Ronald L Barnett

February 12, 2023

Creativity and Creative Being in the World

I’m having a rather immersive (obsessive?) experience these days with Rick Rubin. Do you know him?

He’s the legendary, minimalist music producer who helps people (from rap artists to Johnny Cash) make the unheard heard.

As a “retiree/senior” I was especially inspired by his work with Cash (7 albums) who he and Cash himself felt that the world had passed Cash by - a not uncommon feeling for seniors.

I’m reading Rubin’s new book The Creative Act - A Way of Being where he describes his counterintuitive approach(s) and how it applies more broadly to creative living.

Here’s a fascinating interview with Rubin on 60 Minutes.


‘’New wood springs from underground” - Si Kahn, Appalachian singer/songwriter

About Ronald L Barnett

I moved to Substack and renamed to Contemplation Across the Lifespan on 2/2025. Hope to see you there. - Ron

Welcome to Hey World - a home for my writings, much of it autobiographically-inspired. My hope is that they entertain, educate, and inspire. I’m simpatico with Enid Sinclair who told Wednesday Addams, ‘’I write in my voice. It’s my truth!” I hope you enjoy them. And if you subscribe and have comments, I’d love to hear from you.

I received the Doctorate in Psychology (concentration in human cognition and learning) and after 5 years working as a community-based mental health clinician, I worked in medical research with the National Institutes of Health for the remainder of my career.

I served Contemplative Outreach, Ltd. (CO) as a teacher, group facilitator, retreat leader, Chapter Coordinator, Board Member and Trustee and taught with The Miksang Institute for Contemplative Photography.

As of 2020 I retired, hosted the podcast All Things Contemplative, and still volunteer with CO. I also facilitate Charis Circles with the Charis Foundation for the New Monasticism and Interspirituality - and enjoy information technologies, photography, nature, swimming, biking, and kayaking.

All photos © 2025 Ronald Barnett. Use with permission.

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ronald.barnett
Miksang Contemplative Photography https://ronaldbarnett.smugmug.com
All Things Contemplative Podcast https://allthingscontemplative.buzzsprout.com/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rbarnett7/
Lifespring - early blog 2009-2020 https://lifespring.posthaven.com/