Inspired by 20th-century French writer Marcel Proust, we here at Esalen have created our own version of his favorite parlor game to dig just a little deeper — and differently — into our incredible faculty and staff.
Daniel Gloyd shares his thoughts on fatherhood, Andy Warhol, and how Mr. Fred Rogers incorporated belonging and trust into his beloved neighborhood. The designer and research expert talks about the causal relationship between inspiration and creativity, along with the concept of warmth as an essential principle of connection: “We need it now more than ever.” To find out more, check out his spring workshop, Designing Warmth: From User Experience (UX) to Transcendent Experience (ZX), and discover a human-centric approach for stronger and healthier worlds.
What is Esalen to you?
Room for radical exploration and sharing of ideas about human potential and creativity, unbound by the constraints of academic or cultural norms.
What do you do/are you doing at Esalen?
I’m a designer sharing my ideas for ways to build warmth into the worlds that we inhabit. Warmth is a principle of connection, and we need it now more than ever because, even with modern technology, we grow increasingly disconnected from one another and the world around us.
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Self-actualization, aka fulfilling my own idea of my best self, which for me is about making and about creativity.
What is your greatest fear in your work?
That I’ll fail to effectively share my ideas with others.
Which living or dead person do you most admire in your field?
At the moment, it’s Fred Rogers. He isn’t thought of as a designer, but my research has led to his work because he designed warmth and principles of belonging, conversation, trust, and support into the world of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.
What is your current state of mind?
I find myself in the midst of some type of creative surge at this point in my life. I’m not sure what brought it on, but there is no denying it. It feels like an extended peak experience, full of creative expression, deep personal fulfillment in my work, and — if I’m completely honest — pretty frequent moments of mystery and magic.
What about your work brings you the most happiness?
As part of the research for my book, I get to speak with all sorts of experts about warmth. People tend to light up when they talk about warmth and when they talk about the work that they’re passionate about. There’s something like a runner’s high I feel when in conversation with someone in that state of mind.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Managing to integrate art, poetry, and music into my life — all my life.
What is your most treasured possession?
This question made me realize I have few possessions that I hold as most sacred or most treasured. There’s a guitar I love in spite of its cracked body and bent neck.
How do you maintain your practice(s) during challenging times?
Inspiration is the critical input that ensures I can sustain creative output. I find my inspiration in art, music, nature, mystery, and history. When that sort of input stops, it isn’t long before my creative energy wanes. Inspiration in, creativity out, it’s that simple.
What is your favorite component of your work?
In my artwork, it’s the strange and mysterious connection to the natural world. In my professional world, it’s the occasional awesome person I get to collaborate with. I’m a snobby collaborator and I cherish the awesome ones.
What is your most marked characteristic?
To me, it’s a terrible memory. I wish it were something more positive. What was the question?
What do you value most in your work/practice?
My work ethic. I’m a hard worker. I get deep satisfaction from the work I care most about.
Who are your inspirations?
My two sons, both are creative and intellectual forces of nature. I want to be like them when I grow up.
Which historical figure do you most identify with?
Andy Warhol. Weird, misfit, creative, hard worker, straddles both mainstream and fringe culture.
What is your greatest regret?
Any chance I’ve ever missed to be a great dad during any big or small moment in my kids’ lives.
“Remembering to be as self compassionate as I can and praying to the divine that we're all a part of.”
–Aaron
“Prayer, reading, meditation, walking.”
–Karen
“Erratically — which is an ongoing stream of practice to find peace.”
–Charles
“Try on a daily basis to be kind to myself and to realize that making mistakes is a part of the human condition. Learning from our mistakes is a journey. But it starts with compassion and caring. First for oneself.”
–Steve
“Physically: aerobic exercise, volleyball, ice hockey, cycling, sailing. Emotionally: unfortunately I have to work to ‘not care’ about people or situations which may end painfully. Along the lines of ‘attachment is the source of suffering’, so best to avoid it or limit its scope. Sad though because it could also be the source of great joy. Is it worth the risk?“
–Rainer
“It's time for my heart to be nurtured on one level yet contained on another. To go easy on me and to allow my feelings to be validated, not judged harshly. On the other hand, to let the heart rule with equanimity and not lead the mind and body around like a master.”
–Suzanne
“I spend time thinking of everything I am grateful for, and I try to develop my ability to express compassion for myself and others without reservation. I take time to do the things I need to do to keep myself healthy and happy. This includes taking experiential workshops, fostering relationships, and participating within groups which have a similar interest to become a more compassionate and fulfilled being.“
–Peter
“Self-forgiveness for my own judgments. And oh yeah, coming to Esalen.”
–David B.
“Hmm, this is a tough one! I guess I take care of my heart through fostering relationships with people I feel connected to. Spending quality time with them (whether we're on the phone, through messages/letters, on Zoom, or in-person). Being there for them, listening to them, sharing what's going on with me, my struggles and my successes... like we do in the Esalen weekly Friends of Esalen Zoom sessions!”
–Lori
“I remind myself in many ways of the fact that " Love is all there is!" LOVE is the prize and this one precious life is the stage we get to learn our lessons. I get out into nature, hike, camp, river kayak, fly fish, garden, I create, I dance (not enough!), and I remain grateful for each day, each breath, each moment. Being in the moment, awake, and remembering the gift of life and my feeling of gratitude for all of creation.”
–Steven
“My physical heart by limiting stress and eating a heart-healthy diet. My emotional heart by staying in love with the world and by knowing that all disappointment and loss will pass.“
–David Z.
Today, September 29, is World Heart Day. Strike up a conversation with your own heart and as you feel comfortable, encourage others to do the same. As part of our own transformations and self-care, we sometimes ask for others to illuminate and enliven our hearts or speak our love language.
What if we could do this for ourselves too, even if just for today… or to start a heart practice, forever?
Inspired by 20th-century French writer Marcel Proust, we here at Esalen have created our own version of his favorite parlor game to dig just a little deeper — and differently — into our incredible faculty and staff.
Daniel Gloyd shares his thoughts on fatherhood, Andy Warhol, and how Mr. Fred Rogers incorporated belonging and trust into his beloved neighborhood. The designer and research expert talks about the causal relationship between inspiration and creativity, along with the concept of warmth as an essential principle of connection: “We need it now more than ever.” To find out more, check out his spring workshop, Designing Warmth: From User Experience (UX) to Transcendent Experience (ZX), and discover a human-centric approach for stronger and healthier worlds.
What is Esalen to you?
Room for radical exploration and sharing of ideas about human potential and creativity, unbound by the constraints of academic or cultural norms.
What do you do/are you doing at Esalen?
I’m a designer sharing my ideas for ways to build warmth into the worlds that we inhabit. Warmth is a principle of connection, and we need it now more than ever because, even with modern technology, we grow increasingly disconnected from one another and the world around us.
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Self-actualization, aka fulfilling my own idea of my best self, which for me is about making and about creativity.
What is your greatest fear in your work?
That I’ll fail to effectively share my ideas with others.
Which living or dead person do you most admire in your field?
At the moment, it’s Fred Rogers. He isn’t thought of as a designer, but my research has led to his work because he designed warmth and principles of belonging, conversation, trust, and support into the world of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.
What is your current state of mind?
I find myself in the midst of some type of creative surge at this point in my life. I’m not sure what brought it on, but there is no denying it. It feels like an extended peak experience, full of creative expression, deep personal fulfillment in my work, and — if I’m completely honest — pretty frequent moments of mystery and magic.
What about your work brings you the most happiness?
As part of the research for my book, I get to speak with all sorts of experts about warmth. People tend to light up when they talk about warmth and when they talk about the work that they’re passionate about. There’s something like a runner’s high I feel when in conversation with someone in that state of mind.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Managing to integrate art, poetry, and music into my life — all my life.
What is your most treasured possession?
This question made me realize I have few possessions that I hold as most sacred or most treasured. There’s a guitar I love in spite of its cracked body and bent neck.
How do you maintain your practice(s) during challenging times?
Inspiration is the critical input that ensures I can sustain creative output. I find my inspiration in art, music, nature, mystery, and history. When that sort of input stops, it isn’t long before my creative energy wanes. Inspiration in, creativity out, it’s that simple.
What is your favorite component of your work?
In my artwork, it’s the strange and mysterious connection to the natural world. In my professional world, it’s the occasional awesome person I get to collaborate with. I’m a snobby collaborator and I cherish the awesome ones.
What is your most marked characteristic?
To me, it’s a terrible memory. I wish it were something more positive. What was the question?
What do you value most in your work/practice?
My work ethic. I’m a hard worker. I get deep satisfaction from the work I care most about.
Who are your inspirations?
My two sons, both are creative and intellectual forces of nature. I want to be like them when I grow up.
Which historical figure do you most identify with?
Andy Warhol. Weird, misfit, creative, hard worker, straddles both mainstream and fringe culture.
What is your greatest regret?
Any chance I’ve ever missed to be a great dad during any big or small moment in my kids’ lives.
“Remembering to be as self compassionate as I can and praying to the divine that we're all a part of.”
–Aaron
“Prayer, reading, meditation, walking.”
–Karen
“Erratically — which is an ongoing stream of practice to find peace.”
–Charles
“Try on a daily basis to be kind to myself and to realize that making mistakes is a part of the human condition. Learning from our mistakes is a journey. But it starts with compassion and caring. First for oneself.”
–Steve
“Physically: aerobic exercise, volleyball, ice hockey, cycling, sailing. Emotionally: unfortunately I have to work to ‘not care’ about people or situations which may end painfully. Along the lines of ‘attachment is the source of suffering’, so best to avoid it or limit its scope. Sad though because it could also be the source of great joy. Is it worth the risk?“
–Rainer
“It's time for my heart to be nurtured on one level yet contained on another. To go easy on me and to allow my feelings to be validated, not judged harshly. On the other hand, to let the heart rule with equanimity and not lead the mind and body around like a master.”
–Suzanne
“I spend time thinking of everything I am grateful for, and I try to develop my ability to express compassion for myself and others without reservation. I take time to do the things I need to do to keep myself healthy and happy. This includes taking experiential workshops, fostering relationships, and participating within groups which have a similar interest to become a more compassionate and fulfilled being.“
–Peter
“Self-forgiveness for my own judgments. And oh yeah, coming to Esalen.”
–David B.
“Hmm, this is a tough one! I guess I take care of my heart through fostering relationships with people I feel connected to. Spending quality time with them (whether we're on the phone, through messages/letters, on Zoom, or in-person). Being there for them, listening to them, sharing what's going on with me, my struggles and my successes... like we do in the Esalen weekly Friends of Esalen Zoom sessions!”
–Lori
“I remind myself in many ways of the fact that " Love is all there is!" LOVE is the prize and this one precious life is the stage we get to learn our lessons. I get out into nature, hike, camp, river kayak, fly fish, garden, I create, I dance (not enough!), and I remain grateful for each day, each breath, each moment. Being in the moment, awake, and remembering the gift of life and my feeling of gratitude for all of creation.”
–Steven
“My physical heart by limiting stress and eating a heart-healthy diet. My emotional heart by staying in love with the world and by knowing that all disappointment and loss will pass.“
–David Z.
Today, September 29, is World Heart Day. Strike up a conversation with your own heart and as you feel comfortable, encourage others to do the same. As part of our own transformations and self-care, we sometimes ask for others to illuminate and enliven our hearts or speak our love language.
What if we could do this for ourselves too, even if just for today… or to start a heart practice, forever?
Inspired by 20th-century French writer Marcel Proust, we here at Esalen have created our own version of his favorite parlor game to dig just a little deeper — and differently — into our incredible faculty and staff.
Daniel Gloyd shares his thoughts on fatherhood, Andy Warhol, and how Mr. Fred Rogers incorporated belonging and trust into his beloved neighborhood. The designer and research expert talks about the causal relationship between inspiration and creativity, along with the concept of warmth as an essential principle of connection: “We need it now more than ever.” To find out more, check out his spring workshop, Designing Warmth: From User Experience (UX) to Transcendent Experience (ZX), and discover a human-centric approach for stronger and healthier worlds.
What is Esalen to you?
Room for radical exploration and sharing of ideas about human potential and creativity, unbound by the constraints of academic or cultural norms.
What do you do/are you doing at Esalen?
I’m a designer sharing my ideas for ways to build warmth into the worlds that we inhabit. Warmth is a principle of connection, and we need it now more than ever because, even with modern technology, we grow increasingly disconnected from one another and the world around us.
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Self-actualization, aka fulfilling my own idea of my best self, which for me is about making and about creativity.
What is your greatest fear in your work?
That I’ll fail to effectively share my ideas with others.
Which living or dead person do you most admire in your field?
At the moment, it’s Fred Rogers. He isn’t thought of as a designer, but my research has led to his work because he designed warmth and principles of belonging, conversation, trust, and support into the world of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.
What is your current state of mind?
I find myself in the midst of some type of creative surge at this point in my life. I’m not sure what brought it on, but there is no denying it. It feels like an extended peak experience, full of creative expression, deep personal fulfillment in my work, and — if I’m completely honest — pretty frequent moments of mystery and magic.
What about your work brings you the most happiness?
As part of the research for my book, I get to speak with all sorts of experts about warmth. People tend to light up when they talk about warmth and when they talk about the work that they’re passionate about. There’s something like a runner’s high I feel when in conversation with someone in that state of mind.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
Managing to integrate art, poetry, and music into my life — all my life.
What is your most treasured possession?
This question made me realize I have few possessions that I hold as most sacred or most treasured. There’s a guitar I love in spite of its cracked body and bent neck.
How do you maintain your practice(s) during challenging times?
Inspiration is the critical input that ensures I can sustain creative output. I find my inspiration in art, music, nature, mystery, and history. When that sort of input stops, it isn’t long before my creative energy wanes. Inspiration in, creativity out, it’s that simple.
What is your favorite component of your work?
In my artwork, it’s the strange and mysterious connection to the natural world. In my professional world, it’s the occasional awesome person I get to collaborate with. I’m a snobby collaborator and I cherish the awesome ones.
What is your most marked characteristic?
To me, it’s a terrible memory. I wish it were something more positive. What was the question?
What do you value most in your work/practice?
My work ethic. I’m a hard worker. I get deep satisfaction from the work I care most about.
Who are your inspirations?
My two sons, both are creative and intellectual forces of nature. I want to be like them when I grow up.
Which historical figure do you most identify with?
Andy Warhol. Weird, misfit, creative, hard worker, straddles both mainstream and fringe culture.
What is your greatest regret?
Any chance I’ve ever missed to be a great dad during any big or small moment in my kids’ lives.
“Remembering to be as self compassionate as I can and praying to the divine that we're all a part of.”
–Aaron
“Prayer, reading, meditation, walking.”
–Karen
“Erratically — which is an ongoing stream of practice to find peace.”
–Charles
“Try on a daily basis to be kind to myself and to realize that making mistakes is a part of the human condition. Learning from our mistakes is a journey. But it starts with compassion and caring. First for oneself.”
–Steve
“Physically: aerobic exercise, volleyball, ice hockey, cycling, sailing. Emotionally: unfortunately I have to work to ‘not care’ about people or situations which may end painfully. Along the lines of ‘attachment is the source of suffering’, so best to avoid it or limit its scope. Sad though because it could also be the source of great joy. Is it worth the risk?“
–Rainer
“It's time for my heart to be nurtured on one level yet contained on another. To go easy on me and to allow my feelings to be validated, not judged harshly. On the other hand, to let the heart rule with equanimity and not lead the mind and body around like a master.”
–Suzanne
“I spend time thinking of everything I am grateful for, and I try to develop my ability to express compassion for myself and others without reservation. I take time to do the things I need to do to keep myself healthy and happy. This includes taking experiential workshops, fostering relationships, and participating within groups which have a similar interest to become a more compassionate and fulfilled being.“
–Peter
“Self-forgiveness for my own judgments. And oh yeah, coming to Esalen.”
–David B.
“Hmm, this is a tough one! I guess I take care of my heart through fostering relationships with people I feel connected to. Spending quality time with them (whether we're on the phone, through messages/letters, on Zoom, or in-person). Being there for them, listening to them, sharing what's going on with me, my struggles and my successes... like we do in the Esalen weekly Friends of Esalen Zoom sessions!”
–Lori
“I remind myself in many ways of the fact that " Love is all there is!" LOVE is the prize and this one precious life is the stage we get to learn our lessons. I get out into nature, hike, camp, river kayak, fly fish, garden, I create, I dance (not enough!), and I remain grateful for each day, each breath, each moment. Being in the moment, awake, and remembering the gift of life and my feeling of gratitude for all of creation.”
–Steven
“My physical heart by limiting stress and eating a heart-healthy diet. My emotional heart by staying in love with the world and by knowing that all disappointment and loss will pass.“
–David Z.
Today, September 29, is World Heart Day. Strike up a conversation with your own heart and as you feel comfortable, encourage others to do the same. As part of our own transformations and self-care, we sometimes ask for others to illuminate and enliven our hearts or speak our love language.
What if we could do this for ourselves too, even if just for today… or to start a heart practice, forever?
Esalen Institute
55000 Highway 1
Big Sur, CA 93920
US: 1-831-667-3000
info@esalen.org
