So it’s summertime and my kids have been off school for a month and a half, with me pretty much 24/7.  It’s been near-impossible to find moments of quiet here (except for the hours when we’re all asleep … or my insomniac nights when I dare not make noise that might wake anyone else in the house).  And surely it’s clear to you that I haven’t gotten anything done on the podcast lately.

But this past Friday and Saturday nights were the Summer Night(-s) of Lotus, and once again, the Lotus has inspired me, reminded me of my great love not only for the music that the organization brings to town, but for the people of this small city:  I love the activity of attending these events, of people-watching, of seeing folks in a different context and finding new ways to enjoy them and myself.  I especially loved bringing my new friend Pat out for the Saturday night concert, introducing her to a few friends, and watching her delight at the music, too.  Since she’s new to town and from the culture-rich city of New Orleans, I’m always particularly delighted when I can help her love her new home a little more.

So because of this weekend, I’m inspired and invigorated to bring my attention back to this languishing blog and podcast, to return to this craft, nevermind the gap between what I imagine it to be and what it is, currently.  (I’ve been too busy paying attention to the gap to stay focused on the dream.  I’m now publicly stating my intention to return to the dream, to get aligned with the good vibe and each time I stray from it, to purposefully refocus.  It’ll take practice to overcome years of negative thinking, but I’m committing — again, today, now — to doing exactly that.)

Serendipitously, I came across a YouTube video this morning of Ira Glass speaking to exactly the monkey-thoughts in my head that I’ve allowed to stop me from working on the podcast.  Ira Glass, as many of you know, is the host of This American Life, a public radio hit that 1.7 million people listen to each week.  And in this video, he shares with you what he wishes someone would have told him, early in his career.  It’s exactly what *I* needed to hear, and will likely need to hear repeatedly through the next few weeks/months/years.  Geez, I hope it won’t take me years, but that’s what he says to expect.  We’ll see.  But the main message is, it’ll take a lot longer if I don’t actually Just.Keep.Working.

Enough of me talking about what Ira says better.  Have a listen.