Editor's note: Though this is a small mention of a Sikh icon in a recent news article I know Snatam and happen to think she is one of the most sincere Sikhs of the Guru that I know. I always find it amazing to know that there are many thousands of people who listen to her music. Most would probably never hear any of the Guru's words were it not for her. Some people play her music during their pregnancy, some find it soothing when a family member dies, some sleep to it every night and many just feel nice when they listen to it. In the below article major executive of Whole Foods mentions that he also listens to Snatam Kaur's music. I find it charming whenever I heard things like this ;)
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| Credit Ha Lam/Whole Foods Market |
NOV. 22, 2014: John Mackey is the co-founder and co-chief executive officer of Whole Foods Market, the nation’s largest chain of natural foods supermarkets.
READING I just finished “Synchronicity,” by Joseph Jaworski, son of Leon Jaworski, the Watergate special prosecutor. The book is autobiographical and his thesis is when you are on your true path doing what your inner voice urges you to do, all kinds of synchronicity occurs. You meet the right people at the right time. Doors open for you. The right investor comes along. It resonated because that’s been my own experience.
Also “The Idealist: Jeffrey Sachs and the Quest to End Poverty,” by Nina Munk. Sachs is an economist and I’m sure he doesn’t like the book because it points out that his top-down aid type of approach hasn’t worked in Africa. A more bottom-up approach through entrepreneurship and boot strapping seems to be more effective, which is the approach we take at our Whole Planet Foundation.
LISTENING Snatam Kaur is a yogini and I find her music deeply spiritual. I feel more love and I feel more peace when I listen to her music. And I first heard Au Revoir Simone when my wife and I were eating at this tiny vegan restaurant in Tulum, Mexico. It’s electronic, which is not really my genre, but I find the lyrics and her voice just hypnotizing.
WATCHING I’m a huge N.B.A. fan and watch many games each year. Following any sport is kind of bringing us back to our tribal roots. When it comes to movies my favorites are epic, sweeping films like “Out of Africa,” “Dr. Zhivago” and “Lawrence of Arabia.” The characters are intensely alive — having adventures but also growing as human beings.
FOLLOWING Every day, I check out RealClear Politics, RealClear Markets, The Motley Fool, The Wall Street Journal, Fortune, Forbes and Reason. I also follow various nutrition websites including Dr. John McDougall, Dr. Joel Fuhrman, and Dr. Michael Greger. Those doctors all follow the same basic philosophy — all whole foods, plant based, no oil diets.
COOKING I love my cooking tools because I enjoy cooking — a Vitamix for smoothies and a rice cooker for steel-cut oats. I travel with a small rice cooker. I soak oats overnight and when I get up I just turn the rice cooker on and it cooks the oats perfectly every time. I don’t travel with the Vitamix because you’ll never get it through security because it’s got those blades. Trust me, I’ve tried it.
BACKPACKING I’ve been doing long-distance backpacking since 2002 when I hiked the Appalachian Trail. You start to calm down and relax and get into the slower rhythm of nature. I don’t eat my healthiest diet when I’m hiking. I’m not going to tell you the junk food I might eat but it’s stuff I would never permit in my normal life. Hiking 20 miles a day, I can rationalize it.