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Chris La Tray's avatar

Thank you, Sara. And thank you for the Michael Stearns link. I am going to suggest in return the work of John Luther Adams. His pieces "Becoming Ocean," "Becoming Desert," etc. are similar explorations of landscape as sound, and quite beautiful. It is through his work that I discovered that poet John Haines, whose "October" poem I shared last month. It is such a tiny, connected world sometimes.

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Sara Campbell's avatar

Oh wow, that is great serendipity. It really is amazing how these ideas are just floating around in some kind of shared ether. Thanks for the John Luther Adams rec; just turned on Becoming Ocean and it's beautiful.

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Cristina Negrut's avatar

So grateful I opened your newsletter. What a gift! I wish I had a huge following so that I can share with others your beautiful post. Thank you.

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Sara Campbell's avatar

Thank you so much, Cristina!

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Michael Estrin's avatar

Great post! I really appreciated what you said about "should." I began doing transcendental meditation a couple of years ago, and it's been great. But I find that when it becomes a "should" I'm just less likely to show up for it. What usually gets me to show up is some sense of benefit (I'll feel better) or need (I feel anxious), but I'm going to try and think of the whole thing as an adventure and see where that takes me. Thank you! And have a wonderful retreat!

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Sara Campbell's avatar

Thanks, Michael! It's funny, after I wrote that I sat many many hours in meditation and was like, fuck, I hope I didn't imply that it was fun. It is...not fun. But I do think it's an adventure when you consider that an adventure has a lot of ups and downs. So hopefully that stands and is helpful!

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Michael Estrin's avatar

Very helpful, actually!

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B.A. Lampman's avatar

I don't mention meditation to anyone anymore unless they ask, or it comes up in a completely natural way. I tried writing about it in my newsletter a few years back, and was disheartened by all of the weird, preconceived notions people had about it in their responses. Maybe I used to have those, too? I certainly saw it as a "should" before getting hooked on the Waking Up app with Sam Harris. In my humble opinion, Waking Up is a cut above.

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Sara Campbell's avatar

Thanks, I have heard that about Waking Up! And yeah, I don't usually try to sell it. It's actually impossible to sell. But then I also really feel like people would benefit from it, so I end up trying to sell it anyway. Meditation does teach you to be comfortable with paradox, so at least there's that. ;)

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B.A. Lampman's avatar

Ha! Yes. Hilariously, often when I get caught up in thoughts while trying to meditate, I find myself thinking of ways to describe to friends what's great about meditation! IT IS TO LAUGH.

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Sara Campbell's avatar

hahahaha perfect

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STEPHANIE ROSS's avatar

you are def solid for me in a wonderful flowing way! i still am addicted to headspace and grateful i found it! great newsletter!

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Sara Campbell's avatar

I'm glad Headspace is working for you! Love you. xo

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Nov 5, 2021
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Sara Campbell's avatar

Thank you so much, Camille! It was a great retreat.

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