17. Live in the Present Moment: "Ballad in A" by Cathy Park Hong
Readitations
English - January 10, 2022 19:00 - 24 minutes - 16.7 MB - ★★★★★ - 6 ratingsArts meditation reading books self-improvement literature Homepage Download Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Read the poem here: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poems/53500/ballad-in-a
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Read the poetry guide here (one of my main sources of information for this episode): https://www.poetryfoundation.org/articles/146063/cathy-park-hong-ballad-in-a
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Do you exist with your mind in the present or do you live mostly in the future or the past? In this episode on the nearly-univocalic poem "Ballad in A" by Cathy Park Hong, hear Hong's critique of America's artificial nostalgia for a past that never existed and dive into the brilliant formal devices that she uses to keep her readers and her characters in the present moment.
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When we exist in the past or the future, we are living in a myth. Take a leaf out of Hong's book and learn tools to tether yourself to the present moment instead. This idea of presence is central to her poem and central to our own fulfillment. Try this meditation to pull yourself mindfully into each moment and really feel present with yourself, your emotions, and your surroundings. You'll leave this episode feeling the kind of peace that only comes from living in the moment.
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Thanks to Josue Mundt for his work on the theme music and sound design in this episode.