18 Comments
User's avatar
Puck's avatar

Great advice!

Expand full comment
Margot Milcetich's avatar

Ahh, the sage advice. Testimonial really.

Expand full comment
Carol Bailey Floyd's avatar

One of my goals every day is calm energy. Thanks for your sage advice! Love, Carol

Expand full comment
Hal Walker's avatar

"calm energy." Nice.

Expand full comment
Annette Dowling's avatar

So much easier to think about slowing down, rather than doing it. That is one of the many things that I love about hanging out with you, I must be still and quiet. It is a learned skill. Your message brings new meaning to the phrase " Be still, and know that I am God." Thank you, Hal

Expand full comment
Hal Walker's avatar

I've heard that phrase several times lately. "Be still and know that I am God." Thank you, friend.

Expand full comment
Mimi Bornstein's avatar

Love this episode Hal!

Expand full comment
Hal Walker's avatar

Thank you Mimi. I went to church today for the annual Music Sunday that I led for 25 years. I was glad to be there. Emily did a great job. Are you still in church music? H

Expand full comment
Jo White's avatar

Hal - Thanks for the reminder to slow down. I loved your song, The Beauty Before Me, so much that I downloaded it to my iTunes play list. And then I downloaded 3 of your other songs while I was at it! I hope that gives you some joy to know people are still enjoying your musical talent even though ME/CFS has taken so much from you. Here’s to better days ahead for you!

Hugs,

Jo White

Expand full comment
Hal Walker's avatar

Hi Jo, I like that one too. Thank you for listening. H

Expand full comment
Clarissa J's avatar

Thanks Hal! After planting 2 roses with my husband, bent over removing stones & clay. I sat down outside. Baby chippie came over & inspected the roses checked that his openenings are still available. Mama was not around. Nature is wonderful, working in the gardens ,then sitting down.

Expand full comment
Hal Walker's avatar

Sounds wonderful.

Expand full comment
Ryan Helms's avatar

Really loving this right now, especially and coincidentally since I was already thinking that I need today to be a slow day (how about that).

I'm reminded of one of my all-time favorite pieces of music in the whole wide world, Erik Satie's Gymnopédie No. 1. The melody is so, so sweet to be sure, but it's the slow tempo that really wraps me up in it and tales me there. Here's a link if anyone would like to share in its slowness: www.youtu.be/S-Xm7s9eGxU

Love you too brother

Expand full comment
Hal Walker's avatar

I hope your slow day went well, Ryan.

Expand full comment
Deepa Paul's avatar

Wow, slowing down has been life’s call for me this year. I have been resisting so hard, but life insisted. Thanks for reminding me all over again Hal. Let’s slow down together.

Expand full comment
Amber Horrox's avatar

Up there with one of the greatest challenges of my life! I def learnt the hard way but got there in the end. Similarly I feel we’re being called to do this, all of us. The future of our health (and sanity) depends on it.

Expand full comment
Diana's avatar

Ironically we are just back from a visit to see our son Austin. Normally we would have come straight home. Today we detoured and found our way down to Cherry Beach on Lake Ontario. We grabbed some French fries from the snack truck and sat watching the birds, paddle boarders and water. We slowed down if only for 20 minutes and just sat there together on what is otherwise a chore filled Sunday.

Thanks Hal for reminding us all. It felt really good today and will be working towards slowing down on the daily. It does a body good!

Expand full comment
Mimi Bornstein's avatar

That's awesome. I am sure it was a mixed experience being at church this morning. I understand the feeling of going back to a program you have led/built and seeing it shift and transform into its next iteration. It is always a mixed blessing for me. I am not in church music anymore. For the past few years I have been developing a program called "Unlocking Harmony: Songs from the Inside". We go Into jails and prisons and work with incarcerated people to turn their narrative stories into songs. This is done through a process called Documentary Songwriting. We then take the songs we have written out Into the world as either solo songs or in many cases, arranged as pieces for choirs to sing. This helps to humanize and build understanding with those on the outside who are hearing these songs and stories of those on the inside. Here is a video that was created at a workshop we gave in Richmond VA a few weeks ago

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tesXBE7Lx1A

Here is a link to a song that we wrote with an incarcerated person that has been set as a choir piece. An important part of our mission is to get the voices and stories of incarcerated people out into the world to build understanding of those on the inside for those on the outside.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKmLHnSYJbQ

If you are interested in seeing more pieces you can look for Choir Without Borders on Youtube. Zero pressure Just in case you're interested.

Thank you so much for your Living IN A Body posts. I listen every week/. As a fellow traveler in often "doing to much" and recovery I so appreciate the perspectives , wisdom and vulnerability you share. Know that you are being loved by me out here.

Expand full comment