Creation is Lifework
Vol. XII of The Weekly R&R
Happy Sunday, friends.
This week we’re kicking off the holidays with some weekly R&R (aka reflections and recommendations). No affiliate links or sponsorships here, just simple links to things I genuinely love and recommend.
My wife and I have been super busy globetrotting for both work and fun. We've hit up so many awesome places and had countless adventures. But all this traveling has left us feeling pretty drained and in dire need of some R&R. With a new year just around the corner, we’re eager to take a breather and recharge our batteries. In the next few weeks, I’ll dive into:
2023 annual reflections
2024 predictions and ideas to consider
creative inspiration, tools, and ideas for 2024
Alrighty, without wasting any more time, here are a few amazing things that will totally up your thinking, working, and living game.
Have an awesome week ahead!
Before we begin: If you’re reading this but haven’t joined the PATH NINE community, hit the button below to join creative entrepreneurs that read PATH NINE to learn the strategies reshaping our work and lives.
“Creation is lifework, creation is how...you spend your life, you cannot divide life and the creation, it’s impossible. Shut your eyes, close your ears, don’t use your brain, use your heart, your soul.”
Yohji Yamamoto
Reflections
▶︎ What season of personal development are you in?For years, people have talked about the 'seasons of life' and how we should metaphorically frame our lives around the natural cycles and weather patterns. And that's a great way to look at life, what does it mean for your productivity and creative growth? To truly understand the concept of 'seasons of life' and its implications for personal growth, we must consider how our development stages evolve over time. While youth is marked by rapid growth, adulthood often brings a state of comfort and stability. However, we must acknowledge that the world around us is constantly changing. To foster continued growth and evolution, we must actively seek new challenges, embrace change, and cultivate a mindset of lifelong learning. By doing so, we can navigate the ever-changing landscape and ensure our personal growth remains vibrant and relevant throughout our lives. I’ve been trying to embody this mantra in my daily practices, but I’m curious: “how do you think about personal growth and development phases?” Share your personal growth philosophy in the comments.
Rec: Product, Tool, or Framework
▶︎ Karst Stone Paper ProductsI love a good, high-quality notebook. Almost as much as I love a good, high-quality pen or pencil. After spending years obsessing over design, the combination of a well-designed tool and the utility it provides in the act of creation is deeply attractive to me. Part of the attraction stems from a tool's ability to reshape our thinking, and therefore our creation. Like putting on a nice suit for work, a beautiful, albeit utilitarian tool can help us embody a certain level of calm confidence. That’s why I really enjoy the refreshing twist Karst Stone Paper Products puts on a well-designed and sustainable product for creatives. Their Daily Planner Set enriches my morning meditative practice by providing an offline outlet to think critically about my priorities. It's a beautiful, sustainable, and mindful addition to the mundanity of our digital routine.
Rec: Reading
▶︎ Die With Zero: Getting All You Can from Your Money and Your Life by Bill PerkinsI'm not reviewing this book, but maybe I will in the future. I put off reading it for a few months, primarily because the premise just seemed too simple. If you know anything about the publishing industry's economics (and incentives), you’ll know that most traditionally published books turn a tweet-sized idea into a "War and Peace"-sized novel. But in spite of my reservations, I decided to read "Die With Zero"—and I’m glad I did. It wasn't revolutionary, but it was a friendly reminder that money is a tool. And like any tool, it should be used for the right job and at the right time. Whether you’re building a war chest or planning to save all of your money in order to give it to charity when you die, when we use our money can be just as important as how we use it. Don’t waste your life—and your money—waiting for tomorrow. Make the most of what you have, when you have time to enjoy it.
Rec: Watching
▶︎ Radiohead’s - In Rainbows From the Basement (April 2008)I've listened to and watched this live performance a half-dozen times. Each time, I plan to just play it in the background, but end up completely transfixed by the exceptional performance. As a longtime fan of Radiohead, I greatly appreciate their ability to transform dissonant ideas into mesmerizing melodies. When watching this performance, it feels like the culmination of their life’s work—the pièce de résistance in a long, fruitful career as a band. A true lesson in mastery and coordination. But they didn’t just arrive here. What makes In Rainbows so special is the timing. Arriving as their 7th studio album, it highlights the thematic change in creative and personal development seasons between their previous albums and In Rainbows. The performance serves as a reminder: mastery looks easy, but takes years of hard work, patience, and dedication—so be patient.
Rec: Listening
▶︎ Dissect “In Rainbows”If you couldn’t tell, Radiohead is a consistent soundtrack in my household. And from what I can tell, that’s also true for legendary music podcasting figure, Cole Cuchna. As the founder and host of the immensely successful show, Dissect, he has gained a reputation for his insightful analysis of talented artists and their albums. In previous seasons, Cuchna delved into the works of remarkable musicians such as Frank Ocean, Kendrick Lamar, Kanye West, Beyoncé, and many others. Currently, he has embarked on a deep exploration of one of my personal all-time favorite albums, "In Rainbows" by Radiohead. For music enthusiasts and musicians alike, his podcast is an incredibly compelling listen that offers valuable insights into the method behind the madness of the music — how the sausage is made, as it were. I highly recommend checking it out.
And, just in case you missed it…
Here are some things that I’ve written and shared that people enjoyed.
Until Next Time!
That’s it for this week. As always, if you like the content, please do me a favor and share it with your friends — this newsletter runs on overpriced whiskey and reader engagement.
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Thanks for reading, and see you soon,
