Hope you read The Post Before The Post. This will get us acquainted, and give some context of who I am, my story, and how our stories are alike.
But here, I guess, the smart Substack people say we should explain what our newsletter/blog/website/community (what are we calling it?), is all about. What can you expect?
Here’s my shot...
Welcome to The Art of Paying Attention, where I share incomplete thoughts on art, creativity, spirituality, and life. This is the part where I’m supposed to tell you why to subscribe, and the benefits of the newsletter, and all that jazz.
Let me shoot you straight. I’m not sure how this blog/newsletter will work in the future. I don’t want to force this space into a box because some internet marketers know what’s good for me, and you. Like my last post, I want to hold things loosely.
What I know is I’m climbing out of a personal and creative funk caused by multiple factors (see my last post). What I know is I have fresh energy, and life, and a new creative start here on Substack. A place to give voice to what’s calling out in my soul. What I know is I’m alive, you’re alive, and life is a gift, and there is much wonder and beauty and goodness and truth to explore.
What I know is, our work of paying attention is endless and proper and a lifelong pursuit. A pursuit worth taking.
With life and art and creativity and spirituality, I know one thing for certain: you can’t force things. Life is not something to force into shape. A piece of art doesn’t come into existence because we have a great idea. There is a mystery to it all. We respond with open hands to what the thing, a life, or art, needs to be. I love what one architect used to ask before starting a project:
What does this building need to be?
I’ve been asking that question a lot of late in my life and art. What does this need to be? Who do I need to be? What do I need to be to serve a greater good and purpose?
So what does this newsletter need to be? A significant question. Let’s see. Here’s a stab in the dark:
If you join the community and subscribe to this newsletter, you’re going to get incomplete thoughts on art and creativity, and how spirituality and life are never separate from these mysterious acts. You can’t talk about life and not talk about creativity. You can’t talk about spirituality and not consider art. It all works together.
I’ll do my best to take everything I’ve learned (so far), as a writer, author, creator, speaker, teacher, podcaster, pastor, accidental artist and entrepreneur, and share these incomplete thoughts, as an incomplete guide, in hopes we can all pay attention to the stuff that matters most.
You’ll have to decide what that is, but I’m here with you on the journey.
Who am I?
Hello, I’m Ryan J. Pelton. I make things with words, and other materials, and I’m also a former Junior Fencing champion. I’ve written multiple books, started a couple faith communities, accidentally started a couple businesses, host a podcast, and believe my work is to help people pay attention to what matters most. I’m originally from California, and always in search of authentic Mexican food.
I also believe the whole thing runs on grace.
I’m crawling out of a personal and creative funk (you can read about here). But this here, Substack, and emerging community feels alive and right. Excited for what is around the corner.
I’ve cut a lot of things out of my life to work on paying attention to what matters most. I’m excited to share what I find, and do so with a band of friends. I’m here to help in any way I can.
Why “The Art of Paying Attention?”
Mary Oliver the poet said:
“To pay attention, this is our endless and proper work.”
A few years ago, I stumbled across this quote, and it did something in me. Paying attention is not an extra in a film with a one second cameo. Paying attention is “endless” and “proper work” and the total game. I realized much of my work in the last twenty years is about helping others pay attention to what matters most, as I learned to do the same work in incomplete ways.
What happened during the Pandemic was a revelation that my work of paying attention waned. I was losing my way and needed an alternative path. I needed my eyes readjusted to what mattered most.
Life is magical, and making things is magical, and coming alive to the beauty all around us is a gift. I want to talk about that from often unlikely places. I want to stay open to Spirit or Muse, or whatever you want to call it.
I want to learn The Art of Paying Attention. Will you join me?
Welcome to The Art of Paying Attention. Whether you’ve followed my work for years, or we are meeting for the first time. Thank you for your attention, and for an opportunity to say something. It means more than you’ll know.
How to Join the Party?
Most of my articles and musings and podcasts will be free (for now). When we launch paid options, it simply means you’ll get more access to me. You’ll get more behind-the-scenes opportunities to ask questions of me and the community.
*Paid subscribers: part of my income has always come from writing and creating, so thanks for supporting my work in advance. Substack is a brilliant way to support writers and creators without running spammy ads and selling our first born. Thanks for keeping the lights on!
One of my favorite things to do is help people take whatever creative endeavor they are cooking up, and help them get it out into the world. I don’t pretend to be an expert in anything, but will share everything I know to this point. I’ve started and made lots of things and failed many times, and all theses are gifts to share.
I’ll also share some projects I’m cooking up. We’ll engage in some regular Q & A’s around creativity and life, and whatever else this community needs.
Remember the question: what does this building need to be?
I hope to ask and answer this question many times over together.
So that’s my thing. The Post After the Post. If any of this sounds interesting, come and join the party! I don’t know what we're doing here, but that is part of the joy. Let’s figure it out together. My hope and prayer is we can get honest about what matters most… what we need to pay attention to.
Paying attention is our endless and proper work.
You can unsubscribe at any time. If you’re along for the ride, say hello, and tell me who you are, and what you’re working on in the comments below. I read all comments, will try to respond, and emails too.
Let’s learn The Art of Paying Attention and see where it leads. I’m certain it will be magical!
Cheers, and Happy New Year!
Ryan