Dogs Don't Die

I took a step back from the painting to look at it from a distance. I said to myself, “Yep, that’s it.”

It’s a blistering, steamy hot summer day. The sauna-like air melts off my makeup the moment I step outside. Instead of embracing the outdoors, I am in a windowless corner of my basement working on a painting.

I tend to my art much like a garden. It takes time for it to bloom from a blank canvas to hanging it up on the wall.

Like any project, I know when a piece is complete. My heart lets out a little sigh. I just know when it’s finished.

I get the same feeling when I write and curate a radio episode.

It took me a while to come out with a new episode this week because something in my heart didn’t think it was ready to record.

Then I found the missing piece and I’m like, okay, let’s do this.

I get it. There are times when you have to force yourself to do something.

There will be things we don’t want to do but have to because in our hearts we know it needs to be done…..like taxes.

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Knowing Me, Knowing You

Sometimes you just know when you created something special.

In the book, Just Kids by Patti Smith, she shares the memory when Robert Mapplethorpe photographed her for the album cover, Horses.

“I got it.”

She described that within a few clicks of his camera, he knew he had captured the perfect image for the record.

Did that record sell millions of copies? No.

From the album cover to the songwriting to the producing, it has a lot of heart. There’s a reason why it’s an iconic record.

Maybe knowing that the work you created is substantial and that is a true success in and of itself.

On this week’s radio episode of Electric Radio Club which I’ve called, Open Heart, I’m playing songs by Arlo Parks, Beastie Boys, Xenia Rubinos, Phosphene and more in an hour long episode.

I’ve also included a track by the artist, Rialto.

A little bit about this artist, after the success of the record, Neon & Ghost Signs, Rialto continued to play at various gigs. In an article in Under the Radar, he shared a story when he was performing at a wedding and played a Grace Jones song during the set. Grace Jones just happened to be at the wedding. He took on a new gig….by becoming Grace Jones’ guitar player!

Maybe pursuing an unknown path could lead to more wonderful opportunities.

Listen to the new radio episode here

One day, I was hanging out with my little nieces and nephew. I asked them all if they had one wish, what would they wish for.

Good wish kid. A damn good wish.

Like the love and company of a pet, there are some things we want to last forever.

Heartbreak, rejection and failure can keep one from opening up their heart again. I have been there. I mean, who hasn’t?!

It makes one not want to attempt or avoid experiences altogether.

How can anything new come in if the heart door is always closed?

Reminds me of these lyrics by The Wallflowers…..

“Come on try a little, nothing lasts forever”

There’s the saying people come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime.

People are like the seasons, they can change.

I watched a film called Rental Family starring Brendan Fraser….multiple times! The film is based on a service offered in Japan that hires actors to help clients during certain transitional periods in their life. For example, a single parent needs an actor to pretend to be the parent in order to get her child into a good school.

While this service may seem like a strange concept, the film made me realize there are many people in our lives who have temporary roles and can create life-changing moments. Like public school teachers.

I will never forget my high school art teacher who noticed something special in my artistic abilities and encouraged me to keep making art.

Can you relate? Who had a temporary role in your life that inspired you to start a project? That breakup that inspired you to write that song. That company who laid you off and you decided to build something of your own.

Maybe its okay to know that we ourselves play a temporary role in other people’s lives as well.

Professor and surgeon Stephen Westaby has performed nearly 12,000 heart surgeries! At the start of his medical career, he was part of the early stages when heart surgery was becoming a more standard procedure. He went on to save so many lives with his innovative discoveries by creating artificial hearts.

He knew that his path was to heal hearts. Literally!

Hearts can be healed from a medical stand point but how often does one emotionally keep the heart exposed with open wounds filled with past hurts and memories? Too often!

Maybe focusing on the knowing in what lights the heart up is all one needs for a moment.

Listen to the Desert Island Discs with surgeon Stephen Westaby here.

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Okay, that’s all from me this week.

I hope you enjoy this week’s newsletter and the upbeat playlist in the newest episode of Electric Radio Club. Don’t forget about the new episode of Coffee & Cassettes featuring women enthusiasts who talk about their favorite albums. I’ve discovered some new favs from this month’s guest!

Paid subscribers can find this week’s radio playlist below.

Listen to Coffee & Cassettes

Thanks for being here.

Stay inspired!

Joi