π½οΈππ» ERL November '23
Great Work, White Acre Peas, and Facundo Cabral - In this letter I share what I've been ERLing over the last month.
Its hard to believe we are a month out from our last newsletter where I wrote about what we were eating, reading, and listening to. If you missed it, check it out below:
This letter is only my (Taylor) voice. This isnβt by design and in the future we hope to incorporate more of Morganβs writings and thoughts in the this version and all versions of our weekly newsletter. If you want to hear from Morgan directly, definitely check out the podcast we recorded on this monthβs ERL topic here:
βοΈ In our last ERL newsletter we had a few of you leave comments on what you were ERLing and we LOVED it. We hope everyone partakes and shares with us and the community whatβs been blessing you lately.
With all that written, here is whatβs been blessing me.
π What we are Reading
βHow to do Great Workβ by Paul Graham . This is an essay that is full of great insight. It is one of his longer essays and at first I listened to it on Spotify. You can find it here. I have since gone back and read it with a highlighter in hand. Iβm about 3/4 of the way through it. There are so many great quotes itβs hard to choose only one, but here is one that stood out to me:
What formality and affectation have in common is that as well as doing the work, you're trying to seem a certain way as you're doing it. But any energy that goes into how you seem comes out of being good. That's one reason nerds have an advantage in doing great work: they expend little effort on seeming anything. In fact that's basically the definition of a nerd.
Nerds have a kind of innocent boldness that's exactly what you need in doing great work. It's not learned; it's preserved from childhood. So hold onto it. Be the one who puts things out there rather than the one who sits back and offers sophisticated-sounding criticisms of them. "It's easy to criticize" is true in the most literal sense, and the route to great work is never easy.
π½οΈ What we are Eating
My Mama has for the longest time, put up butterbeans and white acre peas. And since Iβve been out of the house, she has always sent me away with frozen beans and peas after a visit. Itβs something Iβm learning to appreciate more and more. With that said, we are running low on our butter beans and white acre peas from our last visit, so I am hoping to stock back up after visiting for Thanksgiving.
Thanks Mama. Itβs comfort food and a taste of childhood and home.
π» What we are listening to
βthis oneβs for youβ by Kait Dunton. Youtube | Spotify
I canβt stop listening. It might be the most beautiful song Iβve ever heard on the piano.
βNo Soy de Aqui, Ni Soy de Allaβ by Facundo Cabral. Youtube | Spotify
This song was shared with me by my spanish teacher, who is from Columbia. Facundo was an Argentinan singer and songwriter. He had quite the life.
This song is really beautiful. Particularly on a sunny day with a glass of wine or sweet tea!
A modern day minstrel.
Jared Kushner interview by Lex Friedman
I found this conversation fascinating. Jared Kushner was a consistent figure throughout Donald Trumpβs presidency and this interview gives us a glimpse behind the proverbial curtain. He was brand new to politics and accomplished quite a lot during his tenure as the Senior Advisor to the President.
In this interview they talk a lot about Israel. The podcast was actually recorded a day before Hamas attacked Israel. Because the world changed after that day, a second recording was necessary and it was added to the interview.
The Abraham Accords were a big deal and it was Jared Kushner who was in the middle of those negotiations.
βοΈ Dont forget to comment and share with us and the community what youβve been eating, reading, and listening to!
I thought I sent back butter beans and peas when you visited this summer? Will have to check to see how many bags I have left in freezer before Thanksgiving :(
I wondered when you said this ERL would be a monthly thing because mine don't change monthly! It takes me forever to read an actual book and right now I am trying to stay consistent with daily Bible reading, daily devotional, and Life Group lesson. Listening is still your podcast and two others on my daily walks. I'm still in love with "Come Jesus Come" by Stephen McWhirter and also have been listening to Morgan's "Mo and kid's" playlist.