Tao (道 or 道/dào) is a foundational Chinese philosophical term meaning the "way," "path," or "principle". It represents the natural, ineffable order of the universe and the underlying source of all existence, often associated with living in harmony with nature and following the flow of life.
Yesterday I hit a milestone on YouTube: 25K subscribers.
But instead of celebrating by doing more, posting more, or producing more, I decided to do the opposite and took the day off.
No collecting.
No creating.
No curating.
Just a day for reading, resetting, and resting.
Since my ebook collection has grown out of control, I opened my Kindle app and got to scrolling. I chose a book I bought a while back but never opened: 365 Days Of Tao: A Daily One Page Guide To The Tao Te Ching For Simplicity, Stillness, And A Calmer Life by Dae Lee.
After reading the brief introduction, I knew I had found exactly what I needed.
First, it felt like the perfect book to help me get back into a regular reading habit. And second, it seemed like the perfect book to help me chill out a little more. With short, digestible essays on philosophy, the daily readings give me just enough to noodle on without it feeling like homework.
When you spend a lot of time making things, especially for an audience on the internet, the pressure to keep moving can become constant. Post the next video. Write the next piece. Feed the algorithms. Keep the momentum going.
But the Tao Te Ching suggests something very different:
Movement emerges from stillness.
Sound emerges from silence.
Creation emerges from quiet.
In other words, rest is not the opposite of productivity. It is often the beginning of it.
So that was my milestone celebration. No champagne. No big announcement. Just a quiet day with an ebook, a spot of tea, and a little philosophical noodling.
Twenty-five thousand subscribers feels exciting. But it also feels like a reminder:
The work continues.
The path unfolds.
The way reveals itself one step at a time.
And sometimes the most productive thing you can do is simply stop for a moment.
Get quiet. Get still. And listen for the rhythm underneath it all.
Keep calm and get your Tao on….
Clint 🌈✌️
P.S. Today’s reading ended with a sentence that stopped me in my tracks: “Things begin in quietude.” Quiet? Me? My brain? Hardly. But talk about life goals. Quietude does not come naturally to me. So naturally, I’m going to do my best to learn it.
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FROM THE ARCHIVES
BORN THIS WAY ON THIS DAY
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MAN CRUSH OF THE DAY
“Happiness always looks small while you hold it in your hands, but let it go, and you learn at once how big and precious it is.”
Maxim Gorky
Something of a "road less travelled" for you Clint. Interesting and perhaps you'll go far!
Peace & Love
I smile. I am not a commited Taoist but I prefer Lao Tzu to Confucious. Follow your path, dear Clint, with balance of the opposites - the Yin and Yang. Much love, now and ever.