’t want to give too much away, but I’ll say that it’s a stage performance/magic show, but it’s so much more than that.

Tenet

I finally got around to seeing Tenet (twice now.) It’s a fun crazy ride. The heist scenes are so epic. I think what really drives the film (besides the crazy ideas/visuals) is the cast’s charisma and enthusiasm. Watching this get’s me excited for Robert Pattinson as Batman.

Palm Springs Commentary Cut

I recently rewatched Palm Springs (… again) this time with commentary from the directors and actors. Such a fun movie. Top three (if not the) movies from last year.

And The Palm Spring playlist is great too.

5. TV

Ted Lasso

I think Ted Lasso is the most wholesome and uplifting show I’ve watched in a while. I can see why it’s gotten a lot of buzz since its release. I’m excited for whenever the second season drops (and it’s a good sign that it’s already been picked up for a third.)

WandaVision

WandaVision is incredible and highlights Marvel’s attention to detail. Give it a few episodes (it starts to pick up momentum on and after the 3rd episode.)

6. Current Reads

Atomic Habits by James Clear

Make Time by Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky

I’ve just started these, but I can already highly recommend them. Subscribe to Bookaholics to hear a review and takeaways soon.

7. Interesting Clicks

I hope you enjoyed this edition of Considerations. Have you discovered any interesting articles, books, music or what-have-yous recently? Email me at josh [at] renaissance life [dot com] or leave a comment below.

If you are into books join my monthly book newsletter, Bookaholics.

Lastly, each month Considerations will have a sister publication called Practices. Where Considerations is about creative inputs, Practices is about creative output.
Considerations is the gasoline. Practices is the match. Considerations will always be free. But if you are interested in Practices, for only $5 a month or $30 a year, you can receive a thoughtful resource to help improve and change your life. Sign up for here for your first month free.

Thanks for your time. Be Well. Keep creating.
— Josh Waggoner

Renaissance Life
Insta: @Renaissance.Life
Twitter @wiggidywags