Little known fact: a long time ago during a stint studying electrical engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology, I interned at the student radio station, WREK. (The station’s call letters are a reference to Georgia Tech’s unofficial mascot, the “Ramblin’ Wreck”—an old Ford Model A automobile painted to match the school’s better known mascot, the yellow jacket.) 

I enjoyed aspects of my time studying engineering, but art and music had begun to tug at my young heartstrings. I didn’t stay at Georgia Tech long enough to earn my own official radio show on WREK, but I have continued to admire the station’s penchant for eclecticism, which mirrors my own. Later on in life, I’d give friends bespoke mixtapes that I’d made, treating their ears to weird and wonderful sonic juxtapositions, and sharing soundtracks to parts of my soul.

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It used to occur to me that at its best, participating in social media could be a bit like playing DJ. We would broadcast a select mix of our own thoughts and histories, show the projects we were working on, and express our shared joys and apprehensions. We would amplify the voices and the work of others that inspire us. We would strive to create the kind of world that we wanted to live in. We would connect. 

But as we’ve all experienced in our own ways, social media is currently not at its best, and we’re not always at our best while under its spell. For one thing, if overused, the medium can sicken us, stimulating the natural dopamine cycle in our brains faster than Nature knows how to deal with it. It can warp us at the speed of light, in a never-ending loop. Unwittingly, social media platforms (certain ones more so than others) have become partly responsible for ushering in the anxious and uncertain times we live in. In light of all this, my idealistic DJ analogy sort of falls apart.

But early this Morning I woke up. I verified that my Heart was still beating. I rolled over and Smiled at the Beauty still asleep next to me. I Breathed in some deep Breaths. I went downstairs, and drank matcha green Tea and good Coffee (not in the same Cup). I stood alone at my Table and watched through my Window as the Dark Sky turned Blue, then Purple, then Orange, then Light. Wow! My Friend the Light had shown up again, as it does every Day. Later as the Sun rose higher I watched Shadows of Trees play across newly-fallen Snow. I thought about the cute opossum living beneath my Barn, and wondered what it eats. I played some Music and I Smiled some more, and I even Danced a little. I Wrote in my Journal. I edited a couple of Photos. I held the World a little bit tighter in my Heart and Wished it—and my Friends—a hopeful Good Wish, for Today, and the Days to come. Sometimes it’s all we can do.

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These days, for creative fun and meditative personal development, among other things, I draw. This year I increased my commitment to the practice by joining the Holyoke Arts League, which hosts weekly drawing sessions. One of the perks of membership is that once per quarter I get to play DJ, curating the music that will be played during class.

Thanks to the internet, streaming music services, and my blog, I can also share my virtual mixtape with you, Dear Reader. No drawing required. (Though I certainly encourage it.)

Listen on Spotify or Apple Music (or use one of the embedded players below). Happy listening!