Turnin’ Me Up

Jason Toney
Jul 30, 2017 · 2 min read

“It’s just the little itty bitty things you do.”—BJ The Chicago Kid

Meditation: Gratitude and Reflection (nine minutes)

On today’s Face the Nation, John Dickerson’s closing thought was about grace, or the lack thereof, in public life today. This resonated as I’ve been working on grace this week even though I didn’t have the word in mind. I’ve fought against the inclination to react quickly to headlines, tweets, subtweets, memes, and transgressions (real or imagined). This, despite — or perhaps, in favor of — being in my feelings for much of the past seven days. I don’t think I’m quite out of my stupor, but I feel better for not taking it out on others…much. For having grace in ungracious times.

I thought a lot about loyalty this week. Thank our reality tv president. I struggle with loyalty as it is usually defined. People demand loyalty to them as individuals or to organizations. I’m loyal to ideas and codes and ways of being. I’ve been accused of being disloyal before. In every case, it’s when someone has misbehaved and wanted protection or absolution. I will not grant it. I’m loyal to my ideas of justice, kindness, fairness, rightness. I’m grateful for those who would never ask me to be disloyal to my self in fealty to something or someone counter to that. In short, I’m very thankful to not work in the West Wing.

Also, for this video

And this song

though I don’t think it will make it on any update to this incredible list

I’m also into this older article about memory

My memories tell me I’m a hustle>ideas>angles person. What are you?

I enjoyed this profile of Melina Matsoukas

this conversation with Walter Mosley

and this discussion of the new rock stars

And you.

Yes, you.

Jason Toney

Written by

Trying to make good stuff every day. Occasionally succeeding.

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