Six Things to Read, Watch, or Listen to This Week
It’s that time of year: full schedules, full to-do lists; trying to keep up, show up, live up to expectations; rushing a little more, relaxing a little less.
You know the feeling.
Often, they’re subtle changes — choices we don’t even realize we’re making until we find ourselves here: a little more anxious, a little less rested, a little more curt, a little less kind.
Maybe this is the week we give ourselves and those around us an extra measure of grace.
Maybe now is the time to step back, slow down, eliminate the nonessentials, and simplify our schedules and hearts and minds.
Because teaching and leading and working from a place of stress doesn’t serve anyone.
If you’re here today, I hope you find something in this post that inspires and encourages you. Take some time this week to recharge and reflect so you can bring your best self to your work, your ministry, and your students in the weeks to come.
Six Things to Read, Watch, or Listen to This Week
*Disclosure: I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post.
No. 1 - For all the hard work you do outwardly (Morgan Harper Nichols)
Morgan Harper Nichols is a gifted poet and artist who creates her body of inspiring work for people who share their stories. You may have seen some of her work on Instagram or Pinterest. I love the simplicity of her words — a gift of hope and peace in the midst of life’s uncertainties.
I hope you enjoy these words of affirmation and encouragement this week.
For more of Morgan’s work, see her book, Storyteller: 100 Poem Letters.
No. 2 - Our Father (Scott Perkins)
Take a few minutes to watch and listen to this beautiful performance of Scott Perkin's moving choral work, “Our Father,” sung by Christ Church Schola Cantorum, directed by Stephen Kennedy. Truly, a gift for the soul.
No. 3 - Why You Should Stop Waiting for Life to Be Perfect (Shauna Niequist)
A thoughtful, challenging essay by one of my favorite authors (her books Bread and Wine and Present Over Perfect are two of my all-time favorites). This essay pulls me back to the center and offers clarity and the gift of a new perspective. It reminds me to slow down and pay attention. I hope it offers the same gifts to you.
No. 4 - Elegy for a Walnut Tree (W.S. Merwin)
Read this one slowly. It’s a beautiful portrait of a walnut tree and the wonder of time, spread across lifetimes, thoughtfully composed by W.S. Merwin. The last line gets me every time.
Looking for more inspirational poems like this one? Take a look at W.S. Merwin’s collection, The Moon Before Morning.
No. 5 - Being Kind Over Being Right (Bob Goff)
You’ve heard me talk about Bob Goff before: he’s the author of Love Does and Everybody, Always. I’m always so inspired by him—the way he lives his life and the message he shares. Whether you’ve read his books or not, I hope you’re inspired by this conversation and encouraged by his boldness, his enthusiasm for life, and his deep commitment to loving others.
No. 6 - Grow Great Zinnias (Floret Flower Farm)
For those of us still waiting for spring to arrive, here’s a little inspiration for your summer garden planning: a comprehensive guide to growing and harvesting zinnias by Erin Benzakein of Floret Flower Farm, including a list of several varieties to consider (with pictures!). I’m thinking about these for our garden this year.
Also, if you’re just getting started, Erin’s book, Floret Farm’s Cut Flower Garden: Grow, Harvest, and Arrange Stunning Seasonal Blooms, is basically a gardening book for beginners and a beautiful coffee table book all in one.
Now, it’s your turn: What have you watched, read, or listened to lately that has inspired you in some way? What have you learned from others recently? I’d love to hear!
I love starting the New Year with a new reading list.
It’s my tradition here on the blog to share my book list in January: this year, I’m planning to read a mix of novels, personal & intellectual books, nonfiction & memoir, and a couple of business books to balance things out.
December is my favorite time to reflect on my reading life.
I love hearing what other people read, reviewing everything I read this year, and making my annual book list for the coming year.
This year, I read 26 books on a variety of topics: novels to business and leadership, psychology to memoirs to the arts. Some were on my reading list, some I discovered in Libby (the library app), and some came recommended by friends.
Advent is a season of hope, patience, expectation, and waiting. A reminder that light follows darkness; we cannot have one without the other. This is why I love Advent calendars—a tangible way to count the days of December and hold on to hope.
Whether you’re counting down to Christmas, Winter Break, or the end of concert season, an Advent calendar can offer a new rhythm or structure to your days. For busy musicians, it’s a simple way to pause and take in one small moment of reflection, joy, or nostalgia.
One of my favorite ways to kick off the New Year is by diving into a new reading list. It’s become a tradition here on the blog to share my book picks at the start of each year—a mix of business insights, inspiring memoirs, thought-provoking nonfiction, and a few captivating novels to round things out.
December is my favorite reading month of the year. I’m wrapping up my reading list for the year, reflecting on everything I’ve read, and simultaneously making my list for next year.
I made a book list at the beginning of the year (as is my tradition here on the blog) and it’s always interesting to see how this shapes and informs my reading for the year.
Happy New Year! I’m excited to share my book list for 2024.
I like to vary my reading material throughout the year by choosing books from several different categories. Here’s what’s on this year’s list:
It’s been my tradition here on the blog to write a brief review of what I read during the year and share my favorites.
If you’re new here, you should know that I tend to alternate between business and entrepreneurship books and novels, with a few memoirs and non-fiction selections added in. This year, I read 29 books (not counting the few I started but didn’t finish).
Here’s the book list I made at the beginning of the year.
Looking for a few new books to read in 2024? In this post, I’m sharing what I read this year, plus the seven best books I read in 2023.
Happy reading!
It’s that time of year—time to share my book list for 2023.
As you know, I like to mix up my reading material throughout the year by choosing books from several different categories.
Do you keep track of the books you read each year?
I started doing this a few years ago and it's been fun to see this virtual bookshelf expand.
This year, I read 35 books—the most I've ever read in one year! The difference? I bought a Kindle.
If you’ve been following along for a while, you know that every January, I share my book list for the upcoming year. I usually choose books from several different categories because I like mixing up my reading material throughout the year.
Every year in December, I take some time to look back at all the books I’ve read in the past year.
If you know me, you know I always set out with a book list, and then undoubtedly change my mind as I discover books on Instagram, podcasts, and blogs, and as books come recommended by friends.
This year, I read 22 books (not counting the ones I started and didn’t finish).
As a creative, I love reading about other people's creative processes: their habits and work routines, the decisions they make, the way they think, and how they see the world.
Here are my three biggest takeaways from The Creative Habit.
One of my favorite traditions is putting together a book list at the beginning of each year. I try to choose a variety of books (old and new) from a few different categories:
Business, Spiritual & Lifestyle, Fiction, Personal/Intellectual, Nonfiction/Memoir
This helps me be intentional about the books I read and ensure some diversity (so I don’t end up reading only one type of book!).
Looking for books to read this coming year? I hope you find something interesting and relevant on this list.
I love taking time in December to look back at all the books I’ve read during the year.
As in years past, I set out with a book list, and then I changed my mind as I discovered books in the library (pre-COVID!) and books came recommended by friends. Also, as the world shifted and changed this year, I looked for books to reflect that.
This year, I read 27 books (not counting the ones I started and didn’t finish).
Looking for book recommendations for 2021? Today, I’m sharing the seven best books I read in 2020, along with a brief description of what I liked about each one:
Last summer, I discovered a book one day that piqued my curiosity while browsing in the OverDrive app (side note: do you know about this? It’s a way to check out eBooks and audiobooks from your local library.)
The book was Zig Zag: The Surprising Path to Greater Creativity by Keith Sawyer.
I’m always interested in learning more about the creative process and gleaning insight into our creative processes as musicians, thinkers, educators, and creators, and when I found out that Keith Sawyer was not only a scientific expert on creativity but also a jazz pianist, I couldn’t wait to start reading.
Two times a year, I pull together a handful of articles, books, videos, and podcast episodes that are inspiring me lately so I can share them with you.
Because when life gets turned upside-down and you find yourself trying to make sense of it all, sometimes a deep breath and a fresh dose of inspiration goes a long way.
I don’t know about you, but I love hearing about what others are reading or listening to or watching, even more during these uncertain times.
This must be the strangest Holy Week we’ve ever experienced. Sanctuaries are empty. Services are slimmed down for streaming or recording. Choir members are singing from their living rooms.
We are learning so much from one another right now and it’s helping me feel grounded and connected during this unsettling time.
If you’re here today, I hope you find something in this post that inspires and motivates you to keep doing good work.
If you’ve been following along for a while, you know that I like to start each year with a book list—a collection of books that I’d like to read (knowing that I usually discover other books throughout the year that I’ll add in).
I used to be a strict one-book-at-a-time reader, but last year, I found that I enjoyed reading two at a time—a nonfiction/business/health book for mornings or pockets of free time during the day and a novel/memoir for reading at night.
I always try to choose books from a few different categories:
Business
Health & Lifestyle
Spiritual
Relationships
Fiction
Personal/Intellectual
Nonfiction/Memoir
This helps me be intentional about the books I choose to read and ensure some diversity (so I don’t end up reading only one type of book!).
Without further ado, here is my book list for 2020:
It’s that time of the year when we all start to feel a little weary.
There’s music to rehearse and gifts to wrap, appetizers to make and cookies to bake, traditions to carry on and a few last-minute gifts to purchase (does Amazon deliver on Christmas Eve?!).
It’s easy to forget the reason for the season and become overwhelmed by our calendars, commitments, and the chaos of the season.
But that’s not what Advent and Christmas are about. It’s a time of waiting, of patient expectation, of stillness and quiet and peace.
One of my favorite things to do in December is to look back at all the books I read during the year.
I set out with a book list, like I do every year, and then changed my mind as I came across books in the library and in church basement sales, books that came recommended by friends.
I used to set a goal to read 10 books in a year, then I worked my way up to 12. Last year, I read 16 books and this year, I read 31! Now, for those of you who read 50+ books a year, this may not be very impressive, but I hope it’s encouraging for those of you who want to read more that you can teach yourself how to be a better reader, little by little.
Today, I want to share the six best books I read in 2019, along with a brief description of what I liked about each one:
Summer is the perfect time for a new book (or three).
I love having a book with me when I fly or hop in the car for a long road trip, but also the everyday times like sitting by the pool or lake on a hot summer day or curled up in the sunroom on a quiet Sunday afternoon.
If you’ve been following along for a while, you know that I make a book list at the beginning of every year (here’s what I plan to read in 2019, in case you’re curious, like me).
This list will often change a little as I go through the year and pick up books here and there - from the used bookshop on the corner or the annual church rummage sale - or come across a newly-released book that I really want to read; but, I like to begin the year with a list of books (two per month, or so) already picked out so I have some direction.
Looking for a few books to add to your summer reading list? Here are a few of my favorites (+ a couple I’m planning to read myself!):
Dear Creative,
Life as a musician is beautiful, messy, deeply fulfilling, and complex work.
It starts within—a desire to do work that matters, to make a difference; a yearning for beauty; a spark of creativity. It requires you to take risks, listen, adapt, and live with abandon.
It’s what all artists do, really. We dream, we try, we create, we innovate.
There will be good days, times when you feel like you are making a difference, creating something beautiful, and truly serving people.
And, like anything in life, there will be hard days mixed in, as well.
It’s that time of year: full schedules, full to-do lists; trying to keep up, show up, live up to expectations; rushing a little more, relaxing a little less.
You know the feeling.
Often, they’re subtle changes—choices we don’t even realize we’re making until we find ourselves here: a little more anxious, a little less rested, a little more curt, a little less kind.
Maybe this is the week we give ourselves and those around us an extra measure of grace.
Maybe now is the time to step back, slow down, eliminate the nonessentials and simplify our schedules and hearts and minds.
Because teaching and leading and working from a place of stress doesn’t serve anyone.
One of my favorite things to do this time of year is make a list of books I’d like to read in the year ahead.
If you’ve been following along with me for a while, you know I don’t always get to all the books I have planned (full confession), and sometimes, I deviate from my list in favor of other books that I encounter during the year.
Regardless, I like to begin the year with intention and keep a running list of books that I want to read. (Here are my book lists from 2018, 2017, and 2016, in case you’re curious).
This year, I’m choosing books from seven different categories:
This is a season of wonder, of listening and leaning in, of slowing down a bit. A time when we seek calm in the midst of chaotic calendars and a brief respite from responsibility.
We crave stillness and quiet and space.
And so, my gift to you this Advent season (and week before Christmas) is a collection of things to read, watch, and listen to this week (or after Christmas, because, lets’s be honest - this time of the year can be crazy). I hope these resources inspire you, give you a new perspective, and refresh your soul during this busy season.
(Best enjoyed with a cup of eggnog and a gingerbread cookie, obviously.)
Enjoy!
I never used to consider myself much of a reader, but it’s something I’ve been cultivating in my personal (and business) life for the past several years.
I started by setting a goal of 10 books in a year, then 12. This year, I read 16 books! Little by little, I’m learning to love reading and am exploring new authors and a variety of book categories with the hope of broadening my perspective, developing new skills, learning about myself and others, and becoming a better person in the process.
“Become a better listener.”
It was one of the goals I set for myself at the beginning of this year, but it’s one I think I’ll have a hard time checking off and calling “done.” Because, when it comes to listening well, there isn’t a point of arrival or mastery; instead, I’m learning it’s something we can always be working on and trying to improve.
Being more intentional with our words and not jumping in too quickly.
Giving our full attention to the person speaking instead of letting our mind wander.
Not assuming that every point of disagreement will (or should) turn into an argument.
There’s something so quintessential about having a good book (or several) to read during the summer months. From plane rides to road trips, trips to the beach or lake, picnics in the park, or simply sitting on the porch in the afternoon, reading is the perfect pastime for those sweet, slow summer days.
If you’ve been following along for a while, you know that I tend to make my book list for the year in January (here’s what I plan to read in 2018, in case you’re curious). The list may change as I go through the year and pick up books on sale here and there or come across a newly-released book that I want to read, but I like to begin the year with a list of books (one per month) already picked out.
There's a message that bears endless repeating and living out in our world today: we need each other.
We live in a world where we are taught to live in fear of those who are different, to question those with differing beliefs, to be defensive and respond to violence with more violence; but the truth is, we need each other.
We need diversity - different perspectives and ways of seeing the world, different skills and approaches, different opinions. Each one of us is unique, in the way we approach the world, the things we create, the skills and talents we cultivate, and the way we use those gifts in service to others. This is a gift, and an opportunity to learn.
“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.” - Exodus 20:8
The idea of a Sabbath is probably not new to most of you. You’ve likely heard about it in church, read about it in your Bible, and seen it outlined on countless 10 Commandment posters, but what does it really mean to "remember the Sabbath day”? How do we “keep it holy”?
Before we get into the details of all that, here’s a little bit of the history behind this sacred practice:
History of the Sabbath
We read about it from the beginning of the Bible, how God finished the work of creation and rested on the seventh day. "God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.” (Genesis 2:3)
When was the last time you sat down at your instrument and played music for fun? I mean, not music you had to practice or prepare, not your students’ repertoire, not music for your next rehearsal, but music you chose to play for yourself, for your own enjoyment?
As professionals, we don’t often make time for this. We assume that all the music we’re being paid to learn and practice will also count as the musical satisfaction we need to keep going in our career.