The Lenny and Tyler Show

The rose is without why; it blossoms because it blossoms;

It cares not for itself, asks not if it's seen.

This week my roommate and I shoot the breeze and discuss Hegel and other things we have surface level understandings of. 

Thank God, at times I’m graciously reminded that I’m small, not by cause of other people’s belittling remarks or actions, but because I see the stars above, the mountains before me, the mass of humanity to my back and those unborn that have already and will one day turn to dust. In these ways I remember I’m small. The universe refuses to let us make sense of it. Quantum mechanics can’t be reconciled with Einstein’s theory of relativity. In my own life, every-time I think I’ve got things figured out I’m up-ended. Explanations of the horrors of this life fall flat, and yet this is all so indescribably beautiful! It inspires poets and painters to take up the never-ending task of trying to tell us about it.

It's easy to get so caught up in the day to day demands on our lives and I often forget what it feels like to sense that life is meaningful. But then I think back on times I'm connected with others ... times when they and I could naturally be our authentic, lonely, insecure selves with no fear of judgment. In these moments I sense that my very presence increases delight and decreases suffering for others and they're presence does the same for me. I marvel at these moments and long for them.

Jean Paul Sartre, was a somewhat controversial 20th century thinker. He claimed that "being precedes essence" which means we are all "condemned to freedom" ... In this episode I try to my best to explain what the heck that means and what value these ideas may have today. 

I changed the name of the podcast from "The Montana Gallery Podcast" to ... "The Lonely Painter Podcast" ... I did this for a handful of reasons. Mainly, I want to do what I can to help make the world a little less lonely for others. I think one way we can accomplish this is by admitting to our own loneliness, our uncertainties, insecurities, and our mistakes. 

This week my friend and Billings based photographer, cinematographer, artist, poet Mary Kate Teske and I catch up. 

This week I tried my best to answer a few emailed in questions and then went over a few more with Ken and Richie as we sat in Chico Hotsprings...hotsprings sound so nice right now, especially after having just fallen down my studio stairs.

Like the title says, this week it's mostly nonsensical ramblings. There might be one or two halfway decent thoughts in this somewhere. 

My friend Garth swung by to use my internet, little did he know he'd have to defend his love of Jordan Peterson to me...

Whether you like him or not, Peterson is making huge differences in the lives of so many people today. Thank you Garth for taking time out of your work day to engage with me and help me to understand why so many people do find him very helpful to their lives.