Navel Gazing

In this week’s essay, John discusses Mothers’s Day, playing tennis with the Attorney General, medical scares, and more. Notebook Entries:Notebook 19, page 16. April 2011Is it possible, through applied thought, to become systematic in an approach to life? If you were to do that how would you proceed? Notebook 16, page 6. July 26, 2005“I’m here with a bunch of midshipmen and wondering what there is to do around here.” - Boy trying to hit on a girl working @ The Reef in Castine, ME.Notebook 15, page 30. September 2004Head problems:Sunday 9/5 morningTuesday 9/7 eveningWednesday 9/8 before lunchNotebook 22, page 22. April 24, 2014Question: What did you want to be when you were a kid?  What do you want to be now? Why the difference? Notebook 9. 1995“That’s just the ticket the doctor ordered”Notebook 13. 2001“Free as a clam”Notebook 17, page 67. December 2006The man sitting next to me has a face on the boil and garlic and old booze on his breath. When he sleeps, he sighs. For this leg of the flight I am wrapped in his breathy gumbo.Notebook 15, page 7. April 2004“In all these there are messages for those who use their reason.” - Quran quotationNotebook 15, page 80. 2005Would like to meet her.Notebook 54. July 26, 2020“Writing requires a reader. You can’t do it alone.” - John CheeverNotebook 15, page 71. 2005In the light of sobriety not sure what this meansNotebook 13. March 2001Yesterday I played tennis with John Ashcroft the atty. general of the U.S.Notebook 13, page 108. December 11, 2001Anne just called. There is one little heartbeat beating in her today. Everything is okay for this hurdle. I must say, I was really worried.Notebook 20, page 10. December 24, 2013“Sometimes Dad says weird stuff, just ignore him” - Anne to kids about meNotebook 15, page 84.“Life goes on,” Hayawi says. “We are in the middle of a war [in Iraq] and we still smoke the water pipe.”Notebook 45, page 24. April 16, 2019Our savior lives by the manner in which we live.Notebook 19, page 23. 2011People on their mobile phones in England say goodbye a lot: “Cheers, alright then, speak to you soon, ta.” (That’s four ways of saying goodbye). Amelia tells the story of a man who thanked a ticket-taker by saying “Ta, magical, cheers.”References:Disaster on the Penobscot - John Henry Fay for Naval History MagazineOne Man’s Meat by E.B. WhiteThe House at Allen Cove I E.B. White House Tour - New England MagazineLittle Plastic Castle - Ani Defranco“Two Years of War: Taking Stock” - Anthony Shadid for the Washington PostWant to listen to Navel Gazing uninterrupted? Subscribe to Slate Plus to immediately unlock ad-free listening to Navel Gazing and all your other favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Or, visit slate.com/navelgazingplus to get access wherever you listen. Podcast production by Cheyna Roth.Email us at navelgazingpodcast@gmail.com

In this week’s essay, John discusses the differences between moving around New York in 1991 and 2021; remembering 9/11 twenty years later; and more.  Notebook Entries:Notebook 75, page 12. September 2021Notebooks to GarretNotebook 75, page 13. September 2021Can you make a typo with handwriting? What’s a typo with handwriting called?Notebook 4. 1991We have to unplug the light to run the vacuum, so we do a lot of our vacuuming in the dark.Notebook 75. September 11, 2021Fritz want something?References:Smythson Notebooks in Blue9/11 ceremonies, events and coverage on 20th anniversary - CBS NewsRichard Drew on Photographing the “Falling Man” of 9/11 - CBS NewsWant to listen to Navel Gazing uninterrupted? Subscribe to Slate Plus to immediately unlock ad-free listening to Navel Gazing and all your other favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Or, visit slate.com/navelgazingplus to get access wherever you listen. Podcast production by Cheyna Roth.Email us at navelgazingpodcast@gmail.com

In this week’s essay, John discusses the Pomodoro Routine (among other productivity routines), why he especially needs a meditation pillow, and how a particular teacher captured his heart.   Notebook Entries:Notebook 75, pages 8 and 9. September 2021OReinstating the Pomodoro Routine…Starting Marshall again…Write Brice…Send Laura the larger project list…Work on budget to get accounts in orderMeditation pillow upstairs.Notebook 18. December 6, 2009InstapaperAlpha SmartRichard Hugo on poetryDegrees of Gray In Philipsburg.Notebook 18, page 105. June 4, 2011Visit to Mr. Mead. He was playing piano as we entered. [During our conversation, he asked]: do you find your work fulfilling? Do you have a close circle of friends? Questions about life and living it well…References:Getting Things Done - David AllenThe Seven Habits of Highly Effective People - Stephen Covey The Questions That Will Get Me Through the Pandemic - John Dickerson43 Folders - Merlin Mann The Hardest Job in the World - John DickersonEssays of E.B. White“Merlin Mann” - Tina Essmaker for The Great DisconnectMore about Ernest “Boots” Mead“Because Buying New Running Shoes is More Fun Than Actually Running” - Merlin Mann for 43 FoldersAtomic Habits - James ClearThe Creative Habit - Twyla TharpFree Agent Nation - Daniel Pink“Sharon Salzberg On: Openness, Not Believing the Stories You Tell Yourself, and Why the Most Powerful Tools Often Seem Stupid at First” - Ten Percent HappierWant to listen to Navel Gazing uninterrupted? Subscribe to Slate Plus to immediately unlock ad-free listening to Navel Gazing and all your other favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Or, visit slate.com/navelgazingplus to get access wherever you listen. Podcast production by Cheyna Roth.Email us at navelgazingpodcast@gmail.com

In this week’s essay, John discusses an onboarding memo for his assistant Laura, and recounts his early days living and working in New York City.  Notebook Entries:Notebook 75Onboard memo for LauraNotebook 3, page 44. May 1991June 17 start job. Good stuffNotebook 3, page 46. May 1991Tips on buying renting in NYCAsk about broker20s and 30s East side. Murry HillLive on no major avenueInterest bearing account for security depositMedeco locksNotebook 4, page 15Scared standing on 34th and Broadway$6 cab fareNotebook 4, page 42Getting lost in the villageReferences:The Little Brown Book of Anecdotes by Clifton Fadiman Medeco Locks“Here is New York” by E.B. White“Silly Job Interview” - Monty Python John Cleese on Creativity in ManagementHerbie Hancock: Miles Davis’ Essential Lesson On MistakesWant to listen to Navel Gazing uninterrupted? Subscribe to Slate Plus to immediately unlock ad-free listening to Navel Gazing and all your other favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Or, visit slate.com/navelgazingplus to get access wherever you listen.  Podcast production by Cheyna Roth.Email us at navelgazingpodcast@gmail.com HostJohn Dickerson

In this week’s essay, John discusses the art of attention and how to develop the skill of slow-looking. Notebook Entries:Notebook 75, page 8. September 20211016 Notebook 1, page 54. June 1990-   Magna carta 1215 at Salisbury-   Girls skipping-   The Haunch of Venison-   Chris References:Georgia O’Keeffe MuseumA Little History of the World by E.H GombrichArtist Jeff Koons“The Art of Divination: D.H. Lawrence on the Power of Pure Attention” by Maria Popova for The Marginalian“Gabfest Reads: A Woman’s Life in Museum Wall Labels” for Political Gabfest One Woman Show by Christine Coulson“Grammy-winning artist Jason Isbell talks about the craft of songwriting and his latest music” for CBS NewsA Journey Around My Room by Xavier De Maistre“Just think: The Challenges of the Disengaged Mind” by Timothy Wilson, et.al for Science“Our Rodent Selfies, Ourselves” by Emily Anthes for the New York TimesOne Man’s Meat by E.B. White Podcast production by Cheyna Roth.Email us at navelgazingpodcast@gmail.com Want to listen to Navel Gazing uninterrupted? Subscribe to Slate Plus to immediately unlock ad-free listening to Navel Gazing and all your other favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Or, visit slate.com/navelgazingplus to get access wherever you listen. HostJohn Dickerson

In this week’s essay, John dives deep into the loss of his beloved dog, George, the essayist’s dilemma, the comfort of quiet mornings, and more. Notebook Entries:Notebook 75, page 5. September 5, 2021I go to the morning alone. Notebook 75, page 6. September 6, 2021Phantom nails on the stairs  References:“Every Dog Is a Rescue Dog” by John Dickerson for The Atlantic“Oxytocin-gaze positive loop and the coevolution of human-dog bonds” by Miho Nagasawa et.al for ScienceHaikus by Jennifer Gurney“Which Pet Will Make You Happiest?” by Arthur C. Brooks for The Atlantic“The Family Dog Is in Sync With Your Kids” by Gretchen Reynolds for The New York Times Podcast production by Cheyna Roth.Email us at navelgazingpodcast@gmail.com  Want to listen to Navel Gazing uninterrupted? Subscribe to Slate Plus to immediately unlock ad-free listening to Navel Gazing and all your other favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Or, visit slate.com/navelgazingplus to get access wherever you listen.HostJohn Dickerson

In this week’s essay, John remembers dropping his son off at college, and trying to hold onto moments and feelings while you can.  Notebook Entries:Notebook 75, page 6. September 2021:They chose you. Notebook 15, page 4. April 2004:Sitting with Brice by waterfall. Throwing rocks in stream. Loading sand from dump truck and loader and back again. References:What Got You Here, Won’t Get You There by Marshall GoldsmithSongwriter Nick CaveTomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin Podcast production by Cheyna Roth.Email us at navelgazingpodcast@gmail.com  Want to listen to Navel Gazing uninterrupted? Subscribe to Slate Plus to immediately unlock ad-free listening to Navel Gazing and all your other favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Or, visit slate.com/navelgazingplus to get access wherever you listen. HostJohn Dickerson

In this week’s essay, John Dickerson looks back on a Sunday morning in 2021, and ruminates on the empty spaces left behind by the people that once filled our lives.  Want to listen to Navel Gazing uninterrupted? Subscribe to Slate Plus to immediately unlock ad-free listening to Navel Gazing and all your other favorite Slate podcasts. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts by clicking “Try Free” at the top of our show page. Or, visit slate.com/navelgazingplus to get access wherever you listen.Notebook Entries:Notebook 75, page 6. September 5, 2021:“Oh my god. We dropped our son at college and our dog is dead.” – Anne. References:“Sunday Morning Coming Down” by Johnny Cash“The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” by T.S. Eliot“When Someone You Love is Upset, Ask This One Question” by Jancee Dunn for the New York Times“A Case of ‘Sunday Neurosis’” by Jena McGregor for the Washington Post“Waking Early Sunday Morning” by Robert LowellMaster of Change: How to Excel When Everything is Changing by Brad StulbergJason Isbell: Running With Our Eyes Closed“Alabama Pines” by Jason Isbell  Podcast production by Cheyna Roth. HostJohn Dickerson