Author Archives: thevsstudioblog

“Reason shows us there is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so.” -Seneca, Letters To A Stoic “Every being in the universe is an expression of the Tao. It springs into existence, unconscious, perfect, free, takes on a physical body, lets circumstances complete it. That is why every being spontaneously honors theContinue reading ““Thanks For Everything””

“At dawn, when you have trouble getting out of bed, tell yourself: “I have to go to work — as a human being. What do I have to complain of, if I’m going to do what I was born for — the things I was brought into the world to do? Or is this whatContinue reading “Trouble Getting Out Of Bed”

“The world is violent and mercurial–it will have its way with you. We are saved by love–love for each other and the love that we pour into the art we feel compelled to share: being a parent; being a writer; being a painter; being a friend. We live in a perpetually burning building, and whatContinue reading “Love And Art”

If you doubt that your art can make a difference, consider just one example… When the Continental Army were struggling to survive a long, brutal winter at Valley Forge, George Washington decided to stage a play, Cato by Joseph Addison, to lift their spirits. You can’t predict what effect your art will have. But youContinue reading “The Power Of Your Art”

“Be careful, however, lest this reading of many authors and books of every sort may tend to make you discursive and unsteady. You must linger among a limited number of master-thinkers, and digest their works, if you would derive ideas which shall win firm hold in your mind. Everywhere means nowhere.” -Seneca, Letters From AContinue reading “Everywhere Means Nowhere”

“Objective judgment, now at this very moment. Unselfish action, now at this very moment. Willing acceptance—now at this very moment—of all external events. That’s all you need.” -Marcus Aurelius, Meditations Pierre Hadot in his book, “The Inner Citadel” discusses in detail the three most important disciplines of Stoicism. They are Perception, Action and Will. Here’sContinue reading “P.A.W. Your Way To The Top”

“Secret of life is to stay hydrated. The brain can’t think if it ain’t hydrated, s’a natural fact. Drink up. They say eight glasses a day, eight ounces each. I say why stop there? No such thing as too much of a good thing. It’s a good thing, it’s a good thing. It’s not, it’sContinue reading “The Self Care Questionnaire”

“We are our choices.” -Sartre First off, HAPPY NEW YEAR! Here’s to clean slates, making art and brighter days ahead. I hope this year is everything you want it to be. For those of you who believe in resolutions, I’m rooting for you. Here’s a past New Yorker article that sheds light on why weContinue reading “Decide First, Then Interpret”

“A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.” -Franklin D. Roosevelt This is my final post of 2020. #263. 5 days a week. Monday thru Friday. 52 weeks. I’m proud I never missed a day. (Includes 3 bonus posts…My attempt at a monthly newsletter highlighting some favorite things– “Fellow Traveler”–came up a little short.) ThankContinue reading “263”

Earlier this year I wrote a post entitled “Look Forward To Look Back.” It was about asking yourself questions of how you want to feel in the year ahead. Consider this post its companion piece. Tim Ferriss advises that instead of setting resolutions for the new year, we should do a Past Year Review. TheContinue reading “Look Back To Look Forward”