#Frail Autumn,, #GarageBand,, #Health Matters, #music, #songwriting

Mindfulness is key to calmness presently.

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This is an example of the ‘Staffs’ made for the pottery figures I used to make. Mystical and mythical Travellers. Carrying books, rune stones, musical instruments, staffs, etc.

The staff above is a good focal piece to simply study while in Mindful thought. You can move the pieces and string, leather braids, etc. into various shape forms and patterns. Tactile (touch), alongside smell and a piece of music to listen to are my favourite senses to use when being Mindful. Longer Mindful music on YouTube is something I always listen to when taking my daily blood pressure readings. Results are far better than if I just sit and take it straight away. Getting correct readings and not high False Positives is important. Because you then know that with calm and being stress free, you can have knowledge that you can achieve lower blood pressure reading by adopting good practice. Live quietly by finding periods over the day to try and relax and find peace.

Something to focus on, whilst burning resins or joss sticks is perfect. The music result here below came from messing about on GarageBand and creating an ad hoc sequence. I wanted a calm instrumental. Just using the AKAI MIDI keyboard it was nice to spend an hour building this result. I did find the session very calming.

49 thoughts on “Mindfulness is key to calmness presently.”

    1. It was soothing when I was playing the little interactive melodies. The words? I had to Google ‘words linked to the Mindfulness experience’. There were hundreds of choices. So I have to admit to needing a bit of word guidance. 🙏🏽

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      2. I uploaded the wrong version to YouTube Destiny. I had a mix of chaotic content, and uploaded that one by mistake. So I had to delete the video, and re-upload the new one to YouTube. Sorry you had to hear that chaotic one. You should hear a better version next time you return. 🫢 All the best Destiny. 🙏🏽

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  2. Sometimes it is good that I wait a few days to read/watch, etc. then. I’m still heads down in writing in my books and just now seeing this, and that you had to update the YouTube link. Cool. Love the staff, Gray! And it’s so good that you use Mindfulness as key to calming before taking BP readings. Wow! I know I have suggested to Richard many times, but he just can’t connect those dots. Ugh.
    Well, I will mention again and tell him you said there can be false high readings.
    At first glance your staff reminded me of a Druid’s staff I saw when we visited Stonehenge in 2019. Glad to read/watch your post.

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    1. When teaching Mindfulness, there seemed to be various methods of focus. You know all these things anyway Sheila. Candle flame, joss stick smoke, a Mandala, etc. Music in the background. Focus in aligning all the senses I suppose. Dropping each sense into that one moment and creating a total synergy of wholeness. Rarely does it get there nowadays. But there was one time, a few decades ago, that I had a little cheap ‘waterfall’ sounding machine in the house. A loop of the about 5 to 10 seconds of the same water rhythmic sound. It was trance like. I never felt so relaxed in my whole life as when I had that little treasure. It broke down eventually. It became almost Mantra vibe.

      Now you can buy them with all sorts of sounds on them. I believe repetition is where my own focus works best. Familiarity. When you get to this state though, an interruption of a blood pressure cuff tightening and the noise of the BP machine can cause an anxiety rush. The slightest diversion can bring a raised false reading. So it does take a holistic view to overcome specific causes of spikes.

      A great example is hitting a 160 to 180 systolic reading. You ask yourself and your mind to ‘calm’. So you focus on an affirmation of something good in your surroundings. Something you love. Say ‘After this I’m going to make myself a vinegary beetroot sandwich with black pepper cracked across the top’. Then go through the process of which bread to choose, whether to include butter or not, the jar that is in the fridge and the delicious coldness of it, the pepper grinder you have used for decades that you bought from that wonderful woodworker at a craft show in Farnham, and what drink to have with it. Choose and work through that process in your Mind too. Next reading, after 5 minutes, is 135. You realise, ‘Yes. I can do this’. Wait for another 5 minutes breathing the 4 count square….gently…..no deep inhalation, and take it again with the confidence it lowered that second time. Keeping nodding and affirming the success. Next reading…..lower again. 120 or 115. Three readings of firstly, anxiety in anticipation, secondly in calming yourself with something nice to ruminate over, but still allowing some small trepidations to creep in, and finally total assurance from the abilities of lowering reality in that second reading to finally get a reading that your heart can actually achieve.

      This is my go to technique every time. I watched a surgeon do it after a particularly stressful surgical procedure in theatre. He went from 200 plus systolic right down to 117 systolic. Focus, affirmative thoughts and biofeedback was his technique.

      When I used to take pre blood pressure and ECG readings for the cardiologist clinic, I had a technique of doing the BP readings after the ECG capture. Patients were in a raised state of anxiety at times. Therefore chatting to them whilst attaching the stickers for the reading and getting them calm always resulted in a follow up lower BP reading than they were used to. Often surprised at their results, it was nice to guide them to future takings at home. Anxiety is a pain in the butt for real values. White coat syndrome is very real!

      So the Druid Staff, or Shaman Staff as they were known, were very popular at the time of my selling at craft shows. People started asking for them as an individual piece when they saw my pottery pieces had them. I used to collect the wood from the beach on our numerous visits to Wales. That’s before we moved here. I microwaved them just in case they had bugs inside. They never did in reality. But it was a form of ‘cleansing’.

      I may make more again. Still have lots of leather rag pieces, hessian twines, sea glass, verdigris copper wire, small metal industrial oddities, etc. kicking around. That is relaxing too. Making your own staff to wave at the bad faeries and scare them away.

      Cheers Sheila.

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      1. I sooo understand and appreciate all of this, Gray! I will share this with Richard and simply let him be about it. I am so glad you’re considering making these staffs again. I would order one from you for sure! For me if not for Richard. And yes, I would have microwaved the wood too! Ha!

        Cheers!

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      2. I did say beetroot for a purpose Sheila. It is good for lowering blood pressure and with pickled and cracked black pepper too, they have further properties. Although, sometimes jars of pickled beetroot can contain salt/sodium. The bread? That’s a simple fibre and gluten free choice for myself. But not too often. Slow carbohydrate release is fine, but I’m not a bread fanatic. I often eat rice and other types of wafer cakes as a bread alternative.

        Angie is the same where she can’t seem to calm and focus re: blood pressure taking. So has higher readings. I just bought a white noise machine for her to aid relaxation. Not great for quiet environments like our home. But it can help with sleep though. And tinnitus. But you know this Sheila. White noise is good for lowering work noise and busy days related chatter and distractions that can cause stress. So maybe she can trial it there.

        If I get to the beach, I may take a look at some driftwood sources. Very damp presently though. Rain has come back with a purpose presently.

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  3. Ah, beetroot is so good, Gray! Yes, Richard just ate some with hummus on a salad while we were out at the pumpkin festival yesterday! Wow! And he said it was the freshest he’s had in years!
    He used to by something called Super Beets. It was all the benefits of beets in gummy type chews.
    Sorry to hear about more rain. I know it rains often there.
    I used to play crickets white noise on my phone at night, it really does help us sleep with tinnitus. But now I am playing crickets via black screen YouTube videos on a playlist on our TV (so the room stays dark), and so I can run the frequencies all night using my phone with the Qi Coil device. It’s helped us a lot already.

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    1. Sounds like you’re both up to date with nutritional values Sheila. The sound box arrived today. It has 40 different sounds. Really good sound too. It has no light on it to distract either. Angie likes a fair few of the choices.

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      1. Sweet! I bet Angie is dancing around while you’re experimenting with those sounds, Gray! Fantastic!

        Yes, we are experimenting with eating healthy but tastefully too. Hot garlic (soaked in olive oil), and sourdough bread among the latest additions. And Kefir. Cheers!

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      2. She is loving the ocean wave sounds. But there are so many choices that are soothing.

        That’s great about the food choices Sheila. I am really lucky that Angie has the shop. So lots of new choices can be tasted. Garlic is a favourite for myself too. She sells wonderful, large garlic bulbs from a French supplier. Really sweet variety. Olive oil is always my staple choice, but so expensive. Our last purchase was a large tin of good quality oil. But cost £60. And Angie brings sourdough home often from the artisan baker that supplies her shop. His sourdough with added black olives and walnuts is my fave. So, I can totally understand your choices here. European dates are renowned for their healthy choices. I would add a really nice spread of warm basil pesto onto the sourdough, and tomato slices drizzled with olive oil and black pepper to that combination too.

        Cheers.

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      2. You must try. I found clay by accident. Having been a musician and being disillusioned at the reality of the business, I was at a loose end. I made little plasticine figures of the Hobbit characters for my nephew, who was reading the book. We lived above a Wholefood Shop at the time and a potter supplied the shop with his work of domestic ware. He gave me some clay after I showed him a figure I made. The rest followed. Mythical and mystical travellers I wrote stories and poetry around. Hence they carried staffs, old books, runes, musical instruments, etc.

        I suppose what I’m trying to say, is that you may find a natural way of using the clay. See where it takes you. Doesn’t have to be a simple pot or vase. A nice way is to roll it out like pastry. If the clay is slightly wet, use a tea towel or J cloth over it before rolling it out. Afterwards it is nice to put lace design material, hessian, different tactile materials, etc. on top and then use the rolling pin to give the slab of clay some interesting design. You can isolate design too. Lace ribbon placed across the corners for example. Then use this slab work to make a vase of square design or a plaque for the wall. Adding things like spirals, flowers, etc. designs afterwards attaching with slip clay. Slip clay is an ideal jointing medium for building a vase. Design? I used the open end of a Bic biro and indented the small circular shape produced and built ever decreasing spiralling shapes. Used the little C shapes at end of a woodworkers chisel for fish scales, end of screwdrivers for roof tiles, etc. All this application is really good for Mindful activity really.

        Cheers for your reply. Much appreciated. All the best.

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      3. Oh my gosh – so many ideas – you’ve got me excited for this weekend (or the next (health depending)) – I really really love the idea of the lace imprints and creating small plaques for the wall. YAY – I’m pumped up to give it a go!

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      4. Sorry this is a long one. 😊

        That’s good you have found clay. In itself, it has many therapeutic properties simply by handling it. My ceramicist days were some of the most gentle in my life. Music was the second one. I took a look at your blog site just now. Sorry for my not looking sooner. It has been a bit hectic recently. I read your first ‘About’ introductory piece. Very interesting and informative. I did have migraines in the past, but not chronically and only acutely. So cannot truly emphasise with your sufferings. Only sympathise in earnest. Mine? Maybe three or four a year. Less even.

        I have Aphantasia, a lack of a Mind’s Visual Eye and only see a grey blank canvas on closing my eyes. Since a very young age. So no memory exists from any of my past life’s experiences as to how either intense or gentle episodes of any physical-psychological nature or events of scenarios such as holidays, various careers, weddings, births, deaths, etc. affected me. No PTSD certainly. And I have no harmful psychosomatic ingrained memory regarding any impacting symptoms from various sources either luckily. Migraines? I do remember that when they came they were extremely intense and could last a couple of days. But that is a memory only. I just know they used to happen and that was a real factor. Triggers? Unsure to be honest. My last episodes were back around 2000 to 2005. They were certainly weekly then. And only part of the year. I know this because they came from the result of twice a year/part time/once a week for 10 weeks teaching at my local college and always brought on intense migraines as an after effect of lessons presented. Stress? The room’s fluorescent lights? The college heat? Certain aromas? I have no idea of the trigger/triggers.

        I was a Staff Nurse until retiring 4 years ago in the month of July. I took a Masters course in Chronic Conditions over three years and chose pain and complementary therapy as my main topic. I had to study a lot more different chronic conditions and biopsychosocial and environmental causes of symptoms that were inherent in each. That is why myself and two other nurses taught an ‘Activate your Life’ course within the local community. No migraines after those teaching sessions though. Mindfulness was its central therapy for pain, depression, stress, anxiety, OCD, etc. ‘Facing the Fear and Doing it Anyway’ was another philosophical inclusion in that course. So, due to teaching, I got back into Mindfulness as a discipline. Backed by the NHS, who allowed us to go into the community, it was so very much a recognised therapy of worth. It was nice to get off the intensity of the wards for a while.

        So your blog is very much a fantastic source of information and a worthwhile one for others. So, it is brilliant that you have taken this knowledge that you have, and created so effectively an extremely important source and community for others and yourself. Brilliant.

        This short Mindfulness blog I wrote? Although I took on the Mindful philosophy back in the 1970s when meeting various people who were keen on the practice, I am not a constant user over decades. The Wholefood Shop back in the 1970s had a fair few customers that spoke about it. So I did study the subject for a while. For myself, the usefulness of Mindfulness cemented itself, with its specific therapeutic properties, when I read some of the John Kabat Zinn books regarding his worldwide Pain Clinics programme. I revisited his books on the Masters course.

        Unfortunately. With possession of a flitting mind, I tend to revisit my interests over years as opposed to keeping them as long term disciplines. I call myself the often recognised ‘Jack of all trades, Master of none’. Currently, writing songs and recording music is back in my life.

        Hopefully, as you say, you will be able to use the clay and keep the demon at bay for a few weeks. Hopefully longer. It was so pleasing to read in your internet site introduction that bouts at every 3 weeks has been a massive improvement for you.

        All the best and thank you.

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      5. Oh wow – thank you so much for taking the time to write to me like this – your honesty is fabulous – I love the idea of “handling” clay as a way of handling pain and grief… I really will pull it back out of the shed (wherever it is). I’m super impressed by your Masters, and have read a fair bit by Kabat Zinn. Like you, my affection for different things comes and goes (usually because what I make doesn’t live up to my expectations) – more recently I’ve been too busy doing my PhD to do anything else. And being in my 50s with two teen girls means I’m busy regardless of any hobbies I want to pursue. So interesting that making music is your thing, I love to listen to it (it’s taken the edge of my migraines massively to listen to gentle music) but am always in awe of anyone who can actually make their own music. Thanks for popping over to visit my blog, and I’m happy it’s been a long time since you’ve had to endure one. Hoping clay-play will help me improve even further! xx

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      6. It is good to share little historical personal scenarios because it adds more to the jigsaw and builds the insights. Also. Artistically, it is good to dabble without deep diving into wholesale learning of the medium undertaken at times. Results? Whatever level of skills learned, I suppose we are all very critical regards our artistic presentations after trying. But inwardly we know, with instinct, that whatever we produce is actually okay. ‘Not a bad attempt at all’ we should tell ourselves. Because at least we tried. Art for therapy….there is nothing better at times.

        Your PhD is something that you must be very enthusiastic about. I know they are brilliant positives to focused learning and have a high level result of deep expertise once achieved. Sounds like true commitment. Good fortune with the outcomes. All the best. 🙏🏽

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      7. Thank you! I recently passed and graduate soon – the PhD was on how architects use and abuse metaphors – nothing that will save the world, but it saved me by reigniting a part of my creative soul that had blown out years before. Stay curious and creative 🩵

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      8. Well done and congratulations. You may write some papers that could influence budding future gifted architects to think more uniquely. Buildings that do not stick out like ‘a sore thumb’. Excuse the pun. Good to get your spirit back too. And there is always that continuation of motivation when you have achieved a fantastic outcome to intense application. Mind you, it’s good to take time out to relax after the intensities. Reflect and smile at it all.

        At times it was good for myself in the past for achieving well being in having had an enquiring mind by adopting creativity sought and found through curiosity. But times in the nurse role found far more stress and was not good for the soul. So currently, getting older and looking at 70 next year, finding balance and taking things far more slowly is a more realistic aim. Just to say thank you for your exchanges here. Very much appreciated.

        Cheers and all the best. 🙏🏽

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      10. I have arrived at a place where I believe that the best way to make life easier is to find balance. There is too much rushing about nowadays. Your slow and steady approach to life sounds perfect. Wishing you well for the future. All the best. 🙏🏽

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    1. I often wonder how it must feel to simply choose whatever. My son is knowledgeable in Spanish wines. He works as a seller and advises customers about Spanish cuisine too. Some of the bottles of wine he sells are around £850 a bottle!

      Angie too gets good quality drink and foods too. Vegetarian, Vegan, Organic, Ethical, Local Artisans, etc. Price? It’s a case of choosing the different costs from low to high end to suit choices for various types of customer.

      Although with Worldwide weather impact on specific crops, it can mean a massive hike in specific food costs anyway. Nuts and chocolate are currently impacted. I remember her saying once that Brazil nuts were costing an absolute fortune and had to buy the broken ones for customers to be able to afford them. Crazy times Sheila.

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      2. Indeed. With a bit of focus prudently, you can still succeed in capturing a great lifestyle. My brother, on the phone last night, has recently retired from an intense career. He says everything is like his old weekends and he now has to find other ideas and things to pass the time. He is struggling. He mentioned of his learning of the word ‘holistic’ for health matters. So we spoke of the biopsychosocial and environmental aspects to a better lifestyle and health outcome. Keeping his retirement interesting in many considered aspects. Hope he doesn’t struggle in finding the creative, inspirational and variety of choices.

        You, yourself and myself, do that well Sheila. We don’t have to drink fine wine or eat caviar each week. If ever. We can get by easily on other different beverages and foods and still immensely enjoy those. Yerba Mate is my new kid on the block. Fascinating preparation involved. I’ve yet to try it. I have the gourd cup and the huge bag of tea leaf, but I am awaiting my Bombilla drinking straw. Arriving today. 😊

        All the best.

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  6. Yerbe Mate. Like so much you do, Geay, it sounds like you’re going to brew it and drink the homemade/original way! I have only had the can store bought variety and wasn’t a fan. If I recall it made me jittery. Maybe it had caffeine? I don’t know. But I don’t do well on guarana or such either.

    As for clay, I love your suggestions here in the comments on making a variety of different things out of raw clay! I hope your newly retired brother can find some hobbies to enjoy.

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    1. It does have caffeine in it Sheila. I have been able to tolerate caffeine for a long time though. Still limit its intake though. So can understand your jitters. Yerba mate can apparently taste bitter if made wrongly too. Angie brings me a fair few different modern canned drinks with all sorts of new health driven ideas on the info regarding inherent mixes. Some are absolutely awful. Others are very nice. A fair few are probiotic.

      Clay is something I haven’t touched for a decade or so. And ten years using it for a living is a decent amount of spent time on the art form. So, I can’t see getting back to using it any time soon really. A bit like camera film and self developing the negatives again. I am a person of wishful thinking and could easily get involved again. However. It’s important not to get distracted currently. My brain will explode if I do. You have made some amazing pottery pieces. Love the ghosts. A little escape hole in the top of the head would make a lovely joss stick/cone incense burner. Spooky ghost with aromatic smoke floating about around it.

      My brother has plans to go play guitar with some old work colleagues. He also has a really nice lodge down on the south coast of England and windsurfing has been a hobby for a few years now. Has his own board with sails attached. But, as he says, it gets pretty difficult to control when you are getting older. Especially on the choppy seas.

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      1. I totally get the “my head may explode” feeling, which is so true when overcommitting to various projects/tasks. I take it easy in the Integrating the Spirals way. (Smiling)

        It sounds like your brother will stay busy and that’s a great thing! Varied interests but not overwhelming. Cool! I hear you about the ghosts. I don’t burn incense—Richard is sensitive to scents and smells, else the little hole for smoke to escape is a wonderful idea!

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      2. I suppose this year has been impactful for us and top tier tiredness is pretty much a consistent enemy. So the music and VeeDub Bus hoped for ideas coming to fruition are enough now. And it has been flying solo by myself for a few years now.

        Steve, my brother, says our old bass guitarist player from our teens is into flying drones currently. Be good to get aerial shots within the future videos. About five years ago he would have been up here like a shot. My brother too. The drone used in capturing beach, hillside, riverside and lake sweeps to include in the videos, alongside the music we would all three produce. Play guitars and sing our own songs. But he is tied up with huge commitments too. So it won’t happen.

        I believe the days of bravado and seeking to enjoy what life has to offer is gone. We simply cannot commit like we did due to being older. Maybe because we were once young together and seeking with energy, we believe it can carry on. It simply cannot in reality. Older people and our ideas are like the lack of modern social inclusions. They are fragmented and so they fracture. We live so far apart nowadays, with lives of our own, families of our own, illnesses that contain and limit our dreams and wishes, that it all impacts on the dynamics of what once were youthful dreams in togetherness.

        Locals? They aren’t part of our memories of camaraderie in realising great experiences and outcomes from those experiences. New faces come along with ideas and talk a good talk. Then disappear as if they were never interested in the first place. Strange old time closing in on 70 years old. I know I could rock up at a local mic night, sing a song or two. Or maybe do one off jam sessions. My nurse colleague now owns her own successful cafe. Angie and myself had breakfast there a couple of days ago. She said I could park the VeeDub up in her beautiful cafe garden space and play guitar to the customers. Needs the brighter sunnier days. Customers outside at tables. So that is a fantastic opportunity for next springtime. But realising successful outcomes to this larger, more immediate project? You tend to fly solo when your friends are over 130 to 150 miles away Sheila. And it does get tiring to be honest. Hey ho.

        Cheers Sheila.

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      3. I hear you, Gray. Yes, you have had it rough with sickness this year and just feeling better for now is a WIN! Getting the VeeDub Cloud 9 back and running good, and some relaxing time in it with Angie is more important than anything. We have been let down by friends and new faces too more than I care to admit or focus on. Thus, solo music making (and for me, my solo dance videos to promote our songs). I’m doing it now because I know I may not have the energy in a few years. All we can do is all we can do. And that’s okay. Enjoying what time we have left is paramount. Cheers, Gray.

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      4. Spot on Sheila. It is just nice to see the back of this year since January. And the storyboard ideas are developing in my mind re: video building. The drone idea? I want an aerial view in each video of the immediate surrounding area high up and seeing hills, rivers, lakes, sea and beach etc.. Wherever the VeeDub is parked up at, and sweeping down to the Dub. Then at the end of the video, sweeping up and away. I toyed with buying a drone, but you need licences for use over here in the UK. If you intend to fly drones of certain weights and carrying cameras. Permission from the Civil Air authority. Pass online tests of competence, etc. There’s a guy in our village who has been flying drones for years. He had a YouTube site himself once. So will chat to him.

        It’s great that you are finding a holistic way of presenting the music. Your short videos pop up on my YouTube pages at times. You always seem to smile in all of them and look like you are very much enjoying yourself and showing people out there a positive vibe and energy can be achieved in the styles you present. All the best.

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  7. Fantastic, Gray! We love watching drone air footage such as you describe! Talking with the drone guy sounds like a great idea! I know we have limits on drone usage too, but I don’t think as restrictive as in Wales or the UK. We met a young man who showed us his drone and talked about it with him for an hour or two, back when we lived off grid.
    Thanks for telling me that you see my videos from time to time. Richard and I were jjst talking about how many more I will do. Cheers!

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    1. The intentions have been to stay off the iPad more and so have been focusing on preparing the VeeDub. I go on to Amazon and get little bits and bobs for the Cloud 9 project. Little inclusions to spark interest alongside getting the musical equipment needs sorted. Cables, extensions, camera, mic stands, mics, etc. Just a compacted need for the essential music set up. Updated Angie’s old LUMIX camera parts, like the upload to laptop cable, small tripod stand, battery charger, etc. for example. Made in 2010, but has an amazing video quality and zooms in amazingly well. I have to think in keeping things essential. Can’t build a full on studio in an old space limited VeeDub vintage Bus. So will change and remove non used stuff as time goes by.

      Little things to include for filming aesthetic values in life. A mocha/moka coffee pot, swan neck kettle for dripping water slowly over coffee grounds through a filter (THE best way to make coffee), a small Turkish copper coffee pot, French Press coffee pot, and of course the Yerba Mate cultural gourd cup and tea, alongside all herbal tea considerations too. So when chatting to people we can discuss the side issues to life alongside music issues. May try some watercolour painting. I have a small palette of quality paints to have a go at.

      Outside? A stainless steel brazier for log burning and cooking on, a camping fold out double hob butane gas cooker for outside cooking, a Tangia hikers burner for cooking on. I also have the wonderful Cobb cooker too. All small and very efficient for space issues. Cooking, etc. Can talk of efficacy and which of each is appropriate for choice in what you are making. Boil a kettle or create a decent meal. 🤔 Great visual dusk to nighttime vibe is to cook under a dark sky or a star filled canopy above.

      Like yourself and your videos, you have a holistic value to them. What surrounds you in your room as inclusions. Speaks of a philosophy behind the gentle dance routines. People love that sort of thing. A lady who I follow on YouTube has interests in vintage fountain pens. She speaks not technically about them, but of the holistic vibe they bring to life. Stories of how she acquired them. Her video uploads include a variety of her interesting pastimes and lifestyle too. Knitting, journal writing, hiking, camping outdoors, etc.. You don’t limit the same old, same old that way.

      Anyways. Just back from the Dr’s surgery to speak to him about my blood results and blood pressure readings. A yearly check up. All okay and in the limits. Thyroid, glucose levels, prostate, cholesterol, iron levels, electrolytes, liver/kidney function, etc. The full works. All a relief. So onwards with positivity.

      Cheers Sheila.

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      1. Your Cloud 9 project sounds super planned out and delightful, Gray! I’m so glad you have the spaceing figured out to include most or all of the items you have in mind to include too!
        Kudos on your health update! Woo-hoo!
        I consider you my vintage fountain pens expert so if you like this YouTube woman’s videos, she must be good! I am glad you noticed what’s in the background of my videos. I purposely have included my night table item such as the spiral crystal from Brazil, and now the two ghosts on the bookcase. Cheers!

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      2. Ambience and aesthetics are the comfort zones for many viewers on YouTube or similar. A familiar voice on podcasts too. It can be as simple as a person talking into a microphone on an iPhone sitting on a park bench and chatting about their personal philosophies on life. My fave go to is always Jonny Mozza (real name Joshua). He often resonates. And then the more intricately planned out videos that obviously take much input. They can create such a wonderful full on comfort in the story.

        Currently though, I am bemused by those that are sponsored or clearly show products to promote. That can really get in the way of an internal true spirit and seems shallow at times. I got an email the other day offering me a free pen if I give a review here on WP. Also an opportunity to earn commission on sales if people buy with my specific reduction code, etc. But I can’t do that type of stuff and feel it would be going against my principles. If I use something on the future videos, it will be generic. Drinking a specific coffee? Not the point. It is the nature of preparation, cultural or philosophical meaning, health benefits to well being and general day to day positivity in such practices. I know that I do mention guitars used and equipment used so as to identify sound produced. And the ease or difficulties of using such technology. I do this so as to help identify successes and pitfalls I have found. It may trigger others to seek similar or avoid. If companies approached with offers. Nope. Too much responsibility involved.

        By the way. Your short videos I have seen have a consistent feel good factor. That is priceless.

        Cheers Sheila.

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  8. You always give us such good things to think about, Gray! I don’t vibe with the brand ambassador thing anymore either. I share a lot of different products in my videos and blogs, so I have done it, but in more of a take it or leave it manner, and only because it’s been something that has helped me (and I have invested in it, not that I was paid for my endorsement). I was a product tester for Primal Life organics years ago and received several great products from them for free, but that’s the last time I received anything free from a company. I’m not a salesperson. Ha! I have tried it for years but I have had to face the facts! Ha!

    I will check out your suggestion video for Joshua. I just got done watching a new video from a health and spiritual dude I have followed for 17 years on YouTube! Dan McDonald the Life Regenerator. Oh, and Richard just ordered a new guitar! Aero something or other. He thinks he will be able to play it better due to lighter weight strings. We shall see!

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      1. Just had a quick look at the guitar on Amazon. Lots of interest in it. Will look into it a bit more. Probably on YouTube. If Richard can produce more songs on it in a relaxed way, then that will be brilliant. You have to be comfortable when writing songs. You get to become one with the instrument then. Cheers Sheila. Thanks for letting me know.

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    2. It is a question of committing to different companies really. Taking responsibility for promoting someone else’s product. I can’t do that type of thing. Got enough on my plate simply getting my own struggles of the ground. But if the system works for others, then much respect.

      Joshua is well worth a listen Sheila. Nice guy.

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      1. The guitar arrived today! Richard is already excited about it and that thrills me, Gray. Yes, he watched several YouTube videos about it (mostly positive), before ordering it. It feels good to him and certainly seems easier for him to play. And as you say, if it helps him feel better writing his music, that’s all that matters. Cheers back!

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      2. I watched a few videos yesterday and, as you say, lots of positive reviews. It is pretty unique in the way it works. Going through his Mac should bring some great results. Through an amp too. And just picking it up with its own speaker or headphones choice, it’s an instant playable.

        He can also build and record his songs by using the various MIDI opportunities and play lots of different guitar sounds. Capture in GarageBand. The best thing? Because it isn’t piano type keyboard based (with myself I still find it unnatural to play piano keys) he can stick to his roots and allow the natural guitar skills gifts he has to continue.

        Fantastic choice. Nice one.

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