Embarking on Eudaimonia; with David Barton who writes Rediscover · Reconnect · Re-Emerge

Intimate discussion on the big things in life; an interview series by Ta Hiron

Photo credit © Christina Lynn Wallace

David is a storyteller, musician, and seeker of life’s deeper rhythms—both in music and in the way we live. As the creator of A Life More Creative and the Substack Rediscover · Reconnect · Re-Emerge, he invites us to slow down, step back from the noise, and rediscover what truly matters.

His journey has been one of questioning, exploring, and embracing creativity in all its forms, from composing and teaching music to writing, baking, photography, and uncovering the threads of history. But at the heart of it all is a desire many of us share—the longing for a life that feels more connected, more intentional, and more in tune with who we really are.

Photo credit David Barton

Life Philosophy 

If you could distill your life philosophy into a single idea, what would it be, and why is it meaningful to you?   

This is almost an impossible question to answer. What even is my life philosophy? I think that if forced to choose one all-embracing word, it might be gentleness. Somehow, being gentle with ourselves, with others, and with the world around us, is the opposite of everything the modern world seems to crave. Where it seeks noise, I seek quiet. Where it seeks fast, I seek slow. Where it seeks complicated, I seek simple. Each of these has a gentleness attached, and in that, we can embrace a life which seeks a deeper meaning, and ultimately, a far stronger foundation.

Transformative Experience

Can you share a transformative experience that challenged your beliefs about yourself and what you are capable of? 

When I look back over my life, I realise that the transformations have often been slow and subtle, hardly even recognisable. Often, I cannot pinpoint an exact moment, yet somehow, at the other side, I look back and see transformation at work. Perhaps transformation is too strong a word, but I look back and I see growth. It took me many years, probably until I was in my mid-30s, to accept myself as I was. I never really fitted in and for many people, myself included, that was a problem. For all its faults, the online world allowed me to see those people and communities with whom I shared similar values and interests. Over time, I came to realise that I wasn’t alone, and there were many others who felt the same way as I did. I guess that was transformational, and it's those foundations on which I’ve built my life today. Perhaps transformation is continual; we’re on a continual journey of growth and development, often unseen both to ourselves and those around us, but always present.

Photo credit David Barton

Passion for Writing

Was there a pivotal moment that sparked your passion for writing?

In my case, when it comes to writing, I don’t think I can pinpoint a specific moment. In retrospect, I realise now that writing has always been part of me; if you like, it’s always been ‘in the blood’. My maternal grandmother, Granny, wrote, as has my mother. We’ve all enjoyed writing different things in different ways, in different seasons of our lives, but above all, we’ve valued the cathartic act of writing as a means of self-expression. It’s very personal to us, and I think that first and foremost, we write because we have to; it’s a calling and a soulful desire in our hearts which craves fulfilment. I’ve always enjoyed writing, but joining Substack in 2024 offered me a platform on which to share longform writing content without some of the boundaries laid down elsewhere. If you like, that was the moment which brought a passion to life.

Is there a message that underpins your writing?

I think that at its heart, is a message of connection; that is connection not just to the past, the present and the future, but to each other as human beings navigating an uncertain and turbulent world. By sharing the journey with others, by building those connections and fostering a sense of community, I hope that we can navigate and make a little more sense of the turbulent times in which we live.

Navigating Uncertainty

Can you share a time when you felt lost or derailed from something you were working toward? How did you move forward, and do you have any reflections on that experience now?

In my late-20s, I crashed. Call it a breakdown if you like, but suddenly, I began to question everything I thought I was certain of. The train which had journeyed at break-neck speed derailed, and all of a sudden, I was lost. I can still very vividly remember the day that happened. I can well remember that feeling of simply needing to escape the confines of four walls, to simply stand in the shadow of something greater. In that moment of despair and loss, I found myself. There was no quick fix, but it was the start of a journey, one which I’m still on today. The last 15 years have brought a realisation that my relationship with the outdoors, with nature, and with the changing seasons, is essential and non-negotiable. They ground me, and they root me in something greater. That experience, painful as it was at the time, was necessary.

Life Lessons  

Looking back, what are the two most important life lessons you’ve learned?  

Acceptance: I used to feel that acceptance meant settling for second best, that somehow, I couldn’t reach the point where I wanted to be, and therefore had to accept second place. Of course, this couldn’t be further from the truth. There are a lot of things I accept now about myself, about my life, and about others, with a warm embrace and positive spirit. We can’t predict where life’s journey will take us, but we can do all we can to accept and enjoy the ride. Meet people where they are, and they will do the same for us.

Slow. We live in a world which glorifies busyness, which sets success and achievement, often financial and material, as a pinnacle to which we should all aspire. Success comes from setting big goals and targets, selling our souls, and achieving an ultimate sense of burnout when we reach the top…or so we’re told. But there is another way, and one of the most important life lessons I’ve learnt - albeit the hard way - is that there is a slower, simpler, and gentler alternative. Not only is there another way, but there are others who seek something different too. In seeking an alternative, it may feel like we’re constantly swimming against the tide, but we can at least do that in the company of those who feel as we do.

Writing & Substack

Can you tell us about your Substack and any other writing you have published?  

Like so many things in my life, when I started my Substack, Rediscover · Reconnect · Re-Emerge, I had no grand ambitions. It came with a gentle desire to connect, to share and to grow. I sought to foster a space where we could grow a community who shared the same values, where we could walk together on life’s journey. Those underlying desires remain today, and that in those, we might tread softly together, a path of exploration and connection.

Photo credit David Barton

Time  

How has your relationship with time changed as you’ve grown—whether in patience, urgency, or perspective?  

Time is a strange thing. In some ways it is everything, yet in others, it is nothing. What even is time? As I’ve grown older, I think I’ve gained a certain degree of perspective when it comes to time. There is so much which is outside of our control. Time ebbs ever forward, and we cannot alter that. Time is limited; we can neither slow time down, nor hurry it forward. “Live in the moment” we’re told, “you only have one chance” we’re reminded, but those mantras come with pressures of their own. Everything in its own time.

Nature  

Is there a lesson you’ve learned from nature that has stayed with you? 

I think that the most important lesson I’ve learned from nature is that there is a time for everything in its own season. Nature cannot be hurried, and neither can we. There is a time to sow and a time to reap, but there is also a time to nurture and a time to heal. Just as the seasons ebb and flow, we too can ground our lives in the natural world.

Photo credit © Christina Lynn Wallace

Final Thoughts

 Any final thoughts or a story you’d like to leave us with?

If I’ve learnt anything in life, perhaps especially in the past few years, it’s that there are always those who are prepared to share the journey with us. They may be few and far between, and they may come and go, but almost always, each and every person shares with us that which we most need in that particular season of our life. The pathway is not always clear, but by building and nurturing community, by seeking those kindred spirits willing to walk alongside us, we can all seek a shared fulfilment, underpinned by that ever-present mantra: “there is another way”.

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David, there is a real calming sesnse to your words as they invite us to remember the importance of nature’s rythyms and the flow of time and our place in it. So much to wonder yet, also so much is provided for us to lean into, if only we slow down long enough to do so. Thank you for guiding us into such a space today.

It was wonderful to reflect on the reminder that our transformations are slow and subtle. That there isn’t a moment of change, but it happens. If we get caught up in wanting change, you take us back to nature, which like us, cannot be hurried.

I absolutely loved this interview for my first one in 2025, for there is no better place to start than somewhere slow, somewhere accepting and somewhere we belong with each other. Thank you for so generously sharing with us today.

Thanks, Ta ✍️

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P.S. Embarking on Eudaimonia signifies a journey towards living a life of fulfilment, purpose, and flourishing.

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