✨Highlights and Bombshells💥

[AlpineFresco]

Magic
​

Where do you find magic in your daily life? When do you stop and think, ok if Magic isn’t real, then how in the world is *that* possible??Or do you not do that? Are you a more logical person and things can usually be explained by logic and reason?

Hmm. OK, so to me magic is something I most often perceive as just 'a very cool thing I don't understand'. If you're highly highly skilled at something, far beyond my ability to understand how you do it? That's magic.
But also good cooking is alchemy, it's turning base ingredients into something amazing, that's magic.
The feelings of spending time with someone I care a lot about? That's magic.

Some things might not technically be physics-breaking-fantasy-magic, but they may as well be magic because of how they feel.

But also y'know, gimme the spell Freedom of Movement 'cause Brexi- oh wait, not that kind. Shit, sorry, don't play enough D&D.

 

[Mrtenant]

Magic
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Where do you find magic in your daily life? When do you stop and think, ok if Magic isn’t real, then how in the world is *that* possible??Or do you not do that? Are you a more logical person and things can usually be explained by logic and reason?

Universal constants. There are 26 of them- 27 if you include the constant where my spouse is always in front of me when I want to open a kitchen cabinet or drawer. Fucking eerie.

 

[SalaciousMonkey22]

Magic
​

Where do you find magic in your daily life? When do you stop and think, ok if Magic isn’t real, then how in the world is *that* possible??Or do you not do that? Are you a more logical person and things can usually be explained by logic and reason?

While I’m not a physicist I spent quite a bit of my life studying science and math and I don’t really believe in magic per se. I think that things happen that we don’t understand but that those things are generally understandable which isn’t quite the same as magic (yeah yeah technology sufficiently advanced and all that)

I do deeply and honestly hope there ARE things that are unknowable and magical because I don’t think free will can exist without them. But I have yet to find something that seems that way.

In my life I do sometimes kind of use magic and joy interchangeably. I think there is magic and joy in small pleasures . In beauty, in art, in things you’re passionate and things you take for granted most of the time except those moments when you don’t. The magic in the power to make the rest of this bullshit worth it isn’t something to be sneered at.

 

[Love_Is_Blonde]

That’s part of it, though. What is magic? It’s something that pulls you through, and to one person it looks like joy, and to another person it might be a connection with the world around them, and to another, maybe inexplicable things that happen no matter what. Or maybe it’s just noticing things that you didn’t see before.

Or maybe I’m just easily amused. And if that’s so, I’ll take it.

 

[Mrtenant]

That’s part of it, though. What is magic? It’s something that pulls you through, and to one person it looks like joy, and to another person it might be a connection with the world around them, and to another, maybe inexplicable things that happen no matter what. Or maybe it’s just noticing things that you didn’t see before.

Or maybe I’m just easily amused. And if that’s so, I’ll take it.

Easily amused is a good place to be. I know a little about that.

 

[BreukelenAnima]

Magic
​

Where do you find magic in your daily life? When do you stop and think, ok if Magic isn’t real, then how in the world is *that* possible??Or do you not do that? Are you a more logical person and things can usually be explained by logic and reason?

I think magic is real and it occurs when you try to live every day with an open heart... And when you do, magic becomes the small moments, the gentle times, the quiet miracles that fill it up. I shared this story on the Daily Song Challenge in May and I'd like to share it as a moment in time that I'll never forget.

When my son was 7 years old, I introduced him to the music of The Beach Boys... A couple of times a week, we might stop at the local doughnut shop for a doughnut before school. I remember one such ride, early in the morning, and playing "Surfin' Safari" for him as an introduction to music of The Beach Boys... and that was it. He was completely hooked on the music. Even my daughter (3 years old at the time) got into the music. They would learn the words to the songs on Endless Summer and we'd all sing along in the car. That spring (in 2015) was a magical time.

Five months later, I took my son to see Brian Wilson and Al Jardine at the San Francisco Jazz Festival. By then, he knew every song by the Beach Boys and their entire discography. During the show, they played an obscure song that I was not familiar with, and my son not only whispered the name of the song but the album it was off of. After the show, we were walking across the mezzanine of the theatre and an old time rock n roller / concertgoer who was walking past us, suddenly stopped me. He looked at my son and then at me and said, "I don't know what you're doing, but whatever it is, keep it up." That compliment was magic... something, looking back on that time, I needed to hear. That was a magical evening and I'll always remember it.

Brian Wilson passed away yesterday and he was true musical genius and a musical hero of mine. It's upsetting that he's gone and I find myself extremely saddened by the news. I hope Brian has been reunited with his two brothers and they're making music right now.

The Beach Boys' music was magic... and it will live on forever. ...And their music helped create magic in my life, for which I will always be grateful.

 

[SimonSex]

Brian Wilson passed away yesterday and he was true musical genius and a musical hero of mine. It's upsetting that he's gone and I find myself extremely saddened by the news. I hope Brian has been reunited with his two brothers and they're making music right now.

The Beach Boys' music was magic... and it will live on forever. ...And their music helped create magic in my life, for which I will always be grateful.

The rest of The Beach Boys pretty much agreed that Brian Wilson was The Beach Boys. He created a whole new musical genre, unmistakable in its originality. Like it or not, when you hear those tunes, you are transported to a place carefree and fun.

 

[SpicyBean99]

The rest of The Beach Boys pretty much agreed that Brian Wilson was The Beach Boys. He created a whole new musical genre, unmistakable in its originality. Like it or not, when you hear those tunes, you are transported to a place carefree and fun.

He also wrote, arranged, and produced most of their biggest hits too. Not sure if you watched their biopic (Love & Mercy) but I remember seeing it on a flight, and the bands story, and Brian’s story is truly as beautiful as it is sad. The rest of the band recognised his genius, and even at his most troubled, they knew he was the architect of their sound.

 

[LustfulIntentions2]

He also wrote, arranged, and produced most of their biggest hits too. Not sure if you watched their biopic (Love & Mercy) but I remember seeing it on a flight, and the bands story, and Brian’s story is truly as beautiful as it is sad. The rest of the band recognised his genius, and even at his most troubled, they knew he was the architect of their sound.

It really is remarkable the output he managed in the first 30 or so years of his life, and equally crushing how the combination of his father's abuse and our inability as a society to deal with mental health struggles and mental illness at that time probably cost him so many more years of being able to truly enjoy the success he'd brought to them.

 

[BreukelenAnima]

He also wrote, arranged, and produced most of their biggest hits too. Not sure if you watched their biopic (Love & Mercy) but I remember seeing it on a flight, and the bands story, and Brian’s story is truly as beautiful as it is sad. The rest of the band recognised his genius, and even at his most troubled, they knew he was the architect of their sound.

If you listen to Pet Sounds from beginning to end, you can begin to fully understand Brian Wilson's genius -- the music was so far ahead of its time and that was all Brian's doing (as was all their hits before then). He was arranging the music in orchestral pieces and then combining them into three minute masterpieces. He was the rock 'n' roll version of Beethoven and Mozart-- he could hear the music in such a unique way... and he could piece it all together in his mind. Good Vibrations, God Only Knows, Sloop John B, etc... He was composing rock 'n' roll symphonies... and he was creating all this work while still in his early 20's... Just remarkable.

I think Dennis Wilson (the coolest member of the group) summed it up the best, "Brian is The Beach Boys. He is the band. We're his f***ing messengers. He is all of it. Period. We're nothing. He's everything."

 

[Love_Is_Blonde]

I’m feeling you all. It’s really hard to lose an artist who has been such a meaningful presence for so long.

 

[SimonSex]

Brian Wilson was 82 when he died. Not a bad run, as some say. Longevity can be a relative barometer at best, but it looms large as a world health statistic. By his own admission, he did a lot of drugs and had an unhealthy lifestyle for quite some time.
What about Keith Richards?!

This curiosity of how to best live a life and/or live the longest life is perplexing to me. The variables are infinite. What are your thoughts, friends?

 

[Love_Is_Blonde]

Ooh good question. I’m going to think about it a bit, and I’ll answer probably tomorrow.

G’night All.

 

[badjanus]

~Love_Is_Blonde

Are you night owls? By choice? By circumstance? I am

What is the opposite of a night owl? A day…otter? Dolphin?

Try this Test

 

[Love_Is_Blonde]

Try this Test

Good Morning!

Thank you for this! First because I like that you brought up an older topic. That’s why I originally wanted to start this thread. I would continue thinking about discussions happening in threads, and by the time I could post, the conversation had moved on. So thanks for bringing this back up.

Secondly- I scored a 16 which means I’m not a type. So now what. I guess I need to take the more in depth assessment. I will after a little nap… (haha just kidding- I crack myself up sometimes ).

One thing I do know is I am almost completely non-functional between the hours of 2-5 p.m. I’m so low-energy then.

Anyway, thanks again!

 

[Love_Is_Blonde]

Brian Wilson was 82 when he died. Not a bad run, as some say. Longevity can be a relative barometer at best, but it looms large as a world health statistic. By his own admission, he did a lot of drugs and had an unhealthy lifestyle for quite some time.
What about Keith Richards?!

This curiosity of how to best live a life and/or live the longest life is perplexing to me. The variables are infinite. What are your thoughts, friends?

Ok this question—if I understanding it correctly, is asking what makes for a well-lived life. Is it the number of years? Experiences? And the answer will have some similarities and some differences for all of us.

I thought about this, and I guess that when I look back over my life, I want to feel satisfied that I made the most of it. What gives me satisfaction in life? Did I make things better for those I love? Did I do the best I could with what I was given? Did I take things for granted? Did I pass on to others what I was given? Did I leave this place better than I found it? Did I run towards things I loved, or away from things I feared?

These are criteria that I’d want to review to answer that question of a well-lived life. And it’s a good reminder and a mental reset activity.

 

[BreukelenAnima]

What gives me satisfaction in life? Did I make things better for those I love? Did I do the best I could with what I was given? Did I take things for granted? Did I pass on to others what I was given? Did I leave this place better than I found it? Did I run towards things I loved, or away from things I feared?

These are criteria that I’d want to review to answer that question of a well-lived life. And it’s a good reminder and a mental reset activity.

Everything written above by Love_Is_Blonde ... as well as the following things that became a top priority when I became a father:

Did I teach my children well? Did I teach them the value of life and to embrace challenges and to see obstacles as something to overcome and as a chance to develop their character and a sense of self? Did I teach them to have honor and to be benevolent and giving to those in need and less fortunate? Did I teach them important life lessons and give them a moral compass to guide them and help them live their lives in a proper fashion? Did I teach to develop goals and to work diligently towards their goals? Did I teach them to never give up? Did I teach them that some goals, some dreams are so worthy -- it's glorious to even fail at them? Did I help them to believe that they are stronger than they'll ever realize and their potential is unlimited? Did I teach them to never stop seeing themselves as students, to never stop learning...and that they should always see the world as their classroom? Did I teach them to be good stewards of the earth and to be selfless at times? Did I teach them that love in all its forms conquers hate and fear and ignorance? Did I teach them to love with all their heart? ...Did I love them enough, so they could understand all of this?

 

[SimonSex]

Ok this question—if I understanding it correctly, is asking what makes for a well-lived life. Is it the number of years? Experiences? And the answer will have some similarities and some differences for all of us.

I thought about this, and I guess that when I look back over my life, I want to feel satisfied that I made the most of it. What gives me satisfaction in life? Did I make things better for those I love? Did I do the best I could with what I was given? Did I take things for granted? Did I pass on to others what I was given? Did I leave this place better than I found it? Did I run towards things I loved, or away from things I feared?

These are criteria that I’d want to review to answer that question of a well-lived life. And it’s a good reminder and a mental reset activity.

Yes, all these questions and more. Sometimes I ask myself, if I were to be hit by a bus tomorrow, would I be happy with the life that I had lived and with whatever legacy may remain. The answer is almost always a “yes”.

Pursuant to your other “Sweaters” thread, where we do right by our bodies to be healthy of sound mind/body/spirit:
Gosh, I do hope that I live a long and healthy life and that all the things I am doing are the right things. There are people in their 50’s with the wheels coming off and people like my mom in her late 80’s who are just crushing it.

I remember the Dannon yogurt commercial from the 1970’s saying that the people of Georgia were the longest lived due to their yogurt consumption.

Or the people of Okinawa also long-lived because of their unique diet. Are there things that you do for health and longevity that are a response to what you have read/seen/heard?

 

[Love_Is_Blonde]

Happy Place
​

Where is your happy place? Do you have one? Is there a place that when you are there, you feel like the weight of the world is off your shoulders, you’re accepted, you’re at peace, you can recharge? What is it about this place that makes you feel so grounded?

 

[Lmizzler]

Happy Place
​

Where is your happy place? Do you have one? Is there a place that when you are there, you feel like the weight of the world is off your shoulders, you’re accepted, you’re at peace, you can recharge? What is it about this place that makes you feel so grounded?

Sitting on my mower in my yard. Sounds simple but it’s the perfect mindless activity to clear my mind and relax.

 

[hotwords229_A]

Happy Place
​

Where is your happy place? Do you have one? Is there a place that when you are there, you feel like the weight of the world is off your shoulders, you’re accepted, you’re at peace, you can recharge? What is it about this place that makes you feel so grounded?

This is interesting. I was going to answer like @Lmizzler that mowing the lawn is a calming exercise.
However, that’s more meditative action than a specific place for me.
This question made me really think—in places I’ve lived in the past, I always had a specific place that I would go, usually walking, hiking, swimming, etc. but I don’t really have that place where I am right now.

That might be something I need to work on. I need to find a place . . .

 

[Endless_Night]

Huh. That makes three. I've never had the slightest desire to be involved in lawn care before, but there is something about mowing on the Zero that is just so completely soothing.

And you're getting something done at the same time! Win win.

 

[SimonSex]

Happy Place
​

Where is your happy place? Do you have one? Is there a place that when you are there, you feel like the weight of the world is off your shoulders, you’re accepted, you’re at peace, you can recharge? What is it about this place that makes you feel so grounded?

It’s the Venetian atrium inside the Isabella Stuart Gardner Museum in Boston. It’s a sacred space for me. Pictures do not do it justice. It is simply breathtaking. I meditate there whenever I have a chance to be in Boston. The art work and collections are also world class, but that atrium….it commands your reverence.

 

[Lord Pmann]

Happy Place
​

Where is your happy place? Do you have one? Is there a place that when you are there, you feel like the weight of the world is off your shoulders, you’re accepted, you’re at peace, you can recharge? What is it about this place that makes you feel so grounded?

Locally, it’s my music room. Various instruments allow me to escape. Be creative. Lose myself.

Not locally, Iceland. It’s my favourite place on this planet. The beauty is beyond description and it’s just perfection. I can lose myself in the natural beauty of the scenery. If I could go one place, that would be it.

 

[Love_Is_Blonde]

Thank you for sharing about your happy places.

I’ll leave this audio here for a bit to talk about mine.
(Edited to remove link)