I’m not exaggerating when I say that hardly a week goes by that I don’t reference the Book of Miracles​​. If you don’t know it, it’s an illuminated manuscript from 1545 cataloging the unusual, the bizarre, and the amazing. Some of the illustrations show scenes from the Bible, some show spectacular contemporary events (comets, rainbows, plagues… you know, your garden variety portents) and some show what the artist think will happen eventually (Book of Revelations-type images). 

My idle thought is that we haven’t progressed very much. Isn’t TikTok a modern version of this? Every flood, eclipse, near miss, or strange phenomenon is cataloged to lull all of us in the hoi polloi into rapt amazement. 

There’s an excellent reproduction​ by Taschen available if you’re looking to splurge on yourself.  These images are spectacular. I reference them for everything.

Have you ever been wondering about something, googled it, and discovered a post you made a few years ago on that very subject?
Today I was googling early portraits of American presidents and found a post I made on Medium a few years ago ( https://themexican.medium.com/photographs-of-american-presidents-1e4337babfe3​) that I had forgotten about. There are a few deep cuts in there. It’s worth the click if this kind of thing interests you. 

I believe in experts. I believe in people who have spent their whole lives chasing ideas until they become so immersed that they are overwhelmed by how little they know.

I believe in artists. I like people who stand naked on stage and aren’t afraid of covering a canvas with paint because they feel something so deeply that it must be heard even at the risk of embarrassment or even ruin.

I believe in ghosts because I carry so many of them. 

I believe in hard work. To hell with work-life balance. Chase ideas, cross the t's and dot the i’s. Spend time doing stuff nobody will ever see, but you know is there.

I believe in dropping in with friends unexpectedly and having friends drop in unscheduled and without an agenda.

I belive it’s what you do in this world that matters.

I believe you can only control what you can control.

I believe in garlic and cumin and onion. Generally in combination. Sometimes with tomato. Always with salt.

I believe most people are mainly thinking about themselves so get over yourself. 

I believe most people never know when they are at their most beautiful. And that most people are never told in those moments, but they are there, out there, just being amazing.

I believe in carrying the burdens of the people you love as much as you can, because what is love without sacrifice?