What's New in My World
Building the Life I Want One Habit at a Time
This week, I wanted to shed light on some of the projects I have been working on. Mostly, I work incrementally on many of my pursuits and organize it all into daily rituals and habits. I enjoy the craft of what I make in the moment, but these small acts feed larger, eventual goals.
1. MY GARDEN
Is it a coincidence that my dear husband, my mom, and my best friend are gardeners? Perhaps the universe is trying to tell me something. Since last summer, I have been quietly toiling away at my new garden project. It is inspired by all forms of Japanese gardens in which there are specific intentions behind each element and a sense of calm in how they flow together. In this case, I am slowly shaping a small tea garden together. It will be a meditative space with a central seating area for drinking tea and quiet contemplation.
I have cleared the main section and added layers to prevent the natural forest growth from taking over. In the long term, there is still a lot of clearing to do along its outer edges, but now, shaping this garden is a daily practice that takes me outside and grounds me in ways I do not fully understand but certainly feel. I work on it just about every day, especially now that warmer weather has finally arrived.
I am also taking my time choosing the plants that will inhabit the space. I will grow plants that add a variety of shapes and textures, as opposed to bold colors and large sizes. So far, there are four small Japanese maple trees that get bigger every day.
I am also gathering stones, lots and lots of stones. They are another element that will add shape and a different texture to the space.
By summer’s end, I hope to have the garden’s boundaries well-defined with stones and pathways, more plants in strategic places, and seating so that my household and friends can start enjoying the space.
2. MUSIC COMPOSITION
Playing music is my sacred practice. Songs, as they are sung, are immediately ephemeral. Sound waves flow and disperse as quickly as they spring forth. But in those moments, in that release, I let go of burdens and stretch out emotions that are often hiding. Singing and making melodious sounds moves my body in deeper ways than actual physical movement does. I make the time to play every day, as much as possible.
I have been deep into writing music lately, with new songs composed for piano and ukulele. I challenge myself to integrate something I have not done before with each new piece. This could be a new chord progression or a different rhythm pattern, but I am a better musician if I am constantly exploring new territory.
3. READING BOOKS
Last winter, I did not feel like reading much, so I decided not to read so many books. Instead, I went through only three of them. This qualifies as a break because I can plow through several books otherwise. Now, I am back to my regular reading schedule, which gets me through a new book every one or two weeks. I have been reading mostly nonfiction, and I have a LARGE stack of books I am eager to attack.
There is one book I read recently that I would highly recommend. It is a children’s novel that I believe anyone of any age would completely enjoy. It tells the story of a community of animals who live in a park on an island, and all of them conspire to look out for each other and stave off the encroaching needs of humans. The Eyes and the Impossible by Dave Eggers won the prestigious John Newberry Award for Children’s Literature, and I can see why. It is a fun and engaging read with beautifully developed characters. I forged through to the end to eagerly find out what happened to them all (which turned out to be both surprising and satisfying).
Check out this book if you are looking for something unique and beautiful:
4. FILM
My days of frenetically making one video a week are far behind me. (That kind of output is the easiest way to burn myself out.) Instead, I am focusing on medium to larger-scale collaborative projects and filming small vignettes for my multimedia shows.
For 2024, I want to make two music videos for a couple of my songs. One will be simple, lush, and surrealistic, and the other might be the most ridiculous music video I will ever make. I hope I can pull all of this off. I will have more details in the coming months.
5. SELF-CARE
I carry a small bottle from which I drink lots of water every day. I have also been spending 15 minutes in the morning stretching my body through a mixture of sun salutations and very easy, gentle extensions. I go on long walks or hikes whenever I can and have started working out with free weights. My go-to snacks are peanuts, apples, and carrots. I also take one or two short naps to help get through the day.
One big problem with modern medicine is that it treats ailments as they occur instead of creating long-term plans focused on prevention. I am implementing small daily habits in my life that will hopefully help my body stay healthier for as long as possible.
So, that’s all, folks. My life is a gently humming blender mixing creative and self-sustaining practices that satisfy me in the short term but are also building blocks for the future.
I hope your days are filled with joys, both small and large, that help you stay strong and active for many years to come.
Be well.
You can hear my new song, Vampire, on every major streaming platform including Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, and Tidal.
Give it a listen, share it, and add it to a playlist if you want. Search for Roqué Marcelo or visit any of the following links:
Spotify
Apple Music
Tidal
Amazon Music
Deezer
Earlier this week, I took our family dog, Roxy, to join my sisters and their kids/grandkids at Mundy Sports Complex and Park in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee. I do not go to parks with a dog very often, and this was definitely a treat. It was a gorgeous spring day, and the younger generation of my family was in the best spirits. My nieces and one nephew swung and climbed through a playground while their parents played on the courts. I walked Roxy along a trail that squeezed by baseball fields and pickleball courts and snaked through a lovely grove of young trees. It was such a pretty day! The late afternoon sun gave everything a soft glow. I made a mental note to visit more parks whenever possible.
I have a feeling I will remember this day for many years to come.
To listen to my music, watch my films, or see my visual art, please visit:
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