Life of Firsts
Hey Friend,
I'm sitting under the portico where my lovely bride stood 16 months ago before she descended the rock stairs to meet me at the alter for marriage. It's my friends-of-35-years home. They aren't here. I just finished recording my audio book at a studio in Edmond and have crashed here a couple of nights. It's serene and paradisiacal.
Of course, I was back at Shangri La again, earlier in the week. I have one more event there next Wednesday. Then my five week run of visiting Grand Lake will conclude. I'm grateful for the opportunities I'm afforded.
This was my first time recording myself reading. LG, the engineer used a Universal Audio Sphere microphone, which is a dual capsule mic - picking up discreet signals from the front and back of the mic. Then he can select from 38 different old analog mics, after we've recorded to find the one that sounds the best. It was fascinating. This latest technology exists to replicate old technology - just all in one. Assimilating is progress?
I read extremely slow for me and worked hard to contain my voices tendency to squeal when excited. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised when you listen to it. I know I was. It took about 5.5 hours to record. The total length of listening is 3 hours and 50 minutes.
LIFE OF FIRSTS
With this book, everything is a first. How frequently do we get to say "That's the first time I've ever done that." Firsts are invigorating and daunting, inspiring and challenging, thrilling and scary. I wish I had more firsts in my life. That sounds like a good title for a book - Life of Firsts. When was your last first?
It's the ongoing story development in my mind. I desperately want to be a person of disciplined consistency, embedding routines and habits that enable me to be the man I'm determined to be. Whilst also hungering for adventures of the unknown, experiences yet unexperienced, creating a life of wonder and faith. #DualityOfDesires
MINDSHIFT
What is a first you could do this week?
COMPRESSION
It's like the microphone. I want to incorporate both sides and then compress all my past into shaping the most intentional and fascinating future. Are firsts a one-off or the beginning of something new? Do they mark an end of one thing in our life or simply an anomaly blip, a brief rabbit trail, until we return to normal? It's up to us, isn't it?
Life is not linear. Our imagination is our only restraint. The choices we make today can be independent of our past decisions. That takes the weight off of the firsts. They don't have to be dramatic shifts or they can be. They don't need to require any more than that they are a first to justify our attempts. They don't have to be qualified as a win or loss, either.
MINDSHIFT
What if you removed all pressure from reasoning to experiment with a first?
EXPANSION
Having 38 different microphones in one offers expanded options previously inconceivable. Those 38 microphones collectively would cost over $50,000. This one mic cost $1400. We think the cost of risk is too high because we look at each one individually, instead of evaluating them in context of the entirety of our life.
For us to grow and expand, we must be willing to endeavor for firsts.
The challenge lies in the stability of our daily patterns. Are we choosing them or are they simply required for us to function in life? Do we have a foundation from which we can launch and return from our firsts, or are we mostly floating along? Who knows what new pathways could open up as we venture out into the Life of Firsts?
SHIFTING
I hope this week you find yourself pondering the options of firsts you'd like to attempt, while being grounded in security, love and consistency. #ShiftAway
