There’s a lot of stuff I share on the Internet every day. Here’s a round up of the things I most enjoyed last week by category.

Inspiration

•  You are a lightworker “Your journey of personal development is all part of a divine plan. Our deepest struggles are the catalysts for our greatest change. The moment we embark on a spiritual journey, something radical awakens within us: a deep desire to spread the love. Whether you realize it or not, when you begin to unearth the light within yourself you’ll soon want to carry the message.”
• The First Step To Long-Lasting Happiness “First of all, you must know what you really want, which can be hard if you were raised to please others. Secondly, you must believe that what you want is worthy—again, a tricky prospect for women long trained in the dark arts of self-deprecation. Thirdly, you must face the possibility of rejection…”
• When you become visible “It was time to clarify my boundaries or kiss my adrenal glands good bye.My heart and health won. I mastered saying ‘No, thank you.’ I had to become more inaccessible so I could have the space to do what I do best — which serves more people in the end. For sovereignty, I learned to rule my kingdom.” This piece really, really resonated with me and I’m a work in progress on self-care. The first step is admitting you have a problem… 

Nifty

• Cameron Esposito – Woman Who Doesn’t Sleep With Men Oh, my god is his hysterical and damn near identical style of humor as one of my dear friends. I must have watched this 10 times. 
• ERMAHGERD Translator No, really. I mean, NER, RERLER.
• John Fullbright’s going to be on DAVID LETTERMAN I am unreasonably excited about this. Like…phone alarm is set and everything. August 28. 
• The worst sofa in the history of humankind Sorry about your eyes, man.

Music

• It Will Come Back by Hozier “Don’t let me in with no intention to keep me. Jesus Christ, don’t be kind to me, don’t feed me. I will come back.” 
• Langhorne Slim @ Watkins Family Hour Newport Folk Festival I’ve been running into Newport Folk videos this week as I get my head above the post-vacation water. Watkins Family Hour was a great evening of memories to have and I’m thrilled someone else shot so I didn’t have to be that guy. 
• Trees by The Oh Hellos A super, super special show and this was the encore song. They were overwhelmed with joy. I was overwhelmed with joy. Watch later in the video you can see a red head jumping up and down. That’s me. Also at the beginning of the video…you’ll see me. SO FUCKING COOL. They even got a good clip of the hot, preppy guy who was in that tent every single day. My northeastern dreamboat soul mate. I’m writing more about Newport next weekend, including this video. Real talk: I wept when I found this video in my inbox on Saturday morning. Wept like a folk-lovin’ baby. The week was HARD for unrelated reasons and Wednesday/Thursday totally sucked balls. But this video was salve for the soul. More on that later…

There’s a lot of stuff I share on the Internet every day. Here’s a round up of the things I most enjoyed recently because I’m at least a month behind on these. 

Inspiration

• Interview with a guy who sneaks into music festivals. A lot of music festivals. “In the space of four years Marcus has been to almost 50 festivals around the world. Along the way he’s made friends with bands like Mumford & Sons, found himself clinging underneath festival cess-pits, and hanging out with people called Acid Chris. This is not his day job—he shoots for stations like HBO and creates music videos. But somehow, between hitch-hiking across the United States and being one of the most sought-after photographers in music, he’s found time to compile his four-year festival experience into a documentary.”
• 10 best performances at the Newport Folk Festival. 
• Ray LaMontagne calls out audience members for talking. Atta boy, Ray. I’m ever increasingly grumpy about people who talk over songs at shows. I’m not a fan of shaming but I do like that he acknowledged the douchebaggery. 

Nifty

• The Bloggess goes to BlogHer and tweets her travels. “Then I was told that this hotel didn’t have a minibar. They also didn’t have room service, but if you called down they’d make you a sandwich and you could pick it up yourself. It was like staying with my grandma.”
• Date’s flaws coming at woman faster than she can rationalize them “Each flaw—from his tendency to talk over me to his poorly groomed facial hair—required time to process and then explain away, but they kept coming at me all night, sometimes three or four of them at once.”
• The Muppets got mashed up with the Beastie Boys and the whole world sings along Any words are inadequate to describe just how much I love this video. Like…fer serious. And when Beaker grabs the mic and does the hand thing? ::blacks out from laughter::
• That kid who selfied with Warren Buffett and Paul McCartney.

Music

• Untitled ‘stars’ song by John Fullbright My adoration of John’s music is well-documented. Add this song to the list of pieces of his I’m wild about. 
• Western Shore by Ryan Bingham Great, great lyrics from an interesting voice. 
• Land of the Living by Roo Panes I just discovered this band a few days ago via Spotify surfing. RIGHT up my alley.
• O’ Be Joyful by Shovels & Rope I fell in love with this couple at the Newport Folk Festival. Love the gumption in this particular song.
• When the Subway Comes Above the Ground by Leif Vollebekk Another Newport Folk Festival discovery. Leif has a charming stage presence and songs that take you into the trance he’s in as he delivers them. I talked with Leif a few times while I was in Newport and was always greeted by his wide smile and kind nature. Watch for this guy in the coming year.

There’s a lot of stuff I share on the Internet every day. Here’s a round up of the things I most enjoyed last week by category.

Inspiration

• Your body is not your masterpiece, you are. “We are encouraged to obsess over our instrument’s SHAPE  – but our body’s shape has no effect on it’s ability to accept and offer love for us. Just none.  Maybe we continue to obsess because  as long we keep wringing our hands about our paintbrush shape, we don’t have to get to work painting our lives. Stop fretting. The truth is that all paintbrush shapes work just fine -and anybody who tells you different is trying to sell you something. Don’t buy. Just paint.”
• How a password saved my life. “I had to type this statement several times a day. Each time my computer would lock. Each time my screensaver with her photo would appear. Each time I would come back from eating lunch alone.”
• Colorado legalizes marijuana, doesn’t implode. “Marijuana-related arrests, which make up 50% of all drug-related crimes, have plummeted in Colorado, freeing up law enforcement to focus on other criminal activity. By removing marijuana penalties, the state is estimated to save somewhere between $12 million and $40 million, according to the Colorado Center on Law and Policy.” There’s some statistics on job creation in this article, too. 

Nifty

• Undress me. An awkward and sexy video by Tatia Pilieva, the woman who created First Kiss. She gathers strangers (obviously some are actors / models) to undress each other and crawl into a bed. Beautiful and silly and fun.
• That time a beloved film maker ruthlessly hunted an extinct animal.
• Less ambitious alternatives to Couch to 5K. “Couch to Downloading App and Choosing Trainer’s Voice—encouraging Constance or sexy Billie?” From McSweeney’s, of course. 

Music

• Wild Animals – Trampled by Turtles This is the First Listen from NPR. Enjoy!
• 20 Great Folk Albums to Add to Your Indie-Rock Collection I’ve barely started this list but think its worth sharing. I’ve only gotten into non-commercial music in the last 6 or 8 years, so it stands to reasons there are decades of things I’ve missed. Grateful for shortcuts like this.