Week 3 of The Matchbook! Sorry for the slight delay in posting this, after 2.5 years of successfully avoiding the dreaded COVID, still wearing a mask everywhere I go, and being abundantly careful for the sake of those around me, I tested positive on Wednesday morning. I’ve had a stupid fever every day since Tuesday, and I’m sick of shivering. That said, you still deserve a Matchbook post!

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Here are the things I found, loved, and wanted to share with you this week:

1. Mindfulness Hurts. That’s Why It Works - Brilliant article on mindfulness, and how it’s one of those beautiful things that demands actual effort to reap the benefits, not instant gratification like our smartphone society likes to covet.

2. Willow Trailer - Do I need to say anything at all on this one? No. Just watch. Just flipping watch. My goosebumps have goosebumps. I loved Willow as a kid, I love Willow now.

3. Tommy Rivs, Endurance Poet - My friend, my hero, Tommy Rivs on one of the most moving podcasts I’ve ever listened to. Survives rare cancer that should have killed him, and still keeps fighting. What a guy. Honored to know you sir.

4. 43 Iconic Short Stories - Sometimes, we just don’t have time to read as much as we wished we did. Sometimes short stories pack a hell of a punch in a few tiny words. These are some of the finest to do so. Try to read some, tick them off the list. See how you feel.

5. Poke by Frightened Rabbits - Something about this version, this recording, haunts me. I will ever fully recover from Scott’s suicide I don’t think, I will never not be sad thinking how much beautiful music we didn’t get to hear, but little gems like this soothe it some. Thank you, Scott.

I’m gonna go lay down now, but like I said, you deserved a little list of light. Thanks for being you. I appreciate it more than I can say, and I’ll get to all your beautiful writing from Tuesday and Thursday as soon as I can. Hold each other close.

I love you all.