38 Comments

Much food for thought in your essay. I've spent the week making lists to organize my work for the upcoming year and stave off anxiety. In theory.

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I think everyone has to find their own system for managing work and life. I love making and reading lists, but I found that lists worked great for calming my anxiety but had little utility outside of that--they didn't actually help me get stuff done. My two oldest children are list masters, and they work great for them. (My oldest starts every month by creating a schedule of the sporting events she wants to watch or attend for the month in a spreadsheet and then filling in her study and work schedule around that!)

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OK, that makes sense. My lists do keep me productive, but they don’t stand in the way of serendipity or rabbit holes for inspiration for new work!

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Lots to digest here, as I lock in the schedule of presenters of upcoming poetry festival.

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Thanks! I don't envy you in that task!

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I needed this, Jason. My family’s life has been upended with the sudden illness of my sister. You help make sense of what’s been regurgitating in my mind. Your approach to life is inspiring— a way forward to keep me going. THANK YOU!

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I'm glad this found you at a time when you needed it. Dealing with serious illness in those we love is such an all-consuming challenge. I hope you find a few moments of peace here and there as you and your family go through this.

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Dear Stella,

Thank you for sharing your painful and personal story. My heart goes out to all of you. In the spirit of Sharon Salzberg, one of my favorite (world renowned) mindful living and mindful meditation teachers, NYT best selling author, co-founder of the Insight Meditation Society, (Barre, MA), founder of the Metta Hour Podcast, godmother of Loving Kindness, etcetera…please accept my Loving Kindness gesture/message/blessing/prayer/meditation or whatever you prefer to call it to help you through this difficult time:

May you feel safe.

May peace surround you.

May you take solace in the unwavering love

and strength of your family.

May you remember to be gentle, loving and

kind to yourself.

Namaste.

🫶

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Thank you, Diane.

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Perfect line from a perfect poem by a perfect poet for this post! I was also reminded of a quote often attributed to Freud (paraphrased): "Everywhere I go I find a poet has been there before me." I usually think more in terms of intentions for a new year, but I like this idea of an "imperative". Going to sit with that and the rest of your very timely and helpful words, Jason.

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I love that quote! Overintellectualization has been one of the big challenges of my life, and I find that the poets get me closer to the place where life fits together for me than the self-help folks ever could.

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Thank you for writing this!!!! 💚💚💚💚

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My pleasure! Thank you for reading!

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My plan for what to do with my one precious life is to stop myself from getting shackled by my emotions more effectively (Since two years ago that i've learned the basics of Emotional Intelligence, i've felt as if my emotions shackle me and i can't break free from time to time. There have also been countless times when i hate myself for being imperfect, for wanting to remain as i've always been, and so on). I like to write poetry, i read a lot of poems by various poets here on Substack, but whenever i wanna write a poem, it's as if POOF! There's nothing in my mind (It usually happens when i wanna write sth impromptu. I haven't still figured out the reason for this after years of pondering. I hope i don't go bald pondering about this).

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Thanks for sharing this! Being at the mercy of emotions is a rough place to be. One thing I've found that helps me stay calm and to clear creative blocks is to focus on what kinds of things I'm paying attention to. I wrote about how I use haku to increase my mindfulness and as a way to spark creativity here. if you're interested:

https://medium.com/the-taoist-online/how-to-pay-attention-3ce24beb813d?sk=79353d91caf268a54594546d96a2ae36

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Poetry as a life planner. How many times do I make a list and when it doesn’t work out it leaves a bad aftertaste. Lists are not for everyone and it’s worth rethinking your own way of using them. Thank you for sharing this. Wonderful introduction to 2025.

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I’m not a list-maker unless it’s a list of lines that I like but haven’t yet found use for in a poem.

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I find lists beautiful and emotionally fulfilling, but they have never been very useful for me other than, like you, as for lines of poems that don't yet have a home. I call my list of these lines/words/phrases my poetry boneyard.

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“Poetry boneyard” is a good term, or lumberyard storing the stuff from which new poems are made!

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Thanks!

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I make lists all the time. My ADHD brain decides they don’t need to be read! Love the poetry magnetic kit and whiteboard idea. With dyslexia and other unique traits often associated with neurodivergent humans reading poetry is not one of my particular strengths with a few exceptions. I enjoy reading my husband’s poems, Mary Oliver, Wendell Berry, Maya Angelou, Elizabeth Alexander and a few others. That said, reading a word, a thought or a quote especially ones that resonate with me is what I truly enjoy and find invigorating. I will have to treat myself to the same gift Jason gave himself this year: a magnetic kit and a whiteboard!

I also find it helpful to dedicate some of my time to be quiet long enough to take a look inside. To ask myself important questions. To discover parts of me I didn’t understand or even know about. And most of all to allow myself the opportunity to learn and embrace the benefits of loving kindness, mindfulness and mindful meditation. These type of practices help me improve my doings without having to judge myself for not doing.

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Thanks for reading, Diane! One of the reasons I started making poetry comics instead of just writing poetry was because it was easier for my spicy-brained child (soon to be a legal adult) to read my work. Quiet time is so critical for my ADHD/anxiety brain to recharge and cool down

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Good thoughts for the beginning of the year.

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Thanks, Ronald!

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Love this! And love Mary Oliver. One of my intentions this year is to read a poem every day.

I also count listening—The Poetry Unbound podcast is probably the best entry into poetry I have found.

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Poetry Unbound is a fantastic podcast! It manages that rare feat of being emotionally soothing and intellectually stimulating!

I also think listening counts as reading, and sometimes, hearing a good poem is even better than seeing one in print.

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Padraig’s voice is incredible!

I think I might prefer listening to a poem, honestly.

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Thank you so much. I read your article and it was informative. Whenever i meditate, even if it's intermittent (There are times when i feel very awful, and that's usually when i meditate. I guess it's time i meditate more mindfully), after that i feel less anxious, and readier to do stressful things.

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Most traditional forms of meditation have not worked for me, and sometimes, they also make my brain hurt. Chris Guillebeau has written about how meditation doesn't work for everyone in his excellent newsletter, https://www.yearofmentalhealth.com/

I prefer walking, writing haiku, and doing morning pages in the style of Julia Cameron's "The Artist's Way" as methods for building mindfulness.

I wrote about how I use haiku as a mindfulness practice here:

https://medium.com/the-taoist-online/how-to-pay-attention-3ce24beb813d?sk=79353d91caf268a54594546d96a2ae36

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Thanks for your explanation, Jason. Yes, traditional forms of meditation don't work for anyone (Occasionally, walking for some time becomes a form of meditation for me). I haven't read Julia Cameron's book "The Artist's Way" yet (I'll download and read it when i have enough time because lately, learning and practicing German and doing things i like fills almost all my time).

And finally, i clicked on the link of your essay on Medium, but i can't read it completely because it's a "Members Only" essay.

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Sorry about that. It was supposed to be a friend link that should let you read the whole thing. (I will see if I can find the proper link).

Learning German is enough of a project for anyone!

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So much good in this, so many good reminders. I like the idea of a mantra or word to use as a daily lense.

community and consistency…this year im focusing on relationship (being the initiator) and discipline (without rigidity)…

The final sunset art is so beautiful!

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Thanks, Brian! I love the idea of discipline without rigidity. That's something I have a hard time balancing.

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An impactful essay to read for a list maker like me. I love my little tasks but I have also learned how to let them go. Since I’ve been writing and and sketching daily I find that I also look at life around me a bit differently. I am more observant and mindful. I see more beauty.

I have been reading more poetry and will be picking up Devotions by Mary Oliver tomorrow. Looking forward to what I can learn.

Thank you again.

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Thank you for reading! I sometimes wish I could read Devotions again for the first time. It's a masterpiece.

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I view my goal in living my one invaluable life as one long term goal - to live in such a way that I will be ready for death when it comes. No fear, no fight, no regrets. Just peace in my life preparation for it.

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That sounds like a wonderful life!

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Thanks for your inspection of that link. Contrary to some people's beliefs, learning German isn't hard because most of the words we use in English are used in German, too. Moreover, most of the English words have been Germanized (For instance: "I" becomes "Ich" (the "ch" has a unique pronunciation. Or "We" becomes "Wir" [closely pronounced like "Via"]). Since i've started learning German, my goal has been to both discover its linguistic properties and learning its grammar and vocabulary.

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