Some Words on Reading

image courtesy, Suzy Hazelwood Austin Kleon, quoting Octavia Butler on reading more than a book at a time. I generally have four or five books open around the house—I live alone; I can do this—and they are not books on the same subject. They don’t relate to each other in any particular way, and the ideas they present bounce off one another. And I like this effect. I also listen to audio-books, and I’ll go out for my morning walk with tapes from two very different audio-books, and let those ideas bounce off each other, simmer, reproduce in some odd way, so that I come up with ideas that I might not have come up with if I had simply stuck to one book until I was done with it and then gone and picked up another. ...

February 24, 2020 · Mario Jason Braganza

You Make Me Feel, So Beautiful!

click to embiggen I have lost my illusions, I have drowned in your words I have left my confusion to a cynical world I am throwing myself at things I don’t understand Discover enlightenment holding your hand You are … So beautiful!

February 17, 2020 · Mario Jason Braganza

The Fastest Way to Raise Your Level of Performance

The fastest way to raise your level of performance: Cut your number of commitments in half. — via James Clear’s latest 3–2–1 missive Jack Butcher puts it even more eloquently … Do! P.S. Subscribe to my mailing list! Forward these to your friends and get them to subscribe! P.P.S. Feed my insatiable reading habit.

February 10, 2020 · Mario Jason Braganza

When I Am Among the Trees

This post was first sent to my newsletter on December 14th, 2020. You really ought to subscribe :) When I am among the trees, especially the willows and the honey locust, equally the beech, the oaks and the pines, they give off such hints of gladness. I would almost say that they save me, and daily. I am so distant from the hope of myself, in which I have goodness, and discernment, and never hurry through the world but walk slowly, and bow often. ...

February 8, 2020 · Mario Jason Braganza

Rules for Life

Ryan Holiday writes about 11 expressions that you will help you with life. I have always used Memento Mori and Amor Fati. This list has several more! Festina Lente Carpe Diem Fac, si facis Quidvis recte factum quamvis humile praeclarum Semper Fidelis (Always Faithful) Per Angusta Ad Augusta Amor fati Fatum Ingenium Est Semper Anticus Vivere Militare Est Memento Mori Go on, read about what they mean and how they can change you. P.S. Subscribe to my mailing list! Forward these posts and letters to your friends and get them to subscribe! P.P.S. Feed my insatiable reading habit. ...

February 3, 2020 · Mario Jason Braganza

Life is Short

via Vishal Khandelwal Vishal has a lovely article, on the shortness of life, over at Safal Niveshak. That is where I stole the beautiful picture above from. (you can click the pic for a larger version.) “So you must match time’s swiftness with your speed in using it, and you must drink quickly as though from a rapid stream that will not always flow.” —Seneca ...

January 27, 2020 · Mario Jason Braganza