Spiritual adventurer, musical opportunist, and aspiring ZENECIST Tom Lanen produces the ZENECIST™ CHRONICLES Podcast: Stories About What Young People Can Expect As They Become Older Adults. The new and evolving thought is to create a movement of kindness to combat loneliness.
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AN IDEA THAT CAME OUT OF 95+ CONCERTS IN 3 YEARS.
From a Ol’ Rocker On A Mission of Encouragement
The summer of 2022 was first year I had my lawn seat season pass at the Xfinity Center, a 20,000 seat outdoor concert venue in Mansfield, MA, I went to 34 shows that season, each one giving me the sense of a week’s vacation. I was 70.
But as great as the music was, the real joy I’ve had in my 3 seasons has been the eclectic mix of young show-goers, most from Gen Z, who engaged me not as an old guy but a friend, and asked about my life as I became an older adult.
They shared many chill sensibilities, and were intensely curious and passionate. Seekers. And they all had what David Bryne and the Talking Heads once called “a face with a view.” Rarely model beautiful, but always interesting and with a clear and caring presence, and sparkling eyes that confirmed someone is home. For me, this is the epitome of beauty.
Very importantly, they came from a place of love. And they gave me the first hints of the meaning of a word I coined, and whom I’ve since come to call Zenecists™.
Beings who, in the moment, are light.
Today my company, ZENECIST™, is a work in progress. My first offering is the ZENECIST™ Chronicles Podcast: Stories About What Young People Can Expect As They Become Older Adults. My goal is to encourage people to live their best lives—regardless of the pressures to conform with family, career and societal norms.
I’m also mightily concerned about the impacts of loneliness. According to a recent NPR feature, today loneliness is even harder on Gen Z than older adults, which horrifies me. You see, I’m recently alone now after 42 years of marriage. So yeah, I know first-hand about loneliness: it can invade your very being.
It’s with the evolving thought of helping mitigate this modern day blight that finds me wondering out loud how ZENECIST can be part of the solution. Your ideas are welcome.
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ZENECIST is ultimately about finding a path to happiness and self-respect. About friends, good company, and great music. And mindful strategies to help us find our way. Because happiness is a choice. And at any moment, anyone can be a Zenecist.
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Happy Carol-Free Holiday & Winter!
Well, maybe just one very cool country blues one. So good.
Check out our eclectic Winter 25 Mix on Apple Music featuring new alt to new reggae—and a few classics. If you’re not a Music subscriber you can still listen to a 20-second per song sample. Not an affiliate link.
If you come from a place of love, kindness, and understanding, you’re a Zenecist. And yeah, enthusiasm matters too—it’s infectious! At any given moment anyone has it in them. And being one brings a little chance at happiness. Of light.
The idea is simply to encourage each other in our life paths. Just imagine a world where everyone mindfully extends a simple kindness to another, even just once a day, but every day. A smile. A nod of recognition. A wave. A simple acknowledgment. A kind word. It never takes much. But it’s local; it’s where we are.
Were this to happen, we might not feel so alone on this planet. Or in this country. Even within our families. And the beauty is kindness is a two way-street. You get what you give.
The Zenecist movement of kindness. Welcome.
You’re A Zenecist.
Giving = Love (see below)