BLOG — davidmmcglynn

Peru: Finding Connection & Community in the Andean Village of Huilloc

“Now is the time to know that all that you do is sacred… now is the time for you to deeply compute the impossibility that there is anything but grace” – Hafiz

Huilloc is specifically outstanding for its charming textiles with genuine designs. It sits at 11,480 feet above sea level and is part of the network of weaving communities in the region of Cusco. From their ancestors, the people of Huilloc inherited a rich tradition of textiles that they still carry on. They continue to weave a range of textiles following the knowledge, techniques and usages of their ancestors. The women have preserved this unique and ancestral tradition of weaving by hand colorful designs. On their looms, they make some of the most beautiful and exquisite weavings in Peru. In the textiles, they depict images of the world in which they live including the flora and fauna of the place. They weave into the cloth images of cougars, condors and the huallata (wall-ya’h-tah) birds that are typical of the place. The bird is so important that people perform a dance in their honor that is much celebrated in Cusco in its different festivities. The dance, like the bird, is called huallata. In contrast, men dedicate themselves to helping Mother Earth produce.

Part of what we wanted from our Peruvian adventure was to have authentic, immersive experiences with the indigenous people. Opportunities to meet people who have lived there for 100’s of years, to ask questions about their lifestyle, their culture and their beliefs, have conversations and experience unique moments and travel to places beyond the typical tourist attractions & monuments.

This is not uncommon for me. I’ve done this my whole life. If you’ve read some of my other posts, you’ve spent a night with me on the streets of Kuala Lumpur interviewing people and taking photographs. Or spent the day with me as I drove around with a devout Muslim taxi driver in Kuala Lumpur showing me the sights while having conversations about life, politics and our beliefs in God. You’ve visited a fishing village in the middle of Tonle Lake in Cambodia to see an elementary school and what real-life refugee living is like. I have hundreds of these experiences written down in my journal, big & small.

Peru would be no different. It’s how we ended up in the small village of Huilloc. A small community of Peruvians who speak Quechua, 12,000’ up the Andean mountains at the end of a narrow, dead-end dirt road. They decided to open up their homes and their hearts to people around the world, like us, who are willing to come and learn more about their culture and their way of life. My goal is to share my adventure with them in hopes that other people will look for their own connections with different people around the world too…

Nicaragua: Chasing Birds, Butterflies & Howler Monkeys through the Coffee Fields & Mountains of Selva Negra

“So we’ve successfully arrived in Selva Negra, Nicaragua and we’ve already had quite the adventure. Bizarre, interesting, surreal, these are words I would use to describe the adventure so far. Highlights, as I am getting very sleepy after 12 hours of traveling and will need to shut off the light VERY SOON. Managua airport reminded me of other Central American airports… or the Puerto Rico airport. Lots of people, a sea of humanity actually, crammed up against every glass window space, looking into the baggage claim area for their loved ones… and in they’re in large family groups, on average, 10+ people or more, per group. The scene is surreal. Inside the terminal, almost eerily quiet. Tired travelers wait impatiently for their bags in silence, the elevator music plays softly over the speakers. But every time the sliding door open… the white noise of the crowds and chaos storms the building.

Once on the street… mildly chaotic to say the least with several hundred people all milling around. The kids, (9 years and younger) descend on us like no one’s business looking for handouts and like the guidebook warned, they are EXTREMELY persistent. I still have this image of three little kid’s faces pushed up against the window of our taxi as we drive away begging for money.

The drive from Managua to Selva Negra took a little more than two hours. In that time, the drive can only be described as harrowing… I don’t know if our driver was just feeling sleepy or maybe a little drunk, but he kept taking his glasses on & off and drifting all over the road… and I can tell you, the roads in the mountain are very narrow and windy at night, and with no lights, very dangerous. At one point I think we saw a dead guy who had been hit accidentally by a car and left for dead…

England, Ireland & Scotland: My Two-Week Tour Adventure with emetrex

Since I’ve been travel writing over the last couple of weeks, I thought I would commemorate the 20th anniversary of my band’s tour through the British Isles, by sharing some stories from my tour journal.

Exactly 20 years ago today, as I write this post, I was with emetrex on a two-week tour (2/19 – 3/3) through England, Ireland & Scotland promoting our first full-length release, Metacomet.

We had signed a record deal in June 2000 with Seriously Groovy Records, an independent London-based label. After promoting an EP, entitled “Birds Your Brothers” back in July, our pre-release single, “King of Animals” got reviewed in NME and Melody Maker twice in October:

“…like laconic Yank lo-fi that just sort of burrows its way into your skull, like demon possessed and badly bloodrusted farm machinery. And then sits there throbbing” – Steve Wells, NME

“Gloriously loose-grooved indie rock…fantastic.” – Melody Maker’s ‘This Issue’s Soundtrack’ section

“a fuzzed-up, clunkily melodic Pavement relive their Sonic Youth.” – Melody Maker’s ‘This Issue’s Soundtrack’ section.

Costa Rica: Experiencing Wildlife in the Jungles of Arenal, Monteverde Manuel Antonio

“We travel, some of us forever, to seek other places, other lives other souls” – Anais Nin

Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve & Selvatura Park

3/17 – Friday

“I essentially fell in love with Monteverde. I want to move here actually. I would love to get 10 acres, build a nice house, be part of the community. Hangout. Lead a life more connected to nature. A bit more simple + focused. Less swirling around me. Maybe train to become a naturalist guide around the area, off the beaten path kind of stuff. Leave my current life behind & try something completely different.”

The Jungle Beach Mountaintop of Manual Antonio

3/17 – Friday

“Surreal, beautiful, out of this world. Our hotel sits on a cliff, in a jungle, overlooking the ocean… As it states on La Mariposa’s website, ‘Located in one of the most magnificent settings in the world, Hotel La Mariposa stands majestically on the coastal heights of Manuel Antonio, and is known above all for its unbeatable 360 degree views of the deep blue waters of the Pacific Ocean, the city of Quepos, and the Manuel Antonio National Park.’ Perfectly captured. I enjoyed many caipirinhas on their deck overlooking the ocean, musing life.”

Peru: Retracing the Steps of the Incas To The Cloud City of Machu Picchu

“It’s an irritating reality that many places and events defy description. Angkor Wat and Machu Picchu, for instance, seem to demand silence, like a love affair you can never talk about. For a while after, you fumble for words, trying vainly to assemble a private narrative, an explanation, a comfortable way to frame where you’ve been and what’s happened. In the end, you’re just happy you were there – with your eyes open – and lived to see it.” - Anthony Bourdain

To say I was excited & filled with anticipation on the day we waited in that bus line to take the final leg of our long journey to arrive at the entrance of Machu Picchu would be an understatement. My excitement was palpable. My excitement was sheer joy. JOY. WONDER.

…I felt like a 10-year-old boy walking through the crowds, wanting to push my way through the crowd in excitement, the way you feel on Christmas morning as child when you tear the wrapping paper off the gifts Santa has brought.

Around the first few corners, up tight staircases, to finally catch my first few glimpse of the world-famous site was magical… and it took my breath away. I just kept taking pictures, in a sea of people… at first, really, really bad pictures… and almost missing the moment, witnessing it through my camera lens and not right in front of me. I had to stop. Breathe. Focus. And be present in the moment.

Malaysia: My 24 Hour Adventure in Kuala Lumpur

…last night I decided to leave the bar and wander around the city for a couple of hours by myself… from like 11:30 PM to 1:30 AM… to take pictures. 24 hours in Malaysia. Literally one day of my life – so relatively short when I think of all of the days I’ve spent sitting alone in my apartment, doing nothing; I decided to get the most out of my night by walking around to take pictures of the city and talk to people. I had a lot of fun and always felt safe. I talked to a bunch of food hawkers.

They were all outgoing and very happy for me to take their picture. One set of four brothers even let me walk behind the counter. They showed me how they cook, gave me a live demonstration [& even let me cook with them!]. Others were also very outgoing with me. It’s always encouraging to see how open and willing people are to let you into their lives when you show a little interest in what they do and who they are.

I also go to take some pictures of some teenagers on bikes. They were quite friendly, even “hammed it up” when I talked to them. Later I saw them all trying to sneak into a club... clearly, they were all underage. It’s funny what you can see, when you take the time to look.”

“At least for one night I really felt I had gotten a sense of one street in Kuala Lumpur; it’s rhythm so to speak. It’s interesting how every street in the world has the same type of “ebb & flow” to it. How many nights have I spent out on streets just like this one in different cities trying to capture their feel? From New Orleans to Washington, D.C. From London to San Juan?”

Cambodia: The Mystery & Magnetism of Angkor Wat

5/30 3:43 PM IT (Indochine Time) – Sunday

“Sitting at the bar in Cambodia, Siem Reap – at the Heritage Suite Hotel. I desperately need to write down my adventures since leaving Singapore! My brother & I have had a wonderful adventure exploring the temples of Angkor Wat.

Ta Prohm has been my favorite… there is such a peaceful quality to the whole place. I was thinking I would make a real connection with some part of the temple complex [as I have literally been drawn to this place my entire life] and Ta Prohm was definitely it. It’s literally located in the middle of the jungle. Vegetation has overrun the temple. It’s exactly what I thought all of the temples would be here. The temples have been taken over by two major trees… the ceiba pentandra – a silk cotton tree & a ficus gibbosa – a strangler fig. The strangler figs are huge and give the whole area a very surreal feel to the place. But I still go back to it, it has a very peaceful, tranquil vibe to it. Incredibly inviting! I really felt at home there. I would have liked to stay there all afternoon, listening to the birds call, the trees blowing in the slight wind, in the distance, Cambodian music… as I said, very tranquil. It took my breath away…”

France: The Intoxication & Inspiration of Paris

10/22 2:28 PM CET – Montpeyroux, France

“Sitting at the kitchen table in Montpeyroux enjoying a relaxing day in France. The rain is coming down at a steady clip. I got up, enjoyed a chocolat’ au pan & croissant with coffee and decided to catchup on my journal writing. We’ve had quire an eventful adventure so far. The people in Paris have been so nice, so welcoming, so warm. I can’t get over how welcoming & friendly everyone has been.

We try to speak French; most of the people we meet find it endearing & then we all laugh… and then we speak English. Everyone speaks English. They are all very patient and kind, so kind. I love the French people. If they were in America, people would not be so open & welcoming. Many people in America barely speak English, let along an additional foreign language. It’s such a different place, Paris… it amazing. Intoxicating.”

“…with our time in Paris, the highlights included:

David McGlynnFebruary 20, 2021#dailypracticejournaling, #journaling, #benefitsofjournaling, #selfdiscoveryblogposts, #Paris, #ParisFranceComment

Switzerland: The Fairytale of Finhaut & The Majesty of the Alps

“There is nothing quite like climbing to the top of the Alps and looking down upon the earth. Everything in the world suddenly makes sense.” – Unknown

…Regardless of its size, Finhaut was lovely and the people, friendly. And the house, was amazing. It sat alone on the top of a hill at the edge of the village. We had to walk through snow to get to it, as the road to get to it, well, just ended.

It was three stories. Extremely rustic. Literally, woodstoves and fireplaces. Minimal electricity. We always worn layers & hats to stay warm and had to sleep under down comforters. If we let the main fire go out in the middle of the night, we could see our breath in the morning, until the fire got going.

It made me think of what it must have been like in earlier times in our history. Rising with the sun. Sitting by the fire at night. Literally no distractions. This was before cellphones, portable video games or the internet. A week of bucolic, simple living. Lots of bread, cheese, chicken paprikas and wine. Phil’s chicken paprikas was delicious.

I can’t remember if there was a tv or not. If there was, it was never on. I just remember people reading books & a lot of evening sing-a-longs (and some dancing) to a combination of 60’s & early 70’s folksongs + Paul Simon’s Graceland & Rhythm of the Saints. Friends of the family from France and Geneva came to visit, eat, drink, laugh… and talk in languages I had no idea what they were saying.

David McGlynnFebruary 18, 2021#dailypractice, #dailypracticejournaling, #journaling, #benefitsofjournaling, #travel, #Switzerland, #Geneva, #Finhaut, #SwissAlpsComment

Travel’s Indelible Mark

“Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that’s okay. The journey changes you; It should change you. It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and on your body. You take something with you. Hopefully you leave something good behind.” – Anthony Bourdain.

5 Continents

North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Australia

21 Countries

Canada, Puerto Rico, Bahamas, Mexico, Nicaragua, Costa Rico, Peru, England, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, France, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Australia

49 States

Wondering which state I still need to visit? Wisconsin.

100’s of international, national, state & local parks and wildlife areas

I estimate well over 500 separate trips, through 100 different airports… and none of this includes repeats.

10 Insights Into Life - typewriter asmr (PART II)

“If you are always trying to be normal, you will never know how amazing you can be.”

– Maya Angelou

On Wednesday, I published Insights Into Life, 1 – 5. Below are Insights, 6 – 10.

As I said on Wednesday, when I was starting to organize my journal publishing project, a friend suggested I summarize what I had learned after all these years of journaling. And, after reading back through sections of my journals, in about two hours, my initial list had over 40 insights. I gave the list to a few friends to read through, to get their reactions and to see which ones resonated more than others. The questions they asked me, and the ones they wanted to know more about, helped me get the subsequent list down to 10.

We also made videos for them and are calling our creative concept, typewriter asmr. We started posting them on Instagram reels and tiktok a few weeks ago. You can watch them on the typewriter asmr page of my website or find them on YouTube. We would love to get your feedback or reaction to them.

So, here are an additional 5 things I’ve learned about life…

David McGlynnFebruary 13, 2021#dailypractice, #dailypracticejournaling, #journaling, #benefitsofjournaling, #typewriterasmrComment

10 Insights Into Life - typewriter asmr (PART I)

When I was starting to organize my journal publishing project, one of the ideas someone recommended, was for me to summarize what I had learned after all these years of journaling. Write out some truths or insights. Intrigued to see what I would come up with, I decided to read back through sections of my journals and write down ideas that caught my attention. Ideas or themes I thought were interesting or valuable.

So, here are 5 things I’ve learned about life…

In about two hours, my initial list had over 40 insights. I gave the list to a few friends to read through, to get their reaction and to see which ones resonated more than others. Based on the questions they asked me on the ones they wanted to know more about, helped me get this initial list down to 10. Over the next two posts, I will share 10 insights from journaling. The first five are below.

Then my friend Jenna suggested we go a step further and make videos with them. The result of those discussions turned into our typewriter asmr creative concept that we started posting on Instagram and tiktok a few weeks ago. You can watch them on the typewriter asmr page of my website or find them on YouTube. We would love to get your feedback or reaction to them.

The Power of Vulnerability & The Day the Writing Started

The day I started writing, I was 28 years old. I was living in South Deerfield, Massachusetts with my girlfriend in a beautiful, three-story yellow house her mom deeded her & her sister and brothers, after she passed away. I was working at Friendly’s Ice Cream as a merchandising manager in the marketing department and was being mentored by the Vice President of Marketing, who was a Dartmouth trained ivy-leaguer, who like my energy and positive outlook on life.

I played bass in an original alternative-rock band called Hallucinating Arkansas. And I spent my Christmas holidays in the Swiss Alps. I was living what many would consider a blessed life, especially as an adopted child and first-generation college graduate, who had grown up in the working-class, mill town of Taunton, Massachusetts.

I always cite Friday, November 22, 1996 as the first day I started keeping track of my days.

It was a cloudy, overcast day, in the high 30’s, low 40’s. I was sitting in a room on the first floor that we had converted into an office/study. It was in the front of the house, with a door to my left that led into the living room and a door in the front, that led into a hallway, to a staircase that went upstairs to the right and the front door to the left. If I turned around, I could see Mt. Sugarloaf out of the long window.

My Quixotic Adventures to Have a Conversation with God

Talking about God can be a very complicated and sensitive discussion to have with others. Even talking with myself, I’ve made it complicated over the years. At times, I even had trouble calling God, God.

Depending on my perspective at the time, when someone asked, “Do you believe in God? I might have said, “Well, I believe in a Universal Spirit, or Great Spirit, or Cosmic Consciousness, or Conscious Universe, or Divine Presence,” or whatever other “spiritual” name I came up with. As long as it wasn’t God. Somehow, I felt that if I said the word God, it would sound too religious or too traditional or somehow in my mind, it even conjured up something less progressive than I wanted to be…

These days I beyond all that. When someone asks, I simply say, “yes, I believe in God.” If they choose to ask me a follow up question, that’s when the conversation gets interesting…

David McGlynnFebruary 4, 2021#dailypractice, #journaling, #manifestyourlife, #conversationswithgod, #donquixoteComment

Understanding the Attractions & Connections of Our Lives

“Put yourself in the best possible situation or position in every moment to be living authentically & achieving your potential as human being.”

Every day we attract people, ideas & situations to us. These experiences become the moments of our lives. And every day, these moments come & go.

But how often do we stop to wonder why? Why these moments, with these people?

I wonder all the time. Why did this person enter into my life right at this moment? Are they supposed to teach me something? Show me something? Motivate me? Help me accomplish a goal? Remind me of something? Warn me? Distract me?

Is this meant to be a fleeting moment or last a lifetime? Why do some people come into my life, leave and then resurface, seemingly randomly, years later?

Or why am I in this situation? What am I supposed to get out of it?

Why do I have the ideas I have, when I have them? Where do the ideas come from? Why am I drawn to the things I am drawn to? Why does one thing catch my attention, more than another?

David McGlynnJanuary 31, 2021#dailypractice, #journaling, #benefitsofjournaling, #manifestyourlife, #words&journalComment

Collect Call from the Universe, Will You Accept?

“The starting point of discovering who you are, your gifts, your talents, your dreams, is being comfortable with yourself. Spend time alone. Write in a journal.” - Robin Sharma

I had planned to write about something else today, but sometimes the universe has other ideas. And since I do my best to be as aware and as open as possible to signs & messages from the universe, I decided to take notice and share that message & my reaction to it. And that message is:

JOURNALING GIVES YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE AUTHENTICALLY

One of my daily practices is to spend time reading through a variety of daily reflections books that offer me inspiration, philosophy and mediation reflections and ideas on simple, thoughtful living.

David McGlynnJanuary 27, 2021#journaling, #benefitsofjournaling, #manifestyourlife, #dailypracticeComment

West Side Story Inspires Punk Rock Adventure (PART II)

CONTINUED…

Two of my good friends were forming an all original, post-punk band, and were looking for a bass player. I had always wanted to play in an original band. Dreamed about it. A chance to write my own songs. Play live in front of a crowd of people. I just thought it would be the coolest thing…

The problem? I had no experience doing it, didn’t own an instrument, didn’t particularly like crowds & at the time… definitely wasn’t punk rock. Add to that, my four horsemen showed up in force (fears & doubts double time) and I wondered, “can I even do this? This isn’t my scene, will I even fit in? Despite all of that, I persuaded them that I could do it, and that is how I became the original bass player of Blair’s Carriage.

David McGlynnJanuary 24, 2021#journaling, #benefitsofjournaling, #dailypractice, #blairscarriage, #punkrockadventure, #manifestyourlifeComment

West Side Story Inspires Punk Rock Adventure (PART I)

At the end of my last post, Everyone Is A Creative, I asked you to take 5 minutes and write down your passions, unique talents, and things you love to do, in an effort to get you started on your own creative adventure.

I hope you did and that and now have your very own, personal creative list in hand.

Many years ago, I sat down and answered that question for myself. Out of curiosity, I went back and looked up what I had actually written in my journal over 22 years ago… Here are 8 things from that list:

Everyone Is A Creative

As I mentioned in my post, Understanding Who We Are… And Doing What We Love, finding ways to express creativity in my everyday life has become one of my north stars.

When I really think about, “why is it so important to me?” and “how is my life better?” as a result of all of this focus on my creativity? Here’s my list of benefits:

10 Important Lessons I’ve Learned in My Career

My career path has been very non-traditional.

I studied to be an anthropologist & teacher. I’ve made ice cream, worn a headset in a drive thru selling tacos, & was certified as a sandwich artist. I’ve hung out with Jared, Bobby Flay & Tony Bennett at events. I’ve worked directly with marketing leaders responsible for the original Dos Equis’ “Most Interesting Man” campaign and the Staples EASY button. I’ve been a guest speaker at universities & at CMO marketing conferences. My work on “team culture” has been published as a “best practice” by a best-selling motivational speaker/author and I’ve been recognized as a Top 50 2020 Global Marketer by my peers. I’ve also been laid-off, let go & downsized on 4 different occasions. Life is a wonderful, wild, unforgiving & totally unpredictable adventure.

Throughout my career, I have been given lots of opportunities and I have also faced many challenges. I’ve learned a lot about myself, what to look for in a job and the kinds of people to work with.

Here are 10 of the most important things I have learned: