Paul Cardall – Life and Death
Such a moving and melancholy song. So wonderfully written and performed. The piano and strings are incredible! It’s a piece I’d like to have played at my funeral. (Featured image by Debbie D. Patterson)
Carpe Diem!
Over the last several months my wonderful wife bought some really nice pop-open cards, all titled “CARPE DIEM.” She hides them here-and-there for me to find and writes something sweet on the back of them. After popping open the perforated cover of the card, inside each is a quote that shares an inspiring thought for personal growth and self-actualization. This is particularly nice because it fits right into the niche I’ve been passionately pursuing for …
Walking Question Mark
Rosicrucians, because of their world view of questioning everything, are frequently known as Walking Question Marks. Some applicable quotes from the monograms include: “A true Rosicrucian is a walking question mark.” “A lack of explanations or obscure statements never satisfy a Rosicrucian.” “This is the spirit of the Rosicrucian – a person who is not so quick to accept as truth that which they are told is truth. Rather, a Rosicrucian is one who is …
Thierry David – Night in Ibiza
Chill and sexy sounding . . . . (can’t find this on YouTube) (Featured image by Steve Buissinne from Pixabay)
Fiona Jay Hawkins – Thinking of You (Australian Lullaby)
Peaceful. Soothing. Beautiful. (Featured image by James L. Patterson)
Two Steps From Hell – Heart of Courage
Powerful. Inspiring. Epic. Invincible! I was surprised to hear this being played in the opening video montage at recent University of Louisville football games. I had heard it numerous times previously on my Pandora shuffle of Delerium, Blue Stone, Sleepthief & Conjure One. It’s composed by Thomas J. Bergerson and has been used in numerous film trailers, television shows and advertisements. This song gives me chills; moves me; envelopes me. It makes me feel like …
Knot Garden
Elysium’s Knot Garden . . . . My wife and I always make a point of visiting gorgeous public gardens when traveling. The beauty is breathtaking and inspiring! Of particularly fascination for me are those places that include a “knot” garden. “Knot,” meaning that two or more varieties of plants are arranged in an intricate pattern and trimmed such that they appear to be a ribbon passing over-and-under each other – giving a knot effect. …
The creation of our gardens – Elysium
My wife Debbie and I cut our teeth attempting our small landscape in our first tiny home. At that time we couldn’t tell you the name of most plants and shrubs. We moved into our current home in May 1989. Although the house was only thirteen years old at the time, it needed work to achieve the potential that Deb and I saw in its structure and grounds. Here are a series of before-during-after photos …
For wonder is the feeling of a philosopher, and philosophy begins in wonder.
Socrates couldn’t have been more right! “For wonder is the feeling of a philosopher, and philosophy begins in wonder.” – Socrates (via Plato’s Theaetetus) (Featured image by Free-Photos from Pixabay)
Cycle of Life – Paul Howard Manship
I share here two versions of the same beautiful sculpture – each with their own unique finish. The Brookgreen Gardens version is a natural bronze whereas the Speed Art Museum example has a gold finish. Both are gorgeous! Paul Manship is one of my favorites. The theme, particularly with the use of an armillary, is appealing to me! My garden armillary pales by comparison. 🙂 Cycle of Life Paul Howard Manship Bronze, 1924 Brookgreen Gardens …
The Lost Pleiade – by Randolph Rogers
I was completely blown away and mesmerized by this gorgeous sculpture in the Art Institute of Chicago during a 2007 visit. It evokes such ethereal beauty! I found myself just sitting for a time gazing in awe. The Lost Pleiade Randolph Rogers Marble, 1875 Art Institute of Chicago (All images by the Author: James L. Patterson)
Awe & Wonder
A key part of an enriched life is to allow yourself to regularly experience a sense of awe and wonder. Life without wonder is stale and mundane – a formula for restlessness, anxiety and outright depression. “Wonder is the first of all the passions.” – Rene Descartes What does “awe” and “wonder” mean exactly? Various definitions, Wikipedia entries and online articles define these concepts in a very sterile manner. A lot of these like to …
Conjure One – Tears From The Moon (Carmen Rizzo Stateside West Chill Out mix)
Another nice tune from Conjure One – Tears From The Moon (Carmen Rizzo Stateside West Chill Out mix) . . . (Featured image by Robert Karkowski from Pixabay)
Blank & Jones – Chilled Cream
Very relaxing Chill tune. Blank & Jones – Chilled Cream . . . . (Featured image by James L. Patterson)
Bull & Bear Pub
This may seem rather trivial to most (I have to remind myself I’m not writing to “most“), but a large part of my appreciation and embellishment for an enriched life consists of surrounding myself with a rich sensory aesthetic that speaks to my inner core. Therefore, based on my own personal tastes and passions, that aesthetic always involves elements of knowledge, discovery, learning, beauty, truth. On a recent Royal Caribbean cruise with my beautiful wife, …
The Clinical Attitude Toward Arguments by Peter Suber (an Incredible Truth Tool!)
I first ran across this article in 2008 and was struck by it’s simple yet deeply accurate assessment of critical thinking. With many things in life, as I grow older the discoveries I made years ago that struck me at the time as extremely important are many times now less inspiring. However, THIS article is not one of them. 🙂 Peter Suber’s 1,065 words reflect the best representation of intellectual integrity as anything I’ve read …
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