Hanayama

A couple years ago my brother brought a couple Hanayama puzzles to a family gathering.

Hanayama puzzles are hand held puzzles…like the two keys interlocked that you have to get apart.

The best part about the puzzles isn’t when you have it all figured out. No. The best part is when you don’t have it figured out but you’re onto something and you think you can get it.

As soon as I would get one figured out, I wanted the struggle of a new one that I didn’t have the answer to.

We think we want the answers. But really what we want are fun problems.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple

Why Are We All Here?

First Monday of the month, new Hum Love playlist on Spotify and Apple

It’s a big question, ‘why are we all here’…but there’s a couple categories that are at least a part of the answer…

To make and make new again.

To create and recreate.

To build and rebuild.

We make songs, relationships, videos, vacations, dinner, bands...and then when they fracture and get messed up and completely fall apart…they can be made new.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple

Do It Again, Chef!

If you’re a famous chef and you have people over for dinner, your guests are excited about all that you’ve achieved over the years and feel really special for getting to be associated with you.

But what they really hope is that dinner is good.

That’s the deal for a chef…you have to be able to do it again tonight. Tonight’s dinner doesn’t magically get world class because you cooked three good ones two weeks ago.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple

It's Worth Infinity

Should musicians and songwriters be paid more?

Should teachers be paid more?

Should therapists be paid more?

I think we know the answers…because how much is real change worth? It’s worth infinity.

This isn’t a license to complain that you don’t get paid enough. It’s to recognize that if everything goes right, your effect will always outpace your earnings.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple

Three Choruses

We know after the third chorus that the end is likely near.

It doesn’t have to be that way but that’s the way it is. It makes sense to us because we’ve heard it that way thousands of times in our lives.

Of course rules were meant to be broken. And this one often is…in wonderful ways…and in ways that are confusing and off putting to the listener.

Three choruses just makes sense and connects to most listeners. So if you’re having a hard time connecting, funnel your creativity into this tried and true rule.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple

A Thrill Of Hope

It’s a lyric from the song O Holy Night.

It’s when emotion (thrill) is mixed with the truth (hope). Those two things on their own are a wonderful gift…but when those two things intersect there might not be a better experience in the world.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple