Friday 26 August 2011

Wisdom, Music, Fear of Failure and Inspiration ...


Ravi Shankar performs in
Delhi, March 2009

... then add in Judy Dench, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Ziggy Pop, Ravi Shankar et al and finally Eve for you younger readers ...

This link takes you to Brain Pickingsit is an amazing blog, incredibly educative about all kinds of subjects and I could immerse myself here for hours on end – though the links out would send me off in all directions.

The Post is titled Andrew Zuckerman: Curiosity and Rigour are the Key to Creativity by Maria Popova ...  and quite honestly I leave you with her post to read, listen to and inwardly digest ... it is extremely entertaining ...

Horns on the head of Moses 
(Michaelangelo) are a graphic symbol
of Wisdom (found at the Church of 
San Pietro in Vincoli, Rome)
The 6 minute trailer for Wisdom – I highly recommend ... Chinua Achebe (writer), Frank Gehry (architect), Bill Withers ( Musician), Jacques Pepin (chef), Clint Eastwood (film maker) ...

Popova describes Zuckerman’s latest project, Music (6 minute trailer), as just as much a treat, featuring beautifully shot, deeply moving interviews with 50 of the greatest living music icons ...


Love is the most important thing ... life is not perfect, we just need to make the best of it ...


The reason for this posting and bringing it to your attention ... is that I want to come back and re-watch these videos again and again ... just wonderful and I don’t want to forget them .....

Chinese Naxi Musicians
(Nakhi dongjing musicians in Lijiang,
Yunnan Province)
.... and if you love gloves, then some cheekbones, and a few wrinkles!  – just give a check it out!  Grab a water, a coffee, a tea, a glass of vino ... and enjoy ....

I am sure you’ll agree with me – who and what were their words inspiring you in these trailers?

This post utilises content from Brain Pickings - just delightful and thought provoking ... 

Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

31 comments:

RHYTHM AND RHYME said...

This sounds very interesting and informative Hilary, I will get to the videos later today as I have a full schedule, visiting daughter and hairdressers(must keep up appearances) Will let you know what I think of them later.

Have a good day.
Yvonne.

MorningAJ said...

Oh I'm sorry but that Nick Nolte bit has just made me SO angry! OF COURSE your brain gets bigger if you live in fear. (see my blogpost today. It was already up before I read yours. Co-incidence.) And I'm so completely against using animals to do that sort of research for a whole host of reasons, mainly the fact that mice bodies and brains don't actually behave like human ones do so they're meaningless.... Don't get me started. I need to go and calm down....

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Yvonne .. can understand the hairdresser and daughter come first! Thanks so much for coming by .. hope the rain doesn't flatten everything! Hope you have a lovely time with your daughter ..

@ Anne - sorry about that .. and I'm not sure where Nick Nolte features - in the 27 min video (I've yet to watch!) .. experiments and that aspect of life .. I can understand your feelings - particularly in the light of your own posting.

Thanks Yvonne and Anne .. two interesting comments! All the best Hilary

Theresa Milstein said...

I really liked Wisdom. I like learning from older people. They have experience that I don't. Thank you for sharing this!

Talli Roland said...

I'm with Theresa - I love the wisdom of people who have gone before me, and have learned from their experiences. Thanks, Hilary! Hope you're staying dry.

Anonymous said...

I can definitely see where they are coming from. The more you write the more experienced/ inspired you get. Writing isn't a lightning bolt thing but a hard graft thing. So true! :O)

TALON said...

Just seeing anything that Michaelangelo created is beyond inspiring! (and makes me realize there is truly creative genius)

Joylene Nowell Butler said...

I still haven't cleaned up the breakfast dishes, but when I do, I'm coming back to check on these links. Thanks, Carole. Hope your day is lovely.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Theresa .. both film clips seem to offer so much - and as you say ... those wrinklies have many wise words for us .. glad you enjoyed it.

@ Talli - they say so much, with so few words and the different perspectives from different walks of life. Yes thanks dry just about then - and you should be by now ...

@ Madeleine ... they've all just persevered, some restarting .. but they just have a succinct way of putting things ... and getting on with the work.

@ Talon - that Michaelangelo statue is extraordinary isn't it - mind you he was incredibly inspiring .. so talented. There definitely is creative genius - but they work for it too ... can't help themselves .. being curiouser and curiouser about all things.

@ Joylene .. no worries - I don't like leaving mess around .. enjoy the trailers ..

Cheers Theresa, Talli, Madeleine, Talon and Joylene .. thanks for the visit - Hilary

Karen Lange said...

There are so many sources of inspiration, aren't there? Thanks for sharing these with us. Have a great weekend! :)

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Never heard of the site - I'll go look!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Karen .. there certainly were some very good ideas and thoughts in there .. good mix of peoples. You too - enjoy the weekend ..

@ Alex - excellent - you'll love the sight .. see you back here I hope!

Cheers Karen and Alex .. enjoy the weekend .. Hilary

Amanda Trought said...

Hilary, this is great thanks for sharing, looking forward to watching the video saw a snippet and it looks great, so much wisdom to learn from... Have a blessed weekend. Amandax

Unknown said...

Can't wait to see the videos, they sound so interesting from your description.

klahanie said...

Hi Hilary,
Just had a quick perusal of those videos and I'm sure there's much to be embraced within them. I shall endeavour, time permitting, to have a closer look.
And it's still raining, here. Never mind, eh
Cheers, Gary.

amy@ Souldipper said...

Hilary...you've uncovered the nugget for me on this one! Wow. I just watched "Wisdom" and I feel fed.

So many thanks for this.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Amanda .. thanks - they are both wonderful short brilliant films - easy to listen to and watch - so many wise words.

@ Clarissa ... you'll so enjoy them .. and creative ideas to take away.

@ Gary ... that's what I did - a quick look, and then decided I'd be interested to see them again .. and know I'll be glad they're here for me to refer back to. Enjoy them -

Guess what - it's bright sunshine .. and hope it is with you .. enjoy your weekend ..

@ Amy .. you're so right - nugget x many (50) .. they're just so thought provoking - I couldn't resist making sure they're here for me to relook at.

That's an excellent way of looking at the Wisdom video - 'feel fed' ...

Music - does that too ...

Cheers Amanda, Clarissa, Gary and Amy .. have happy weekends - sun's out here .. and I think you're all safe from Hurricane Irene. Hilary

S. Susan Deborah said...

Glad to see Pandit Ravishankar here. He is from India and his music fills the body and calms the soul. Thanks for sharing, for sharing is caring and loving.I will have to check out the sites.

A good weekend to you.

Joy always,
Susan

SuziCate said...

I agree wisdom is the greatest gift one generation can give to another. There is so much wisdom in life experience...if we can only get the young ones to listen. I have a good friend who is 99 and sharp as a whip. She shares much wisdom and is also entertaining. Thank you for stopping by my blog.

Misha Gerrick said...

Thanks for the links! I decided to take the day off from my studies and to drop by some old friends on the blogosphere. How are you doing?

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Susan .. thank you - you've given him is proper name .. I'm sure his music does fill the body and calm the soul - I must down load some. I hope you have a chance to listen to the trailers - the time dashes by .. they are so good.

You too have a good weekend ..

@ SuziCate .. thanks Suzi .. I completely agree with your words here .. we need time to listen and absorb to our elders.

Your friend of 99 - sounds amazing ..

It was a pleasure to come over and visit - and I hope Hurricane Irene has softened a little .. thinking of you.

@ Misha .. that's good of you - nothing like a break away from stretching the brain.

Pearls of wisdom here and some musical geniuses .. the gloves, cheekbones and wrinkles make it all worthwhile! I just get wrinkler by the day!! - but I'm fine otherwise .. thankfully!

Thanks Susan, SuziCate and Misha .. great to see you all .. and I hope you get across to the links .. Cheers Hilary

Ellie Garratt said...

I'm off to visit Brian's blog. Thank you for the link!

Marguerite said...

Great post and blog! Thanks for stopping by and for the link! It's so nice to meet you!

Empty Nest Insider said...

Thanks Hilary for always introducing us to new experiences! I took a quick peek, but will come back for more Brain Pickings and Wisdom! Julie

Ann said...

Listening, watching and learning from those who have gone before me. I am addicted to it. Thank you Hilary. Love this link.

Susan Scheid said...

Oh, this is indeed a treasure trove you've found for all of us. Though I think the line-up in wisdom is stronger (so poignant to hear from Ted Kennedy--his wisdom is greatly missed over here), there is some wisdom in the music trailer, as well: "Music is enough for a lifetime, but a lifetime is not enough for music." (John Williams) Thank you for finding this!

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

@ Ellie .. hope you enjoyed the Brain Pickings site .. good luck with your WIP next week and on ..

@ Marguerite - many thanks and lovely to be over reading your Cajun recipes and stories of the area.

@ Julie - good .. they are well worth the watch and Brain Pickings is a wonderful site.

@ Ann - delighted you enjoyed the link across .. as you say their words of wisdom are wonderful.

@ Susan - isn't it wonderful .. I've loved Brain Pickings. I probably agree re the wisdom - but I just love the creative ideas we can get from those few snippets of thoughts provided in the two trailers. Also I get to see people that perhaps I might have heard of - but have no other concept of ..

To see people again - as Ted Kennedy .. it was as you say poignant to hear him speak.

Yes - I picked up the John Williams quote .. I liked the Jane Goodall one:

"With one clever brain capable of taking us to the moon, we seem to have lost the wisdom of the indigenous people who make a decision based on the affect to our people 7 generations ahead."

That makes so much sense for our future ..

Thanks Ellie, Marguerite (lovely seeing you here), Julie, Ann and Susan ... glad you all enjoyed the links .. Hilary

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing these links! We can always use new sources of inspiration. And thanks for stopping by my new blog and being Numero Uno! I really appreciate it.

The video on wisdom is great! I watched it once and will watch it again. I love to hear what other successful people have to say about wisdom.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Stephen .. I think it's called timing - or breakthrough! Glad you enjoyed the videos .. and having put the videos up .. we know where they are ..

Blogspot blogs are having a few temperamental times with the dreaded mal-ware .. hopefully it will do away.

Yay - Numero Uno .. good !! Still I'll be swamped down the line very soon .. cheers Hilary

Anonymous said...

Never heard of the site, but I'll be sure to check it out.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Susanne .. you won't be disappointed - so enjoy the site and the video trailers .. have a good week .. Hilary