Why is it important to make progress? What does it mean to be satisfied? When does satisfaction turn into contentment?

Maybe he couldn’t get any way back in 1965, but Mick’s results since then tell a different story. Twenty five studio albums stretch all the way back to 1964 from the Stone’s most recent that just dropped this year.

“Cause I try and I try and I try and I try” might well be a good mantra for all of us to keep on keeping on at whatever we feel is worthwhile, (even if some say Devo did it better).

Satisfaction exists in a continuum, somewhere down the line from the idea, the goal, and the initial effort. Learning how to do something until you’re happy with the result is one way to define progress.

Beyond satisfaction lies contentment. That place of understanding that, as Voltaire’s Pangloss would say, “Everything is just as it should be in this best of all possible worlds.”

Progress, satisfaction, and contentment come in many shapes and sizes. From the momentary and mundane to long-term goals, figuring things out and getting stuff done feels good.

The theme for today’s note came to me as I was installing some grommets. Here in France, the canicules have been cooking us so we decided to screen in the south facing windows of our veranda with some reflective foam until the heat subsides.

The foam is fragile and we’d like to be able to use these sunscreens again so I reinforced it with gaffers tape and put brass grommets where the hardware attaches.

If you’ve ever put grommets in leather or canvas, you know how satisfying it is, from punching the holes to the final smack of the hammer. For such a tiny task, it’s a huge feeling.

Long term and larger scale is my book project that’s finally seeing the light of day. Vinyl Vitality is in the publishing pipeline, marking the turning point in a several year saga.

You’ll soon be able to read my theory as to why electromagnetic media is like health food for your heart and soul firsthand!

In the old days, you’d work with an agent, find a publisher, get an advance, and leave all that publicity and marketing to the publishing company.

Now it’s a DIY world, which means I’ve set up my own publishing company, I’m handling the logistics myself, and of course, playing ball with the elephant in the room that’s named after a large river in South America.

Plus I’m super excited for you to start reading Lunar Notes, my new newsletter centered around the analog lifestyle, my publishing activities, and the musicians that inspire me.

In addition to this Monday Love missive, you’re invited to subscribe to Lunar Notes, delivered to your mailbox on the New and Full Moons. (just reply here with a thumbs up, or you can sign up at Analog Press)

Sometime in the next few weeks, I will have a print copy in my hand, and hopefully shortly after that you will too. And that my friends, is what I call progress!

Satisfaction is good for your soul. And like Mick said so long ago, you might not always get just what you want, but if you try sometime, you get what you need 😉

Much love till next Monday

Merci et à bientôt!

M+

ML #693

Mark Metz
Monday Love Movement Calendar