The simplest solution of life.
When the well is dry, we know the worth of water. ~ Benjamin Franklin
This quote could apply to a great many things, but I'm going to deal with it quite literally today.
The reason for this is that I'm very surprised at the amount of doctors coming out and saying "there is no evidence that 2L/64oz of water a day does you any benefit."
I understand that bottled water companies are working hard to keep people drinking, as much or more for their own financial benefit than that of their customers' health, but that doesn't mean it's not true. Who do you think funds all the other research that doctors always quote? From what I know nearly all research is done with some sort of vested interest in the outcome. And this is why I listen to the person who's most important when it comes to knowing what's good for my body - me.
There are only three things women need in life: food, water, and compliments. ~ Chris Rock
The 2 simplest things a person can do to help them feel relaxed and clear minded, energetic and healthy is to drink plenty of water and stretch daily. My friends often laugh that this my solution to all health conditions, but I don't see it as a solution. More just maintenance. If you keep a car well maintained it is much less likely to require major repair work. I believe the human body is the same. Drinking plenty of water and stretching daily are the core of good bodily maintenance.
I want you to test this for yourself though. Forget what anyone else says, me included. Make absolutely sure that you drink at least 8 big glasses of water (and I specifically mean water, not coffee, tea, juice, milk) every day for the next 7 days and then see how you feel. If you already think you do this then just be more aware and make certain you do.
I find it helps stop me from getting headaches and feeling lethargic, while enabling my muscles to be relaxed, in turn helping me manage any stress and pressure over the day.
If I'm not really focused on this though I find it really hard to remember to drink. So I have to have a glass or bottle of water right in front of me at all times or I don't reach that 8-glass-a-day target.
I never used to drink water. I am drinking six liters of water every day now. That's the key. ~ Warren Cuccurullo
Stretching can be anything from yoga (the best option I believe) to Pilates or even just a casual morning limber-up through a standard stretching routine. Whatever it is, making sure you breathe deeply and don't force yourself too far, particularly if you've not stretched much of late.
I'd really like everyone to try this every day over the next week and then let me know how you feel. Forget anyone who talks of any benefit being psychosomatic and try to put up with the more frequent toilet breaks. You are the best judge of what you think helps you feel better.
The water in a vessel is sparkling; the water in the sea is dark. The small truth has words which are clear; the great truth has great silence. ~ Rabindranath Tagore
My opinion is that there is no way that drinking plenty of water can hurt, but it is very clear to me that not drinking enough can certainly cause problems. So it's an "experiment" worth exploring.
Water is the driving force of all nature. ~ Leonardo da Vinci
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Fear: Are You Always On Your Brakes?
Fear is integral to safety, like the brakes of a car. But many people are like drivers who only use their brakes.
Fear defeats more people than any other one thing in the world. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
This is the biggest danger with fear ~ always being on the brakes will result in you losing all movement (action), resulting in defeat, frustration and unhappiness.
It isn't possible to completely eliminate fear, and you shouldn't want to, anymore than you would want to drive a car without brakes. But if you imagine yourself driving a car you would have to agree that you are off your breaks more than you're on them. Unless you're driving in peak-hour traffic, which everyone prefers to avoid. Yet the existence of peak-hour traffic tells us that most people find it hard to avoid. If we don't learn to manage fear it will have us constantly braking.
The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing that you will make one. ~ Elbert Hubbard
This is what keeps people on their brakes ~ fear of mistakes, fear of failure, fear judgement, fear of loss. I'm going to continue the braking analogy by saying that the more aware you are, the less ignorant you are to what's happening on the road, the less heavy braking you will require.
Fear is the lengthened shadow of ignorance. ~ Arnold Glasow
Confront your fears, list them, get to know them, and only then will you be able to put them aside and move ahead. ~ Jerry Gilles
The only thing that can cure a fear of public speaking is repeatedly engaging in it. This is why directly challenging our fears is so crucial. But the injudicious approach will often be unsuccessful, or even compound your fears.
So there are two very important points ~ being prepared and being aware. If you fear public speaking then having a good speech prepared, possibly with the help of someone experienced in the field, and then learning about public speaking skills could significantly help you be "off the brakes" when you have to get up and talk.
You know that feeling? When the words won't come out, when you're "paralyzed by fear"? This is fear at its worst, when a person has let fear take over by not being prepared and aware. The brakes are jammed to floor. This is almost as likely to cause an accident as speeding around without using your brakes.
The goal is not to eliminate fear entirely, but to get confident that you can push past it, that you can use it to your benefit, that you can manage it and have success despite of it.
Listen to what you know instead of what you fear. ~ Richard Bach
So work on knowing your fears and being aware of them. Be confident of how you can work with them, rather than them working against you. Don't ride your brakes all the way through life out of fear that something bad will happen. Learn how to use fear - to use your brakes - the way that they were meant to be used. Fear is an integral part of staying in touch with truth and reality, but if you try to ignore it or avoid it you only give it more power and spend more of your life breaking.
Get to know fear and how to use it to your benefit and it will become a friend rather than a foe.
There is not a truth existing which I fear or would wish unknown to the whole world. ~ Thomas Jefferson
Fear defeats more people than any other one thing in the world. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
This is the biggest danger with fear ~ always being on the brakes will result in you losing all movement (action), resulting in defeat, frustration and unhappiness.
It isn't possible to completely eliminate fear, and you shouldn't want to, anymore than you would want to drive a car without brakes. But if you imagine yourself driving a car you would have to agree that you are off your breaks more than you're on them. Unless you're driving in peak-hour traffic, which everyone prefers to avoid. Yet the existence of peak-hour traffic tells us that most people find it hard to avoid. If we don't learn to manage fear it will have us constantly braking.
The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing that you will make one. ~ Elbert Hubbard
This is what keeps people on their brakes ~ fear of mistakes, fear of failure, fear judgement, fear of loss. I'm going to continue the braking analogy by saying that the more aware you are, the less ignorant you are to what's happening on the road, the less heavy braking you will require.
Fear is the lengthened shadow of ignorance. ~ Arnold Glasow
Confront your fears, list them, get to know them, and only then will you be able to put them aside and move ahead. ~ Jerry Gilles
The only thing that can cure a fear of public speaking is repeatedly engaging in it. This is why directly challenging our fears is so crucial. But the injudicious approach will often be unsuccessful, or even compound your fears.
So there are two very important points ~ being prepared and being aware. If you fear public speaking then having a good speech prepared, possibly with the help of someone experienced in the field, and then learning about public speaking skills could significantly help you be "off the brakes" when you have to get up and talk.
You know that feeling? When the words won't come out, when you're "paralyzed by fear"? This is fear at its worst, when a person has let fear take over by not being prepared and aware. The brakes are jammed to floor. This is almost as likely to cause an accident as speeding around without using your brakes.
The goal is not to eliminate fear entirely, but to get confident that you can push past it, that you can use it to your benefit, that you can manage it and have success despite of it.
Listen to what you know instead of what you fear. ~ Richard Bach
So work on knowing your fears and being aware of them. Be confident of how you can work with them, rather than them working against you. Don't ride your brakes all the way through life out of fear that something bad will happen. Learn how to use fear - to use your brakes - the way that they were meant to be used. Fear is an integral part of staying in touch with truth and reality, but if you try to ignore it or avoid it you only give it more power and spend more of your life breaking.
Get to know fear and how to use it to your benefit and it will become a friend rather than a foe.
There is not a truth existing which I fear or would wish unknown to the whole world. ~ Thomas Jefferson
Monday, November 21, 2011
Actions Speak Louder Than Words
We are defined by our actions.
We are all inclined to judge ourselves by our ideals; others, by their acts. ~ Harold Nicolson
We've all known someone who "talks the talk but doesn't walk the walk" and we would all agree that we ultimately judge them on the "walk", not the talk. Further still, I find it quite common that the person themselves is quite oblivious to this fact.
Have you really thought about this? People define you by your actions, not your words.
Someone can say "I love you" all the time but if they never hug or kiss you the words mean nothing.
A parent can tell a child they shouldn't swear but if the parent does so in front of the child then soon enough the child will swear regardless (even if they may not in front of the parent).
A boss can say he values his employees and say a personal thanks to them for all their hard work but if he never gives them a raise or a bonus then he may as well have said nothing.
A person can say they believe in environmental conservation but if you then see them throw their newspaper in the regular rubbish rather than recycling it their words become pointless.
Hence the adage, "talk is cheap". It's very easy to talk about something you believe in, that you want to do, that you think is wrong or that you want to change, but taking action on these things is not only much harder but what gives these words true substance, and in turn gives the person true substance.
A thought which does not result in an action is nothing much, and an action which does not proceed from a thought is nothing at all. ~ Georges Bernanos
Thinking is extremely important, but without action the thought is essentially wasted. Action is where change, results, inspiration and creation become possible. The talking has its place also. But if it isn't supported by action, or worse, is contradicted by it, then the talking becomes meaningless.
I really love this next quote...
Speech is conveniently located midway between thought and action, where it often substitutes for both. ~ John Andrew Holmes
Take time to deliberate, but when the time for action has arrived, stop thinking and go in. ~ Napoleon Bonaparte
Although I definitely talk too much and write too much in this blog the very purpose for this blog's existence is action. Read my first post if you haven't already. The greatest epiphany I've had in the past few years is that talking about writing, or about being a writer, didn't make me one; if I write then I am a writer. To create the change I wanted in my life I had to BE the change.
Be the change you want to see in the world. ~ Gandhi
And this change starts with your own personal "world".
If you want to see a healthier world then be a healthier person; BE a daily runner.
If you want to fight corporate greed then keep your money away from their pockets; BE the customer of a small local bank.
If you want the world to a happier place then focus on being happier in your own life; BE a person who creates happiness for themselves and others.
I don't mean to be simplistic. Being any of the above examples is very hard. That's why so many people are bigger on talk than action. Action is SO much harder.
I realise these Motivational Monday posts are focused on people's words but the reason these people are quoted is not so much because of what they said but what they did. You remember someone because they wrote a great book, not beause they talked about writing a great book. Martin Luther King's great speech on freedom and equality is not remembered and quoted solely because of it's content, but because he lived those words in his life. He didn't just talk of change, he was a living example for change.
If we all focused on having great thoughts supported by great actions then we wouldn't need to think about our words; they would just come out great.
Greatness is not in where we stand, but in what direction we are moving. We must sail sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it -- but sail we must and not drift, nor lie at anchor. ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes
We are all inclined to judge ourselves by our ideals; others, by their acts. ~ Harold Nicolson
We've all known someone who "talks the talk but doesn't walk the walk" and we would all agree that we ultimately judge them on the "walk", not the talk. Further still, I find it quite common that the person themselves is quite oblivious to this fact.
Have you really thought about this? People define you by your actions, not your words.
Someone can say "I love you" all the time but if they never hug or kiss you the words mean nothing.
A parent can tell a child they shouldn't swear but if the parent does so in front of the child then soon enough the child will swear regardless (even if they may not in front of the parent).
A boss can say he values his employees and say a personal thanks to them for all their hard work but if he never gives them a raise or a bonus then he may as well have said nothing.
A person can say they believe in environmental conservation but if you then see them throw their newspaper in the regular rubbish rather than recycling it their words become pointless.
Hence the adage, "talk is cheap". It's very easy to talk about something you believe in, that you want to do, that you think is wrong or that you want to change, but taking action on these things is not only much harder but what gives these words true substance, and in turn gives the person true substance.
A thought which does not result in an action is nothing much, and an action which does not proceed from a thought is nothing at all. ~ Georges Bernanos
Thinking is extremely important, but without action the thought is essentially wasted. Action is where change, results, inspiration and creation become possible. The talking has its place also. But if it isn't supported by action, or worse, is contradicted by it, then the talking becomes meaningless.
I really love this next quote...
Speech is conveniently located midway between thought and action, where it often substitutes for both. ~ John Andrew Holmes
Take time to deliberate, but when the time for action has arrived, stop thinking and go in. ~ Napoleon Bonaparte
Although I definitely talk too much and write too much in this blog the very purpose for this blog's existence is action. Read my first post if you haven't already. The greatest epiphany I've had in the past few years is that talking about writing, or about being a writer, didn't make me one; if I write then I am a writer. To create the change I wanted in my life I had to BE the change.
Be the change you want to see in the world. ~ Gandhi
And this change starts with your own personal "world".
If you want to see a healthier world then be a healthier person; BE a daily runner.
If you want to fight corporate greed then keep your money away from their pockets; BE the customer of a small local bank.
If you want the world to a happier place then focus on being happier in your own life; BE a person who creates happiness for themselves and others.
I don't mean to be simplistic. Being any of the above examples is very hard. That's why so many people are bigger on talk than action. Action is SO much harder.
I realise these Motivational Monday posts are focused on people's words but the reason these people are quoted is not so much because of what they said but what they did. You remember someone because they wrote a great book, not beause they talked about writing a great book. Martin Luther King's great speech on freedom and equality is not remembered and quoted solely because of it's content, but because he lived those words in his life. He didn't just talk of change, he was a living example for change.
If we all focused on having great thoughts supported by great actions then we wouldn't need to think about our words; they would just come out great.
Greatness is not in where we stand, but in what direction we are moving. We must sail sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it -- but sail we must and not drift, nor lie at anchor. ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes
Saturday, November 19, 2011
To Value a Crust of Bread
It's a week late but this is my 11/11 rememberance post. I hope the world never forgets the attoricites of World War One and Two, and all war in fact.
My 3rd set of grandparents, so to speak, were Dutch (Oma and Opa we called them, as did their own grandchildren) and I am currently staying with their daughter, my Aunty Wilma and her husband Don in Canada. Oma, Opa and their children Wilma and Hans (my actual Uncle, married to my Dad's sister) lived in Rotterdam, The Nertherlands, until July 1960 when they immigrated to Canada.
Below is a story (in poetic form) which I will say is "based on a true story" but isn't a true retelling of events. Opa spoke very little of their experiences in World War II, Oma said nothing at all. He did tell me some stories when I saw them in 1997 and Wilma has expanded on those while I've been here.
When my Oma had gone to a nursing home and Opa was living on his own Aunty Wilma went to see him once and found an old crust of bread that he was keeping. She told him to throw it out and he said he may want it, which she scoffed at. Opa had never told her much of his experiences in the war, but he then told her about the crust of bread he wanted to pick up that a German soldier crushed into the dirt under his shoe.
"If you'd experienced what I have you would value a crust of bread differently." he said, but I paraphrase.
Between 1940-45 he experienced forced separation, twice in fact, from his wife and family (they had their son Hans the second time), who almost starved to death (as did he), slave labour, imprisonment for stealing food and all the gastly experiences that come with this and Nazi control. When his labour camp was liberated by the USA he was set free, around 300 miles from home without a penny, no food and no shoes.
To Value a Crust of Bread
My life was on a wire
Surviving only by desire
300 miles ahead of walking under fire
Free to go at last but so very far from home
With no shoes and not a penny
But there were many pairs to be found
On the dead bodies of soldiers littering the ground
I tried not to let my hopes get high
That my wife and baby son could still be alive
I'd heard some stories of people dying
(The dead were stacked in piles)
For lack of even one crust to share
So I stare intently ahead at the path I slowly tread
With a knowledge deep down in my heart that they weren't dead
Yet I had no food myself
So when I saw a crust of bread
Lying straight ahead in the dirt
I ran, though all my body hurt
But as I got close
A nearby Nazi soldier noticed and knew
Why I was running
And he callously crushed the crust under his shoe
I tried to hide my anguish and casually walked away
But the soldier called me over
And I knew that despite the all-but-official defeat I must obey
If I wanted to live another day
So I went towards him slow but steady
Seeming harmless but staying ready
And as I look him squarely in the eye
The face of every soldier
That had beat me endless times
Over the previous years of forced work
Cell bars and secret sabotage
Were running through my mind and I knew that though I'd try
It was an image I would never leave behind
He ordered me closer still
His eyes not hiding his desire to kill
But he wanted more than just to see me die
With his rifle butt he clubbed me hard
Then jumped on me as I tried to guard
My face from the punches wasted on a man so weak and tired
I could hear many planes flying
Over but he paid them no mind
Which still surprised me despite
The frequency that they were heard round this time
I was almost ready to give up this life
Knowing it could well mean I reunite with my wife
In a better place than this...when an explosion hit!
It destroyed the train close by
And in a moment that hate-filled soldier died
Right on top of me, convulsing with a repulsive sound
Coming from his mouth, as deadly shrapnel flew around
As the dust cleared I pushed him off
Now just a pin cushion for wood, metal and rock
He'd inadvertently given his life for mine
Which held for me an irony that someone so unkind
Ended up being the only reason I lived
To continue walking all the way to my country, wife and kid
And live for many happy years I did
Although with memories such as these
Which I'd never wish on you
But it wouldn't hurt for many I see to value
A crust of bread like myself and so many others like me do
~
I'd like to make an important point. In the true story the soldier actually threw himself on my Opa to save his life. But in this case, when I wanted to focus on the crust situation, which was a separate story, it didn't serve my literary purpose to use that angle. Just so you know. Writers have to take poetic licence sometimes. I'm sure there were many good German soldiers in WWI & II, although with abhorrent leadership. Nonetheless, I realise I'm perpetuating a stereotype, so I wanted to make this point.
My 3rd set of grandparents, so to speak, were Dutch (Oma and Opa we called them, as did their own grandchildren) and I am currently staying with their daughter, my Aunty Wilma and her husband Don in Canada. Oma, Opa and their children Wilma and Hans (my actual Uncle, married to my Dad's sister) lived in Rotterdam, The Nertherlands, until July 1960 when they immigrated to Canada.
Below is a story (in poetic form) which I will say is "based on a true story" but isn't a true retelling of events. Opa spoke very little of their experiences in World War II, Oma said nothing at all. He did tell me some stories when I saw them in 1997 and Wilma has expanded on those while I've been here.
When my Oma had gone to a nursing home and Opa was living on his own Aunty Wilma went to see him once and found an old crust of bread that he was keeping. She told him to throw it out and he said he may want it, which she scoffed at. Opa had never told her much of his experiences in the war, but he then told her about the crust of bread he wanted to pick up that a German soldier crushed into the dirt under his shoe.
"If you'd experienced what I have you would value a crust of bread differently." he said, but I paraphrase.
Between 1940-45 he experienced forced separation, twice in fact, from his wife and family (they had their son Hans the second time), who almost starved to death (as did he), slave labour, imprisonment for stealing food and all the gastly experiences that come with this and Nazi control. When his labour camp was liberated by the USA he was set free, around 300 miles from home without a penny, no food and no shoes.
To Value a Crust of Bread
My life was on a wire
Surviving only by desire
300 miles ahead of walking under fire
Free to go at last but so very far from home
With no shoes and not a penny
But there were many pairs to be found
On the dead bodies of soldiers littering the ground
I tried not to let my hopes get high
That my wife and baby son could still be alive
I'd heard some stories of people dying
(The dead were stacked in piles)
For lack of even one crust to share
So I stare intently ahead at the path I slowly tread
With a knowledge deep down in my heart that they weren't dead
Yet I had no food myself
So when I saw a crust of bread
Lying straight ahead in the dirt
I ran, though all my body hurt
But as I got close
A nearby Nazi soldier noticed and knew
Why I was running
And he callously crushed the crust under his shoe
I tried to hide my anguish and casually walked away
But the soldier called me over
And I knew that despite the all-but-official defeat I must obey
If I wanted to live another day
So I went towards him slow but steady
Seeming harmless but staying ready
And as I look him squarely in the eye
The face of every soldier
That had beat me endless times
Over the previous years of forced work
Cell bars and secret sabotage
Were running through my mind and I knew that though I'd try
It was an image I would never leave behind
He ordered me closer still
His eyes not hiding his desire to kill
But he wanted more than just to see me die
With his rifle butt he clubbed me hard
Then jumped on me as I tried to guard
My face from the punches wasted on a man so weak and tired
I could hear many planes flying
Over but he paid them no mind
Which still surprised me despite
The frequency that they were heard round this time
I was almost ready to give up this life
Knowing it could well mean I reunite with my wife
In a better place than this...when an explosion hit!
It destroyed the train close by
And in a moment that hate-filled soldier died
Right on top of me, convulsing with a repulsive sound
Coming from his mouth, as deadly shrapnel flew around
As the dust cleared I pushed him off
Now just a pin cushion for wood, metal and rock
He'd inadvertently given his life for mine
Which held for me an irony that someone so unkind
Ended up being the only reason I lived
To continue walking all the way to my country, wife and kid
And live for many happy years I did
Although with memories such as these
Which I'd never wish on you
But it wouldn't hurt for many I see to value
A crust of bread like myself and so many others like me do
~
I'd like to make an important point. In the true story the soldier actually threw himself on my Opa to save his life. But in this case, when I wanted to focus on the crust situation, which was a separate story, it didn't serve my literary purpose to use that angle. Just so you know. Writers have to take poetic licence sometimes. I'm sure there were many good German soldiers in WWI & II, although with abhorrent leadership. Nonetheless, I realise I'm perpetuating a stereotype, so I wanted to make this point.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Fortune AND Misfortune Favor The Brave
The Fortune of Misfortune.
Each misfortune you encounter will carry in it the seed of tomorrow's good luck. ~ Og Mandino
Continuing on from last week's Monday Motivational I'm exploring the idea of luck a little further - getting new perspective on making gutsy decisions and learning from them no matter the consequences.
People often quote the adage "Fortune favors the brave" but I think it should be "Fortune and misfortune favor the brave." Seeing "misfortune" as a fortune is key to success. Misfortune is things not going to plan on one occasion. But this is an absolute requirement if you are going to learn how to make it go to plan next time, or the time after that...or the time after that...
Genius is 1 percent inspiration, 99 percent perspiration. ~ Thomas Edison
I doubt I need to tell you the story of how many prototype light bulbs Edison made before he finally got to one that worked as he'd hoped.
I could go through piles of quotes along the lines of "If at first don't succeed try try again" but I doubt I need to whip that horse again for you to understand my point. It's easy to let ideas like this pass in one ear and out the other though, simply for that reason. How many times have you spoken to someone who's just come from a motivational talk and said "It was all stuff I've heard before"? That's because the hard part is not finding the information that can help you, it's applying it. Committing to the perspective adjustment, giving the idea all the power for change that it can impart.
Learning how to learn from your mistakes and always be growing is a key part of being a "lucky" individual. Part of the reason behind this is that the confidence you get from knowing from experience you can learn from your mistakes makes you more decisive and less fearful to make brave decisions, plus make them faster.
And this leads me to one final quote.
Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength, mastering yourself is true power.
~ Lao-Tzu
The fact that we're no longer living in caves, hunting wild, or any other Neanderthalic pastime, is proof that intelligence and wisdom are more powerful than any raw, individual, physical power. And I believe there is no power like truly knowing yourself - all the strengths and weaknesses, all the idiosyncrasies and idiotic tendencies. It could be said that having the wisdom to know how intelligent you aren't and then making bold but well thought out decisions in relation to this is the seed that will see an individual harvesting crops of "luck".
Each misfortune you encounter will carry in it the seed of tomorrow's good luck. ~ Og Mandino
Continuing on from last week's Monday Motivational I'm exploring the idea of luck a little further - getting new perspective on making gutsy decisions and learning from them no matter the consequences.
People often quote the adage "Fortune favors the brave" but I think it should be "Fortune and misfortune favor the brave." Seeing "misfortune" as a fortune is key to success. Misfortune is things not going to plan on one occasion. But this is an absolute requirement if you are going to learn how to make it go to plan next time, or the time after that...or the time after that...
Genius is 1 percent inspiration, 99 percent perspiration. ~ Thomas Edison
I doubt I need to tell you the story of how many prototype light bulbs Edison made before he finally got to one that worked as he'd hoped.
I could go through piles of quotes along the lines of "If at first don't succeed try try again" but I doubt I need to whip that horse again for you to understand my point. It's easy to let ideas like this pass in one ear and out the other though, simply for that reason. How many times have you spoken to someone who's just come from a motivational talk and said "It was all stuff I've heard before"? That's because the hard part is not finding the information that can help you, it's applying it. Committing to the perspective adjustment, giving the idea all the power for change that it can impart.
Learning how to learn from your mistakes and always be growing is a key part of being a "lucky" individual. Part of the reason behind this is that the confidence you get from knowing from experience you can learn from your mistakes makes you more decisive and less fearful to make brave decisions, plus make them faster.
And this leads me to one final quote.
Knowing others is intelligence; knowing yourself is true wisdom. Mastering others is strength, mastering yourself is true power.
~ Lao-Tzu
The fact that we're no longer living in caves, hunting wild, or any other Neanderthalic pastime, is proof that intelligence and wisdom are more powerful than any raw, individual, physical power. And I believe there is no power like truly knowing yourself - all the strengths and weaknesses, all the idiosyncrasies and idiotic tendencies. It could be said that having the wisdom to know how intelligent you aren't and then making bold but well thought out decisions in relation to this is the seed that will see an individual harvesting crops of "luck".
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Mind, I, Mine
Along with fighting my stomach due to food poisoning I've found myself fighting my mind this week. This was my common state once but I feel like I've improved. Then I'm left feeling like little has changed inside my head.
With my throat swollen and blazing, mirroring my brain, I've been awake the past 3 hours, but have wanted only to be asleep. Eventually I decided to write, figuring that writing some thoughts down would help. It's 7:30am, I've written, and now I have to get up and get on with my day.
I don't know that I can explain what living with my mind is like. Those who've witnessed me jabber away incessantly moving along a complicated, ever developing and changing line of discussion, which they were likely struggling to follow (and don't worry, so was I), may have some sense of what goes on in there. I struggle to keep up with its incessant nature, to keep in some control of it's path, it's obsession, its creation, it's destruction and it's deconstruction.
Right now, with not being well piled on top, it's just plain tiring.
I want to feel well and I want to feel clear minded.
Mind, I, Mine
Stop
Release
Give me
Some peace
This busy bee I hear won't cease
Flop
Lie down
I feel
The ground
Free me of all this rattling sound
Hop
Two feet
The sky
The street
Forward thought yet indiscreet
Top
Is what
A time
A spot
A rhyme this typical it's not
Tick Tock
That's it
What rhymes
With twit
My mind won't find a place to sit
And why - I cannot say but try
I will - this mind is I and mine
With my throat swollen and blazing, mirroring my brain, I've been awake the past 3 hours, but have wanted only to be asleep. Eventually I decided to write, figuring that writing some thoughts down would help. It's 7:30am, I've written, and now I have to get up and get on with my day.
I don't know that I can explain what living with my mind is like. Those who've witnessed me jabber away incessantly moving along a complicated, ever developing and changing line of discussion, which they were likely struggling to follow (and don't worry, so was I), may have some sense of what goes on in there. I struggle to keep up with its incessant nature, to keep in some control of it's path, it's obsession, its creation, it's destruction and it's deconstruction.
Right now, with not being well piled on top, it's just plain tiring.
I want to feel well and I want to feel clear minded.
Mind, I, Mine
Stop
Release
Give me
Some peace
This busy bee I hear won't cease
Flop
Lie down
I feel
The ground
Free me of all this rattling sound
Hop
Two feet
The sky
The street
Forward thought yet indiscreet
Top
Is what
A time
A spot
A rhyme this typical it's not
Tick Tock
That's it
What rhymes
With twit
My mind won't find a place to sit
And why - I cannot say but try
I will - this mind is I and mine
Monday, November 7, 2011
Luck Is The Idol Of The Idle
Luck Only Applies to Lottery Tickets.
I'm a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it. ~ Thomas Jefferson
Over my life there are two things I've been told a lot. "You're very lucky" and "you're very talented." And the context usually refers to the fact that I earn a living from playing music.
My response tends to be along the lines of "There has certainly been fortuitous circumstance, genetics and environment involved, but the fact is none of those things would've had me on this path if not for piles of guts, risks and hard work."
This is why I identify with Jefferson's quote. I don't mean to say luck had nothing to do with it. But I see no point in being focused on luck. To achieve great things you need to be brave and you need to work hard. And those are things you can control. Luck is some intangible, immeasurable thing that is just a distraction from the point.
Be ready when opportunity comes...Luck is the time when preparation and opportunity meet. ~ Roy D. Chapin Jr
I think this is a more accurate definition of luck.
A crucial point in my music career was making the choice to go to the head of the Conservatorium of Music at the WA Academy of Performing Arts and say "I want to do the Contemporary Music course". Bear in mind I had next-to-no skills on any instrument that the course included.
I bluffed my way to a bass audition, which I had to borrow a bass for (I'd done quite a few gigs but only on borrowed gear). I got through, more on the back of me singing and playing "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" than on any bass skills. In fact, the bass tutor I auditioned for told me I had the worst technique he'd ever seen. I may come from a very musical family and subsequently spent a lot of time involved with music from a very early age (i.e. I'm perceived as talented), but the only reason I could sing and play Crazy Little Thing Called Love was because I'd worked really hard to be able to do it for a gig.
Prior to that I'd spent many an afternoon after school working out Crowded House songs on my Dad's old classical guitar. I'd work out what the bass was playing then refer to the chord chart I found in the guitar case for possible chords with that as a root note. And then I had to be brave enough not only to take the opportunity to play bass when it was presented to me, but also to then walk into the Conservatorium and ask for an audition on an instrument I'd never been taught to play.
I worked hard to "get lucky" and get into the Conservatorium! And I can tell you that I only had to work harder from then on.
Luck is the idol of the idle. ~ Unknown
Luck? I don't know anything about luck. I've never banked on it, and I'm afraid of people who do. Luck to me is something else: Hard work - and realizing what is opportunity and what isn't. ~ Lucille Ball
Shallow men believe in luck. Strong men believe in cause and effect. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
Being deeply learned and skilled, being well trained and using well spoken words; This is good luck. ~ Buddha
Luck has a peculiar habit of favoring those who don't depend on it. ~ Unknown
So throw away the idea of luck. It only applies when buying a lottery ticket. Empower yourself with the idea of "making luck" through hard work and gutsy decision making. Which almost always involves putting yourself out of your comfort zone.
I'm a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it. ~ Thomas Jefferson
Over my life there are two things I've been told a lot. "You're very lucky" and "you're very talented." And the context usually refers to the fact that I earn a living from playing music.
My response tends to be along the lines of "There has certainly been fortuitous circumstance, genetics and environment involved, but the fact is none of those things would've had me on this path if not for piles of guts, risks and hard work."
This is why I identify with Jefferson's quote. I don't mean to say luck had nothing to do with it. But I see no point in being focused on luck. To achieve great things you need to be brave and you need to work hard. And those are things you can control. Luck is some intangible, immeasurable thing that is just a distraction from the point.
Be ready when opportunity comes...Luck is the time when preparation and opportunity meet. ~ Roy D. Chapin Jr
I think this is a more accurate definition of luck.
A crucial point in my music career was making the choice to go to the head of the Conservatorium of Music at the WA Academy of Performing Arts and say "I want to do the Contemporary Music course". Bear in mind I had next-to-no skills on any instrument that the course included.
I bluffed my way to a bass audition, which I had to borrow a bass for (I'd done quite a few gigs but only on borrowed gear). I got through, more on the back of me singing and playing "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" than on any bass skills. In fact, the bass tutor I auditioned for told me I had the worst technique he'd ever seen. I may come from a very musical family and subsequently spent a lot of time involved with music from a very early age (i.e. I'm perceived as talented), but the only reason I could sing and play Crazy Little Thing Called Love was because I'd worked really hard to be able to do it for a gig.
Prior to that I'd spent many an afternoon after school working out Crowded House songs on my Dad's old classical guitar. I'd work out what the bass was playing then refer to the chord chart I found in the guitar case for possible chords with that as a root note. And then I had to be brave enough not only to take the opportunity to play bass when it was presented to me, but also to then walk into the Conservatorium and ask for an audition on an instrument I'd never been taught to play.
I worked hard to "get lucky" and get into the Conservatorium! And I can tell you that I only had to work harder from then on.
Luck is the idol of the idle. ~ Unknown
Luck? I don't know anything about luck. I've never banked on it, and I'm afraid of people who do. Luck to me is something else: Hard work - and realizing what is opportunity and what isn't. ~ Lucille Ball
Shallow men believe in luck. Strong men believe in cause and effect. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
Being deeply learned and skilled, being well trained and using well spoken words; This is good luck. ~ Buddha
Luck has a peculiar habit of favoring those who don't depend on it. ~ Unknown
So throw away the idea of luck. It only applies when buying a lottery ticket. Empower yourself with the idea of "making luck" through hard work and gutsy decision making. Which almost always involves putting yourself out of your comfort zone.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
YouSchlube
Every now and again I get stuck in what I like to call "The YouTube Vacuum".
The word vacuum has a couple meanings here.
Firstly, I refer to the way it is so easy to get dragged from one video to the next and waste a pile of time before you even know what's happening.
Secondly, I refer to the piles of vacuous crap and morons it seems to suck up and then splatter their crap-laden comments onto the threads underneath these videos.
I was considering going on quite a rant about the amount of completely ignorant morons that exist, but then I think it best I just express myself in rhyme.
But before I do I will give you a quick tour through some of the videos I saw, although I will leave it to you if you wish to read the comments. I would also like to add here that these videos of the Japan Tsunami are very sad and disturbing, although extremely fascinating and eye-opening also.
As explored in the movie and graphic novel The Watchmen, and in conjunction with what I was saying in my last post, I find it interesting how a common enemy can unify people and make them realize that there are bigger matters than the little things they "quarrel" over. Yet, some of the idiots in the comments point to anything accept the simple truth - the power of our earth and the cosmos to destroy us. There is no "fault" in terrible tragedies like this. They always have and always will happen. It seems to be that any other opinion is born of hate, judgement and ignorance.
My mum sent me this video first...
Which led me to this video...
Which then led me to this video...
...and so on.
One comment piqued my interest and then I got reeled in.
After reading so many mind-numbingly stupid comments I felt inspired to write this poem.
YouSchlube
schlub [ʃlʌb] n.
US slang - a coarse or contemptible person
I find it hard to come to grips
With the fact that so many morons exist
And not merely that they live
But seem to need to give
The world their insight
As if many people might
Actually agree or find
It to be time to adjust their mind
To fit
With the thoughts of an idiot
It seems fair enough to say
That the majority come from the USA
But this observation is not fair
To all the great US citizens who care
About more than just their little-selves
And don't stack their mental shelves
With boxes for each race
Or sex or creed or colour of face
Because of a deed that's been done
By some
Or even by just one.
They seem quite obsessed with blame
And with justification in "God's" name
As if there is a power out there
Who has so much time to spare
While taking care of all the cosmos
To bring death and sadness and loss
To some humans, be they innocent or not
I really don't see what
That has to do with it at all
When clearly Mother Nature, a celestial ball
Just does her endless thing
She's not picking off insect wings
For fun
Malice or revenge
How dumb
But then it could be said that this
Poem is itself a judgment on those which
May not have had the same exposure as I
Or simply don't agree, no matter why
Which is fine, I guess, although I feel
It is a pity that this wheel
Of fortune deals to some out there
A character with the consistency of air
Simply blown about with ease
or as transparent as the hot, foul-smelling breeze
That endlessly blows out of their mouths
And change
Seems unfeasible, regardless of age
So this Tube that exhibits schlubs and fools
Also exhibits You - so I think it is a tool
For us all to express our thoughts
In the hope that we all be taught
A little more about the world we're in
And the billions that share it's skin
For this world is to be shared
And if with mutual respect our differences are aired
Rather than with anger, hate and hurt
Then we may all gain friends instead of dirt
Or power
And peace may finally be all of ours
The word vacuum has a couple meanings here.
Firstly, I refer to the way it is so easy to get dragged from one video to the next and waste a pile of time before you even know what's happening.
Secondly, I refer to the piles of vacuous crap and morons it seems to suck up and then splatter their crap-laden comments onto the threads underneath these videos.
I was considering going on quite a rant about the amount of completely ignorant morons that exist, but then I think it best I just express myself in rhyme.
But before I do I will give you a quick tour through some of the videos I saw, although I will leave it to you if you wish to read the comments. I would also like to add here that these videos of the Japan Tsunami are very sad and disturbing, although extremely fascinating and eye-opening also.
As explored in the movie and graphic novel The Watchmen, and in conjunction with what I was saying in my last post, I find it interesting how a common enemy can unify people and make them realize that there are bigger matters than the little things they "quarrel" over. Yet, some of the idiots in the comments point to anything accept the simple truth - the power of our earth and the cosmos to destroy us. There is no "fault" in terrible tragedies like this. They always have and always will happen. It seems to be that any other opinion is born of hate, judgement and ignorance.
My mum sent me this video first...
Which led me to this video...
Which then led me to this video...
...and so on.
One comment piqued my interest and then I got reeled in.
After reading so many mind-numbingly stupid comments I felt inspired to write this poem.
YouSchlube
schlub [ʃlʌb] n.
US slang - a coarse or contemptible person
I find it hard to come to grips
With the fact that so many morons exist
And not merely that they live
But seem to need to give
The world their insight
As if many people might
Actually agree or find
It to be time to adjust their mind
To fit
With the thoughts of an idiot
It seems fair enough to say
That the majority come from the USA
But this observation is not fair
To all the great US citizens who care
About more than just their little-selves
And don't stack their mental shelves
With boxes for each race
Or sex or creed or colour of face
Because of a deed that's been done
By some
Or even by just one.
They seem quite obsessed with blame
And with justification in "God's" name
As if there is a power out there
Who has so much time to spare
While taking care of all the cosmos
To bring death and sadness and loss
To some humans, be they innocent or not
I really don't see what
That has to do with it at all
When clearly Mother Nature, a celestial ball
Just does her endless thing
She's not picking off insect wings
For fun
Malice or revenge
How dumb
But then it could be said that this
Poem is itself a judgment on those which
May not have had the same exposure as I
Or simply don't agree, no matter why
Which is fine, I guess, although I feel
It is a pity that this wheel
Of fortune deals to some out there
A character with the consistency of air
Simply blown about with ease
or as transparent as the hot, foul-smelling breeze
That endlessly blows out of their mouths
And change
Seems unfeasible, regardless of age
So this Tube that exhibits schlubs and fools
Also exhibits You - so I think it is a tool
For us all to express our thoughts
In the hope that we all be taught
A little more about the world we're in
And the billions that share it's skin
For this world is to be shared
And if with mutual respect our differences are aired
Rather than with anger, hate and hurt
Then we may all gain friends instead of dirt
Or power
And peace may finally be all of ours
Monday, October 31, 2011
The best of times, the worst of times...
Value your voice.
I think it's fair to generalize that revolutions always start from "the ground" up. Often the change isn't completely ratified until "the top" takes action, but then this often doesn't occur until the undeniable majority support the change vocally.
"We must remember that one determined person can make a significant difference, and that a small group of determined people can change the course of history. ~ Sonia Johnson
This has been proved true many times in history. Not surprisingly, these are the words of a vocal supporter of equal rights across sex, race and social standing.
Someone who is in a position of power doesn't need to be reminded of their power, but someone who sees themselves as having no power does.
I believe this is where the "one determined person" comes in. That person is the flame that lights the darkness that people think they have no power to change.
Better to light a candle than curse the darkness. ~ Chinese Proverb
This saying can be interpreted a lot of ways, but I think an important perspective on it is this; better to focus on what small solutions you can instigate than waste energy complaining about what you say you can't change.
Don't get me wrong, there are things in this world that can't be changed, and I believe accepting this is a powerful thing in itself, freeing you mind to focus on what can be changed, but consider very careful what you believe can or can't be changed. I believe for most people more can be changed in their world, by way of their own efforts, than they think they can change - and maybe this is easier as it saves from feeling guilty for not acting.
The problem is that unless the people not in positions of power really value their voice and express to the "powers that be" what they want to see change then nothing will change. Unfortunately, the average person is so busy trying to get through life that there is no time left to actively express their "voice".
This is mirrored in what we are seeing in the "Occupy" movement. I heard today that 6.6 million jobs will need to be created in the USA to get employment back to where it was before the financial crisis. So now people are not only valuing their voice but they have time to actually express their views in a very visible, tangible manner. I find it ironic really, because if the dominant corporate culture of the world was more focused on keeping their "little" people employed than making money they may have been able to not only avoid the crisis, and the prevailing unemployment, but also all these cries to reign in corporate greed.
But to get back to my specific point here, I believe every person, on a small (family/office) and large (government) scale, should value their voice and take the time not only to speak their mind but to really think about what they want to say and why. The worst sort of revolution is one where people follow without thinking. To speak metaphorically, a flock of frantic sheep can trample a man but I don't know that this will fuel change that is in the benefit of the people.
I would rather we thought of ourselves as flies or bees. (We are the "little insects" of the world after all - and it should be noted that some of the deadliest creatures in the world are insects.) One buzzing insect is going to annoy a person, but I guarantee that a whole swarm of insects will make them move.
And this leads me to one other observation with the "Occupy" movement. I'm not sure that the swarm is focused enough on one "person", and lots of buzzing in the community will get attention but may not cause an important individual to "move". So I believe a more focused approach is required.
All the supporters for this "Occupy" movement (and I include myself in this) need to find more specific common ground and target their buzz on something and someone very specific. That target was wall street but I believe the movement, although growing in support, isn't yet growing in power as it could because the message is unclear. This can't be treated complacently either in my opinion. This continuous annoying buzz needs to be focused enough to inspire someone of power to make a move or the annoyance will get much and moves will start to be taken to wipe the movement out, as wrong as that is.
Maybe as the movement continues the buzzing will find a very specific target that can be encouraged to "move" and instigate real and lasting revolution in our society.
Going back to my point though, don't think that you have no power to create change. Not only is there more power the bigger the "sum of the some" but also the "some" need people to stand up and lead; people who value their voice and their community and, to speak globally, the rights of their whole planet and it's inhabitants. The fact is that the power of some always comes down to the power of one - the leadership of one (or some) individual(s) that inspires everyone to embrace there that each one of us have.
Leaders are made, they are not born. They are made by hard effort, which is the price which all of us must pay to achieve any goal that is worthwhile. ~ Vince Lombardi
Being a leader, valuing our voice, is not easy. If only we could ask people like Martin Luther King how hard it was - although certainly the price he paid in the end was as "hard" as they come. Anything good is worth fighting for, and it's unfortunate but too often in this world we really must fight for it.
No matter what challenges have to be overcome I hope we all look to the leader, the voice, inside us at this crucial time in the world's history.
It is the best of times. It is the worst of times...
I think it's fair to generalize that revolutions always start from "the ground" up. Often the change isn't completely ratified until "the top" takes action, but then this often doesn't occur until the undeniable majority support the change vocally.
"We must remember that one determined person can make a significant difference, and that a small group of determined people can change the course of history. ~ Sonia Johnson
This has been proved true many times in history. Not surprisingly, these are the words of a vocal supporter of equal rights across sex, race and social standing.
Someone who is in a position of power doesn't need to be reminded of their power, but someone who sees themselves as having no power does.
I believe this is where the "one determined person" comes in. That person is the flame that lights the darkness that people think they have no power to change.
Better to light a candle than curse the darkness. ~ Chinese Proverb
This saying can be interpreted a lot of ways, but I think an important perspective on it is this; better to focus on what small solutions you can instigate than waste energy complaining about what you say you can't change.
Don't get me wrong, there are things in this world that can't be changed, and I believe accepting this is a powerful thing in itself, freeing you mind to focus on what can be changed, but consider very careful what you believe can or can't be changed. I believe for most people more can be changed in their world, by way of their own efforts, than they think they can change - and maybe this is easier as it saves from feeling guilty for not acting.
The problem is that unless the people not in positions of power really value their voice and express to the "powers that be" what they want to see change then nothing will change. Unfortunately, the average person is so busy trying to get through life that there is no time left to actively express their "voice".
This is mirrored in what we are seeing in the "Occupy" movement. I heard today that 6.6 million jobs will need to be created in the USA to get employment back to where it was before the financial crisis. So now people are not only valuing their voice but they have time to actually express their views in a very visible, tangible manner. I find it ironic really, because if the dominant corporate culture of the world was more focused on keeping their "little" people employed than making money they may have been able to not only avoid the crisis, and the prevailing unemployment, but also all these cries to reign in corporate greed.
But to get back to my specific point here, I believe every person, on a small (family/office) and large (government) scale, should value their voice and take the time not only to speak their mind but to really think about what they want to say and why. The worst sort of revolution is one where people follow without thinking. To speak metaphorically, a flock of frantic sheep can trample a man but I don't know that this will fuel change that is in the benefit of the people.
I would rather we thought of ourselves as flies or bees. (We are the "little insects" of the world after all - and it should be noted that some of the deadliest creatures in the world are insects.) One buzzing insect is going to annoy a person, but I guarantee that a whole swarm of insects will make them move.
And this leads me to one other observation with the "Occupy" movement. I'm not sure that the swarm is focused enough on one "person", and lots of buzzing in the community will get attention but may not cause an important individual to "move". So I believe a more focused approach is required.
All the supporters for this "Occupy" movement (and I include myself in this) need to find more specific common ground and target their buzz on something and someone very specific. That target was wall street but I believe the movement, although growing in support, isn't yet growing in power as it could because the message is unclear. This can't be treated complacently either in my opinion. This continuous annoying buzz needs to be focused enough to inspire someone of power to make a move or the annoyance will get much and moves will start to be taken to wipe the movement out, as wrong as that is.
Maybe as the movement continues the buzzing will find a very specific target that can be encouraged to "move" and instigate real and lasting revolution in our society.
Going back to my point though, don't think that you have no power to create change. Not only is there more power the bigger the "sum of the some" but also the "some" need people to stand up and lead; people who value their voice and their community and, to speak globally, the rights of their whole planet and it's inhabitants. The fact is that the power of some always comes down to the power of one - the leadership of one (or some) individual(s) that inspires everyone to embrace there that each one of us have.
Leaders are made, they are not born. They are made by hard effort, which is the price which all of us must pay to achieve any goal that is worthwhile. ~ Vince Lombardi
Being a leader, valuing our voice, is not easy. If only we could ask people like Martin Luther King how hard it was - although certainly the price he paid in the end was as "hard" as they come. Anything good is worth fighting for, and it's unfortunate but too often in this world we really must fight for it.
No matter what challenges have to be overcome I hope we all look to the leader, the voice, inside us at this crucial time in the world's history.
It is the best of times. It is the worst of times...
Thursday, October 27, 2011
New York Is Here To Walk You Through
I was in New York from this time last week through til Saturday night playing gigs with some friend's from Sydney who's band are called "The Trip".
Although I've been to New York 4 times before I've never actually stayed there for more than 2 nights so this was my longest stay on record, plus the first time I've actually gigged there, which made it an extra-memorable trip.
I was staying in the lower east side, right next door to the Hell's Angels' New York headquarters actually. I saw New Yorkers "Occupy Wall Street", occupy cabs constantly, occupy basements or little flats, or occupy no place in particular at all.
I was staying in the lower east side, right next door to the Hell's Angels' New York headquarters actually. I saw New Yorkers "Occupy Wall Street", occupy cabs constantly, occupy basements or little flats, or occupy no place in particular at all.
Needless to say it was nice to be there feeling like I was following a real occupation that "dreams are made of", as is the spirit of New York it seems. In that way you'd say it was like LA, but that (along with the celebrities and paparazzi) would be the only way they are substantially similar. It felt very much like London to me, particularly as it was drizzling lightly and continuously when I arrived.
The highlight though came courtesy of the band's friend (and now mine), Cori. She has an old 2-player tabletop arcade machine with Galaga, 1942, Pacman, Arkinoid, Millipede. Along with a signed, framed poster of "The Hoff" (David Hasselhoff. To clarify, it had a very personal note on it - she's actually friends with him). But then that's hard to beat. ;)
I met a lot of great people and learned a lot of great stuff about how the music industry is changing, to my advantage, which is the opposite of what many musicians think these days. I feel I'm lucky to be living in a time when I can have control over my music career's direction and my music itself. I don't have to rely on a record company to "give me my break" anymore. (Phew!)
Now for a poem about New York. I was going to record myself reciting it, as I often do, but this time I wanted to leave it to the individual to experience and interpret the way the rhyme lopes and flows, much as I've taken a different feeling away from New York every time I've been there.
It's wonderful town...
From stars goodbyes til far past dark
Stark yellow parked cars bark and bite
All fighting to move, and in short bursts they do
But then there are some you see thumping and crashing
Unlike attractive fashion fans, but not so unlike the clash of
Cameras dancing for the chance to cash in on Kardashians
Endlessly flashing, splashing white with gasping passion
It’s a sight – there’s no question
Like the signs that line and strobely-light Time Square
Be it day or night, like the leaves of the concrete jungle
Don’t ever let those wet dreams stumble
Keep out of trouble, don’t walk down there
Those with looks don’t stare, no matter what strange style of hair
Or boot or hat, or thin or fat, more than a brush but don’t look back
They may be high on life, or wine, or ice,
Or lines, crack pipes or Scooby Snacks
Or lines, crack pipes or Scooby Snacks
It’s all right – best not question
Soon I have to leave but many here won’t be feeling warmer breeze
For years, maybe more because they’re sure, or maybe just stuck is all
but either way they’re here, and the mere desire to join this fray
Must be enough to stay and soon adjust or you’ll return to dust
like death, a mess with nothing left – like this guy I guess
Fighting what he says was the hand dealt down
And down - And down
Reciting vows and saying how it wasn't always as it is now
He's gonna get back off the ground, with your help, absolutely any
He's only asking for a penny, but would take a pound - why would he turn it down?
For years, maybe more because they’re sure, or maybe just stuck is all
but either way they’re here, and the mere desire to join this fray
Must be enough to stay and soon adjust or you’ll return to dust
like death, a mess with nothing left – like this guy I guess
Fighting what he says was the hand dealt down
And down - And down
Reciting vows and saying how it wasn't always as it is now
He's gonna get back off the ground, with your help, absolutely any
He's only asking for a penny, but would take a pound - why would he turn it down?
A chance looks more deranged than spangled as you change the angle
That the glance you stole could show you in the moment squeezed
After these tricky streets made you feel brand new
Thanks to the beats from the buds that hug your ears
After these tricky streets made you feel brand new
Thanks to the beats from the buds that hug your ears
And move your feet – it’s true – there’s nothing you can’t do
Come join the jungle turned into a giant zoo
Monday, October 24, 2011
Be a momentary fool, not a permanent one...
Growth and individuality.
These two ideas go right to the heart of my motivation to blog.
He who asks a question is a fool for a minute; he who does not remains a fool forever.
~ Chinese Proverb
The willingness to ask questions stems directly from a willingness to admit you have something to learn. Without this growth is impossible. If you’re not willing to look stupid for a moment, to be humbled, you cannot gain the knowledge and wisdom that garnishes true respect, not to mention the respect that's issued to someone who shows a willingness to be humble and admit they don’t have all the answers.
It’s my belief that respect forms the backbone of every single relationship in our lives. From work friends to close friends to girl/boyfriends to dolphin friends. If respect is compromised you will always find the relationship dissolving.
The simple act of asking someone a question shows respect by demonstrating that they know something you don’t. This respect is then returned - well, if the person shows they have at least listened to the answer the person has given - this being an integral part of respect also.
There is another crucial point here though. Asking questions and giving active, intelligent thought to the answers and the merit you believe they hold is what helps us form our individual identities. Furthermore, our willingness to express our individual thoughts and challenge those around us, and in turn be challenged, maintaining respect for each persons individuality at all times, is what feeds all growth and change. From each individual relationship this approach of respectful questioning, openness and honesty is what fuels real social revolution.
If we are not willing to ask questions and then question the answers we get (although in a respectful manner) we are merely sheep; cookie-cutter clones and mindless followers. Growth is lost. Individuality is lost.
One of my favourite people to quote is Ralph Waldo Emerson. This is taking a very small part of a larger, more in depth statement, but he says in Self-Reliance - Imitation is suicide. Be accepting of self but determined to grow and discover further the individuality that defines you. This will in turn make you the most beneficial to those around you and society as a whole.
I'll leave you with one statement that rounds this subject out, in the words of a recently-passed revolutionary of our modern culture.
Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.
~ Steve Jobs
These two ideas go right to the heart of my motivation to blog.
He who asks a question is a fool for a minute; he who does not remains a fool forever.
~ Chinese Proverb
The willingness to ask questions stems directly from a willingness to admit you have something to learn. Without this growth is impossible. If you’re not willing to look stupid for a moment, to be humbled, you cannot gain the knowledge and wisdom that garnishes true respect, not to mention the respect that's issued to someone who shows a willingness to be humble and admit they don’t have all the answers.
It’s my belief that respect forms the backbone of every single relationship in our lives. From work friends to close friends to girl/boyfriends to dolphin friends. If respect is compromised you will always find the relationship dissolving.
The simple act of asking someone a question shows respect by demonstrating that they know something you don’t. This respect is then returned - well, if the person shows they have at least listened to the answer the person has given - this being an integral part of respect also.
There is another crucial point here though. Asking questions and giving active, intelligent thought to the answers and the merit you believe they hold is what helps us form our individual identities. Furthermore, our willingness to express our individual thoughts and challenge those around us, and in turn be challenged, maintaining respect for each persons individuality at all times, is what feeds all growth and change. From each individual relationship this approach of respectful questioning, openness and honesty is what fuels real social revolution.
If we are not willing to ask questions and then question the answers we get (although in a respectful manner) we are merely sheep; cookie-cutter clones and mindless followers. Growth is lost. Individuality is lost.
One of my favourite people to quote is Ralph Waldo Emerson. This is taking a very small part of a larger, more in depth statement, but he says in Self-Reliance - Imitation is suicide. Be accepting of self but determined to grow and discover further the individuality that defines you. This will in turn make you the most beneficial to those around you and society as a whole.
I'll leave you with one statement that rounds this subject out, in the words of a recently-passed revolutionary of our modern culture.
Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.
~ Steve Jobs
Sunday, October 23, 2011
A New Creative Year Begins
So firstly - I'd like to bring attention to my comment on my last post about my Blogaversary. Janice McLeod, a.k.a. "Blog Mama", left a comment and I replied in kind, expressing my thanks for her influence. I'd like you all to have a read and then go to her incredible blog of nomadic brilliance and give her more of the much-deserved love her followers reward her with.
Now onto today. I'm currently in NYC at CMJ Marathon 2011, playing with a very happening pop-rock-funk-reggae band called, The Trip. Check 'em out. During the day there are talks, presentations, performances and panel discussion for emerging artists and I've found them very interesting, informative and inspiring. I've met some great people an if any of them are reading this I thank-you so much for your help and advise these past few days.
This leads me to why I've not posted on my blog since my Blogaversary. I've been thinking about what goal, plan and focus I want to set for my blog over the current year. My previous plan of posting a record of my daily creativity was very effective. So much so that by mid-way through the year I was progressively running out of time to blog due to putting time into working out how I was going to "package" all this new creativity of mine. The first "package" will be my first solo EP, Calienteza, to be released in the coming month or so.
This year though I'm going to be a little more regimented.
I want to explore the key points to being an artist - inspiration, motivation and originality.
And here's what you can expect.
Everyone knows you need a little extra motivation on a Monday. So every Monday I will be doing a bit of writing discussing a quote which has inspired and motivated me. My hope is to pass on and multiply this inspiration and motivation, without multiplying the amount of words too much.
By the middle of the week you'll hopefully feel ready for some of my creative work and I'll post something entirely new and original I've created. This could be anything of the breadth that my blog has covered so far - poems, songs, photos, photo editing, short stories, general comment & discussion, etc...
Everyone knows the end of the week is really busy so I'll likely leave you alone, except if I have something new that I've created that I'm busting to show you. Then on the weekend I'll post something that is original but directly influenced or inspired by something or someone specific.
This is my current idea anyway. I make a point of not over-thinking these blog posts too much so this idea could change as it's only come to mind today.
So please keep your eye out for Facebook and Twitter posts about my latest blog entry or for other developments in my artistis career.
For now, here's something I did on Wednesday. It's a collage I did of photos I've taken (except the one in the middle, taken of me), using only the Photoshop selection tool called "magic wand", colour adjustment using "curves" editing, and the use of layers. I wanted to see what would come of it. I think it's pretty interesting and I may use it on the new webpage that I'm currently designing for my original music.
I look forward to another interesting creative journey over the year ahead.
After posting this blog I remembered one more photo I wanted add. Let's treat it as a "spot the difference" exercise. You tell me what you see has been added. I think it's a very stereo-typically Hawaiian addition.
Now onto today. I'm currently in NYC at CMJ Marathon 2011, playing with a very happening pop-rock-funk-reggae band called, The Trip. Check 'em out. During the day there are talks, presentations, performances and panel discussion for emerging artists and I've found them very interesting, informative and inspiring. I've met some great people an if any of them are reading this I thank-you so much for your help and advise these past few days.
This leads me to why I've not posted on my blog since my Blogaversary. I've been thinking about what goal, plan and focus I want to set for my blog over the current year. My previous plan of posting a record of my daily creativity was very effective. So much so that by mid-way through the year I was progressively running out of time to blog due to putting time into working out how I was going to "package" all this new creativity of mine. The first "package" will be my first solo EP, Calienteza, to be released in the coming month or so.
This year though I'm going to be a little more regimented.
I want to explore the key points to being an artist - inspiration, motivation and originality.
And here's what you can expect.
Everyone knows you need a little extra motivation on a Monday. So every Monday I will be doing a bit of writing discussing a quote which has inspired and motivated me. My hope is to pass on and multiply this inspiration and motivation, without multiplying the amount of words too much.
By the middle of the week you'll hopefully feel ready for some of my creative work and I'll post something entirely new and original I've created. This could be anything of the breadth that my blog has covered so far - poems, songs, photos, photo editing, short stories, general comment & discussion, etc...
Everyone knows the end of the week is really busy so I'll likely leave you alone, except if I have something new that I've created that I'm busting to show you. Then on the weekend I'll post something that is original but directly influenced or inspired by something or someone specific.
This is my current idea anyway. I make a point of not over-thinking these blog posts too much so this idea could change as it's only come to mind today.
So please keep your eye out for Facebook and Twitter posts about my latest blog entry or for other developments in my artistis career.
For now, here's something I did on Wednesday. It's a collage I did of photos I've taken (except the one in the middle, taken of me), using only the Photoshop selection tool called "magic wand", colour adjustment using "curves" editing, and the use of layers. I wanted to see what would come of it. I think it's pretty interesting and I may use it on the new webpage that I'm currently designing for my original music.
I look forward to another interesting creative journey over the year ahead.
After posting this blog I remembered one more photo I wanted add. Let's treat it as a "spot the difference" exercise. You tell me what you see has been added. I think it's a very stereo-typically Hawaiian addition.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
I know Steve Jobs has died and people are "Occupying Wall Street" but in other big news - it's my Blogaversary!
Yes - this blog has been going a year. 140 posts to be exact. I won't dwell on the fact that I posted more in the first 3 months than I did in the last 9. What's important is I achieved my goal - being creative. This blog has fueled a huge amount of creativity and seen more of the real me get "out there" than I ever thought I could handle.
I also got engaged to Sam. (I'll soon tick "Marry your soulmate" off my bucket list! Nice one.)
In the past 12 months my commitment to this blog has resulted in me writing 14 songs, 80+ poems, a dozen or so motivational articles and posting 100+ photos (some soon to be sold on Etsy), many of which with my own flavour of photo editing. I'm also only about a month out from releasing my solo EP, Calienteza.
When I look at all of this I'm quite amazed. I didn't write as much as that in the 3 or 4 years previous, if not more.
That said my usual thought process still leads me to think "how much more could you have done then? You could've been even more committed. What could you have achieved then?"
But those sort of thoughts are not what this blog is about. This blog is about today. I've realised that writing, being creative, is a big part of what gives me daily happiness, and to me that is the secret of life. I've not been striving for perfection, I've spent enough of my life doing that and, although an important part of my personality, it's not always the most effective approach. What I've been striving for is to act, to do, to BE an artist.
My blog title still proves to be very apt for me - it's been a struggle all year and continues to be. Every day that I don't mentally commit anew to a creative career is a day that I don't take at least one more small step forward in that direction. Life will naturally drag you away from such a goal. But I'm still at it. Fighting to do my writing, as usual.
I believe the coming year will see me take some more big steps forward. Many of which will relate to the work I've posted on this blog in the past year.
I hope you will continue to follow my journey. But I hope more that it inspires you to commit to living every day a happy, love-filled, productive person. In turn inspiring those you know to also live happier, more "present" lives.
I may never revolutionize the technological world like Steve Jobs, and I may never be someone with the absolute power to make decisions that will change people's lives. But I can change my life. I can revolutionize the way I think. I can live a long and happy life.
But no matter how many days I get on this earth, today will always be the day that matters most.
Thanks for reading my blog!
I also got engaged to Sam. (I'll soon tick "Marry your soulmate" off my bucket list! Nice one.)
In the past 12 months my commitment to this blog has resulted in me writing 14 songs, 80+ poems, a dozen or so motivational articles and posting 100+ photos (some soon to be sold on Etsy), many of which with my own flavour of photo editing. I'm also only about a month out from releasing my solo EP, Calienteza.
When I look at all of this I'm quite amazed. I didn't write as much as that in the 3 or 4 years previous, if not more.
That said my usual thought process still leads me to think "how much more could you have done then? You could've been even more committed. What could you have achieved then?"
But those sort of thoughts are not what this blog is about. This blog is about today. I've realised that writing, being creative, is a big part of what gives me daily happiness, and to me that is the secret of life. I've not been striving for perfection, I've spent enough of my life doing that and, although an important part of my personality, it's not always the most effective approach. What I've been striving for is to act, to do, to BE an artist.
My blog title still proves to be very apt for me - it's been a struggle all year and continues to be. Every day that I don't mentally commit anew to a creative career is a day that I don't take at least one more small step forward in that direction. Life will naturally drag you away from such a goal. But I'm still at it. Fighting to do my writing, as usual.
I believe the coming year will see me take some more big steps forward. Many of which will relate to the work I've posted on this blog in the past year.
I hope you will continue to follow my journey. But I hope more that it inspires you to commit to living every day a happy, love-filled, productive person. In turn inspiring those you know to also live happier, more "present" lives.
I may never revolutionize the technological world like Steve Jobs, and I may never be someone with the absolute power to make decisions that will change people's lives. But I can change my life. I can revolutionize the way I think. I can live a long and happy life.
But no matter how many days I get on this earth, today will always be the day that matters most.
Thanks for reading my blog!
Friday, September 30, 2011
California Camping Fun Winding Up The 1
Two main creative outlets continue to dominate my energy of late - recording my EP and photography.
The EP recording is coming along, thanks to a solid 10 day run of all night tracking sessions through late August and the start of September. I'll have more news on that soon. Stay tuned...
Sam's Dad very kindly gifted us a pile of old SLR camera gear to sell to help fund my recording and our wedding. This included lovely old 35mm film metal-bodied SLR cameras, including a Nikon FG. So when a last minute opportunity came for Sam and I to take a camping trip up "The 1" (central Californian coastal highway) past Santa Barbara, Big Sur, San Francisco to the Napa Valley, I couldn't help but take a camera to "test".
Below are some of the results. These were all full manual shots, although the Nikon FG was a very advanced camera for its day and is very user friendly. I was glad that my manual photography skills and knowledge were still fairly intact. I did manage to expose one roll of films slightly by accidentally popping the back open, plus shoot 30 shots on a single frame of film before realising that the film wasn't feeding through. I was not happy. In fact, out of 4 rolls shot only 1 was completed without a hitch. It's easy to see why digital is has taken over.
It was nice to experience that anticipation again though, the time spent wondering how your shots have come out, and waiting for your chance to get back the prints and look through them. That's become a thing of the past for 99.9% of people of people and situations these days.
The trip was a lot of fun! I go to meet some of Sam's close friends from her Peace Corp days in Ecuador, Arjun (and his 2 kids Iris & Theo - unfortunately his wife Christy was out of town) and Caitlin, plus Caitlin's fiancé, also called Josh, and her Dad, George. All extremely wonderful people!
Have a look through the photos and tell me any favourites in the comments. This first one has already gone to be enlarged and will soon be for sale on Etsy. More on that soon...
1) Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, Beach Waterfall- Big Sur, CA
2) Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, Beach Waterfall- Big Sur, CA
3) Watching the sunset from the rocks with my acoustic guitar
4) A David Austin Rose in the garden of the Santa Barbara Mission
5) The fountain out the front of the Santa Barbara Mission (background)
6) The Big Sur River - Big Sur State Park, CA
7) The Big Sur Coast
8) Monterey, CA - I don't know what these things are called but I like them
9) Incredible view of the Napa Valley from Caitlin & Josh's (not me) block
10) Moss and spider webs in the trees
11) Los Lobos (The Wolves in Spanish) State Park, CA
12) California's Coastal Colours
13) Beauty & The Breeze
14) Beauty & the Ginger Beard
The EP recording is coming along, thanks to a solid 10 day run of all night tracking sessions through late August and the start of September. I'll have more news on that soon. Stay tuned...
Sam's Dad very kindly gifted us a pile of old SLR camera gear to sell to help fund my recording and our wedding. This included lovely old 35mm film metal-bodied SLR cameras, including a Nikon FG. So when a last minute opportunity came for Sam and I to take a camping trip up "The 1" (central Californian coastal highway) past Santa Barbara, Big Sur, San Francisco to the Napa Valley, I couldn't help but take a camera to "test".
Below are some of the results. These were all full manual shots, although the Nikon FG was a very advanced camera for its day and is very user friendly. I was glad that my manual photography skills and knowledge were still fairly intact. I did manage to expose one roll of films slightly by accidentally popping the back open, plus shoot 30 shots on a single frame of film before realising that the film wasn't feeding through. I was not happy. In fact, out of 4 rolls shot only 1 was completed without a hitch. It's easy to see why digital is has taken over.
It was nice to experience that anticipation again though, the time spent wondering how your shots have come out, and waiting for your chance to get back the prints and look through them. That's become a thing of the past for 99.9% of people of people and situations these days.
The trip was a lot of fun! I go to meet some of Sam's close friends from her Peace Corp days in Ecuador, Arjun (and his 2 kids Iris & Theo - unfortunately his wife Christy was out of town) and Caitlin, plus Caitlin's fiancé, also called Josh, and her Dad, George. All extremely wonderful people!
Have a look through the photos and tell me any favourites in the comments. This first one has already gone to be enlarged and will soon be for sale on Etsy. More on that soon...
1) Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, Beach Waterfall- Big Sur, CA
2) Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, Beach Waterfall- Big Sur, CA
3) Watching the sunset from the rocks with my acoustic guitar
4) A David Austin Rose in the garden of the Santa Barbara Mission
5) The fountain out the front of the Santa Barbara Mission (background)
6) The Big Sur River - Big Sur State Park, CA
7) The Big Sur Coast
8) Monterey, CA - I don't know what these things are called but I like them
9) Incredible view of the Napa Valley from Caitlin & Josh's (not me) block
10) Moss and spider webs in the trees
11) Los Lobos (The Wolves in Spanish) State Park, CA
12) California's Coastal Colours
13) Beauty & The Breeze
14) Beauty & the Ginger Beard
Monday, August 29, 2011
Photos and Friends
I'm totally buried in recording right now. And I'll not have a lot to show for all my time in the short term. You'll get more entries with new recordings fairly soon.
I thought I should at least post some new photos to get your opinions on. So at the bottom are six macro photos I took of flowers. I want to know which photo you'd most want to look at in large on your wall. I wanted to round it down to four as usual but this time the best I could do was six choices. Last week's winner was my shot - Autumn in the Lake District, UK.
Before you move on to the photos, the highest voted of which will end up as Etsy listings in a month or so, I'd like to mention some other friends of mine on Etsy and elsewhere.
These are people who I think do incredible creative work and have a distinct creative personality, something I'm continuing to strive for but do not always feel I yet possess. For this reason, as well as them being lovely people, I encourage you to take a look at their pages. These people are putting themselves and their work out their for the world to see, all by themselves - no mass advertising or promotion budgets - just good products, so show them some support and spread the word!
I've mentioned my lovely friends and appreciated supporters Megan and Janice before. So I won't repeat myself as I'm always writing too much. Just click on their names and you'll soon find your way to their work.
Here are some more I've not mentioned before.
Kerry Cole Fine Art - Card & Print Shoppe
Kerry has some very vintage-styled and emotively-driven work. I bought the post cards above and Kerry very kindly through in some extra cards. The next shot shows some of her card designs, although these ones are specifically gift tags.
And this last one is my favourite painting of hers, that she has incorporated into card form.
Sora Designs
I really like Wen's original approach to jewelry. The mix of colour with the metal has such an original and vibrant feel. Here are a few of my favourites. Quite bold and different. Unique and beautiful. A must-see/must-buy Etsy shop for any hip and individual jewelry lovers out there!
A Foodly Affair
My good friend Hannah is a very creative and original chef (specialising in raw and vegan), blogger, teacher, foodologist (I think this is the title), and healthy eating advocate, not to mention mother of 1.5 (she's expecting her 2nd). I've done a guest post on her blog this week so go check it out, make my recipe and tell me (and her) what you think. It's easy and healthy.
Here are a few other of my favourite out of her blog posts.
Vanilla/Chocolate Fudge Biscuits (YUM!)
B is for Beetroot
Watermelon Candy (and more)
So here are my six photos. Please place your votes in the poll in the right column. There are 2 other "photo's for Etsy" postings if go back over my August posts.
1) Fire Sticks
2) A Pink Pigeon Pair
3) Hello From The Happy Little Pink People
4) A Beacon In The Bleak
5) Big In Beauty
6) The Euro Bustle Blurs To Silence
I thought I should at least post some new photos to get your opinions on. So at the bottom are six macro photos I took of flowers. I want to know which photo you'd most want to look at in large on your wall. I wanted to round it down to four as usual but this time the best I could do was six choices. Last week's winner was my shot - Autumn in the Lake District, UK.
Before you move on to the photos, the highest voted of which will end up as Etsy listings in a month or so, I'd like to mention some other friends of mine on Etsy and elsewhere.
These are people who I think do incredible creative work and have a distinct creative personality, something I'm continuing to strive for but do not always feel I yet possess. For this reason, as well as them being lovely people, I encourage you to take a look at their pages. These people are putting themselves and their work out their for the world to see, all by themselves - no mass advertising or promotion budgets - just good products, so show them some support and spread the word!
I've mentioned my lovely friends and appreciated supporters Megan and Janice before. So I won't repeat myself as I'm always writing too much. Just click on their names and you'll soon find your way to their work.
Here are some more I've not mentioned before.
Kerry Cole Fine Art - Card & Print Shoppe
Kerry has some very vintage-styled and emotively-driven work. I bought the post cards above and Kerry very kindly through in some extra cards. The next shot shows some of her card designs, although these ones are specifically gift tags.
And this last one is my favourite painting of hers, that she has incorporated into card form.
Sora Designs
I really like Wen's original approach to jewelry. The mix of colour with the metal has such an original and vibrant feel. Here are a few of my favourites. Quite bold and different. Unique and beautiful. A must-see/must-buy Etsy shop for any hip and individual jewelry lovers out there!
A Foodly Affair
My good friend Hannah is a very creative and original chef (specialising in raw and vegan), blogger, teacher, foodologist (I think this is the title), and healthy eating advocate, not to mention mother of 1.5 (she's expecting her 2nd). I've done a guest post on her blog this week so go check it out, make my recipe and tell me (and her) what you think. It's easy and healthy.
Here are a few other of my favourite out of her blog posts.
Vanilla/Chocolate Fudge Biscuits (YUM!)
B is for Beetroot
Watermelon Candy (and more)
So here are my six photos. Please place your votes in the poll in the right column. There are 2 other "photo's for Etsy" postings if go back over my August posts.
1) Fire Sticks
2) A Pink Pigeon Pair
3) Hello From The Happy Little Pink People
4) A Beacon In The Bleak
5) Big In Beauty
6) The Euro Bustle Blurs To Silence
Sunday, August 21, 2011
First Night On The Town Turns Latin
A year ago today I went on a date - a very important date. And I wasn't even late. (Terrible Alice In Wonderland quote, I know)
Needless to say it was with Sam. And it was the most memorable date of my life, hands down.
For once I don't need to send you, gagging and nauseous, for the nearest paper bag due to a long-winded saccharine story explaining the songs inspiration. Just listen to the song and a lot of the story is there. I hope it paints a picture of Sam and I's special night out getting to know each other on own for the first time - my first night on the town in LA.
When I posted my first recording of this tune the response was "I like that new Jack Johnson-like tune." But although I consider that a compliment and have taken many things from him, such as his pick-free playing style, I wanted this song to have more of a "party" vibe. And I wanted it to reflect the fact that it was the night I first found out Sam spoke Spanish and had lived in Ecuador for over 2 years do volunteer work with the Peace Corp. I also feel that a Latin vibe just suits the idea of a night on the town.
Plus I wanted people, Sam & I included, to be able to Salsa to the song and it feel appropriate. I may not have mentioned that Sam and I have done some dancing lessons recently, focusing on Latin. Unfortunately they are on hold while I try to get my EP recordings finished. We'll get back to it before too long I hope.
This recording is just another pre-production recording. Everything is in the process of being recorded again, with the exception of the percussion which my friend in Melbourne, Arunchala Satgunasignham, has done such an AWESOME job of!
For lyrics go to this page - just make sure it opens in a separate tab and you listen to this version of the song, not the one on that page, which was my first recording, done immediately following writing the song.
First Night On The Town
Needless to say it was with Sam. And it was the most memorable date of my life, hands down.
For once I don't need to send you, gagging and nauseous, for the nearest paper bag due to a long-winded saccharine story explaining the songs inspiration. Just listen to the song and a lot of the story is there. I hope it paints a picture of Sam and I's special night out getting to know each other on own for the first time - my first night on the town in LA.
When I posted my first recording of this tune the response was "I like that new Jack Johnson-like tune." But although I consider that a compliment and have taken many things from him, such as his pick-free playing style, I wanted this song to have more of a "party" vibe. And I wanted it to reflect the fact that it was the night I first found out Sam spoke Spanish and had lived in Ecuador for over 2 years do volunteer work with the Peace Corp. I also feel that a Latin vibe just suits the idea of a night on the town.
Plus I wanted people, Sam & I included, to be able to Salsa to the song and it feel appropriate. I may not have mentioned that Sam and I have done some dancing lessons recently, focusing on Latin. Unfortunately they are on hold while I try to get my EP recordings finished. We'll get back to it before too long I hope.
This recording is just another pre-production recording. Everything is in the process of being recorded again, with the exception of the percussion which my friend in Melbourne, Arunchala Satgunasignham, has done such an AWESOME job of!
For lyrics go to this page - just make sure it opens in a separate tab and you listen to this version of the song, not the one on that page, which was my first recording, done immediately following writing the song.
First Night On The Town
Thursday, August 18, 2011
A life-changing moment...
It's only a couple of hours past exactly one year since the moment I first saw Sam. Considering she is already my Fiancé of nearly 3 months it stands to reason that it was a life changing moment.
I saw her first - through a window, looking into a house from outside, her having just entered, and she was smiling at our friends that invited us both then giving them hugs hello. My first words were to my brother, Luke - "Who's that?!" "That's Sam. She's got a beautiful face huh?" "You're not kidding." In my head I was saying "WOW!"
She came outside, where most people were and stood next to me, where we were introduced, then we sat & talked. She got up and to go inside a few minutes later, and funnily enough I found a reason to go inside, too. I went to the fridge, cut into a conversation she was having on the way back (in the politest way possible) and basically spent the rest of the night talking to her. The moment that everyone who was there likes to quote is when I was passed a piece if cake for desert I said "what happened to ladies first?" Everyone laughs about this, saying I was really putting on a show. But I still maintain that I would've said that even if the girl next to me wasn't the most stunning girl I'd ever had the pleasure of sharing conversation with.
A really interesting point I'm going to interject with here is that she was sitting on the couch after a hard day of work considering seriously the idea of pulling out of coming to this dinner, as she often did, as she was doing her Dental Surgery Residency. How's that for a clutch life decision?!!
Back to my story...
Needless to say I was floored. So beautiful. So lovely. So unique. I was certainly nervous and should've been very intimidated but there wasn't one uncomfortable moment. And I can quite honestly say that there have only been 2 uncomfortable moments between us and both were on our first date. More embarrassing moments than uncomfortable really. I find it quite incredible. She has been a ball of surprises since the start, never being what I expected, or exactly what I would've defined as "perfect" previously, but something else so much better, that not even the greatest imagination could conjure in such detail, uniqueness and exquisiteness.
Sorry - there is going to a lot of gushing this month. Then I'll give you a bit of a break until the wedding on January 5th, 2012.
I wrote this song on the last day of the year last year in reflection on that night and how we had both been so "lost in goodbyes" in the years before meeting each other. Although we both say we had made a lot of leeway with moving on before we met it was definitely the catalyst to letting go of our pasts once and for all and embracing a future filled with happiness and true love.
I performed the song for Sam tonight, sitting in the exact spot in the same house where I first saw her standing and smiling that night. It was very convenient that the friends who's house it is have us looking after their fish and plants while they're off getting married and honeymooning.
I also performed her another song that I wrote just for this occasion. I'll put that on my next post though.
Go to this page if you want to read the lyrics.
Penny & Jacob
P.S. I forgot to put my poll on the right column of the page to vote for the photos I posted yesterday! Oops. It's up there now so please vote. I'd love to know which one is your favourite!
I saw her first - through a window, looking into a house from outside, her having just entered, and she was smiling at our friends that invited us both then giving them hugs hello. My first words were to my brother, Luke - "Who's that?!" "That's Sam. She's got a beautiful face huh?" "You're not kidding." In my head I was saying "WOW!"
She came outside, where most people were and stood next to me, where we were introduced, then we sat & talked. She got up and to go inside a few minutes later, and funnily enough I found a reason to go inside, too. I went to the fridge, cut into a conversation she was having on the way back (in the politest way possible) and basically spent the rest of the night talking to her. The moment that everyone who was there likes to quote is when I was passed a piece if cake for desert I said "what happened to ladies first?" Everyone laughs about this, saying I was really putting on a show. But I still maintain that I would've said that even if the girl next to me wasn't the most stunning girl I'd ever had the pleasure of sharing conversation with.
A really interesting point I'm going to interject with here is that she was sitting on the couch after a hard day of work considering seriously the idea of pulling out of coming to this dinner, as she often did, as she was doing her Dental Surgery Residency. How's that for a clutch life decision?!!
Back to my story...
Needless to say I was floored. So beautiful. So lovely. So unique. I was certainly nervous and should've been very intimidated but there wasn't one uncomfortable moment. And I can quite honestly say that there have only been 2 uncomfortable moments between us and both were on our first date. More embarrassing moments than uncomfortable really. I find it quite incredible. She has been a ball of surprises since the start, never being what I expected, or exactly what I would've defined as "perfect" previously, but something else so much better, that not even the greatest imagination could conjure in such detail, uniqueness and exquisiteness.
Sorry - there is going to a lot of gushing this month. Then I'll give you a bit of a break until the wedding on January 5th, 2012.
I wrote this song on the last day of the year last year in reflection on that night and how we had both been so "lost in goodbyes" in the years before meeting each other. Although we both say we had made a lot of leeway with moving on before we met it was definitely the catalyst to letting go of our pasts once and for all and embracing a future filled with happiness and true love.
I performed the song for Sam tonight, sitting in the exact spot in the same house where I first saw her standing and smiling that night. It was very convenient that the friends who's house it is have us looking after their fish and plants while they're off getting married and honeymooning.
I also performed her another song that I wrote just for this occasion. I'll put that on my next post though.
Go to this page if you want to read the lyrics.
Penny & Jacob
P.S. I forgot to put my poll on the right column of the page to vote for the photos I posted yesterday! Oops. It's up there now so please vote. I'd love to know which one is your favourite!
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Four Landscapes and Four Seasons
Thanks to all those who voted on my four Western Australian sunset photos. Here are the final standings;
1) Yallingup Beach
2) Bathurst Lighthouse, Rottnest Island
3) Government Lake, Rottnest Island
4) Redgate Beach
Second and Third was a close race but Yallingup Beach was the clear winner. This will be the first of my photos to be enlarged and if I'm happy with how it looks it'll be listed on Etsy. I'll keep you informed.
Here are four more photos to vote on, one for each season.
First is Winter - a shot of Big Ben and (just slightly) the English Parliament behind the snow-covered, leafless trees of Embankment. This was "the day that London stopped", being completely unprepared for the volume of snow the night before. The next winter ('11) I actually left London the day before even worse snow storms came through. I was glad I missed it to be honest. But I was really glad that I got this unique shot. I actually like the icicles on the old street lamp (right of photo) the best.
Second is Spring - well, I'm going to confess, this wasn't taken in Spring. It's Australia, which doesn't really get four seasons. So I'm calling it Spring. I don't think you could say it doesn't look like it. I was very happy to get a lucky opportunity with this angle so I could get the Habour Bridge, Opera House, Fort Denison, a little of the CBD, and a fortuitously placed yacht.
Third is Summer - (well, the end of Spring in truth...) I call these "The Windmills of Don Quixote" because it's said to be windmills in this area that are referred to in Miguel de Cervantes legendary novel "Don Quixote". They're in the Spanish region of La Mancha, which falls between Madrid and Valencia. I encourage you to read the book - although, like me, you may not get through it. It is often considered one of the earliest examples of fiction prose (depending on what books in history you refer to as fiction), particularly due to its appeal to the common man. But when you consider what the common man's reading skills would've been like in Spain in the early 1600's I can only imagine how long it took to read!
Fourth is Autumn (and it really is!) - And what a place to be in Autumn, or any time of year for that matter. The Lake District in the UK is without question one of the most beautiful places on earth. It doesn't surprise me in the slightest that, despite not wanting to originally move there, my ancestor Robert Southey lived the latter half of his life there. This photo is taken with my back to Derwent Water, facing Keswick (said Kez-ick) with the mountain ("fell" locals would call it) Skiddaw, tallest in the region, in the background. I think that the man-applied red spots on the sheep add a certain something. Something unique. It takes away a little of the stereotypicalness of the scene and makes it different, albeit it in a "tainted by man" sort of way.
So place your votes using the poll in the right column! Thanks!!
1) Yallingup Beach
2) Bathurst Lighthouse, Rottnest Island
3) Government Lake, Rottnest Island
4) Redgate Beach
Second and Third was a close race but Yallingup Beach was the clear winner. This will be the first of my photos to be enlarged and if I'm happy with how it looks it'll be listed on Etsy. I'll keep you informed.
Here are four more photos to vote on, one for each season.
First is Winter - a shot of Big Ben and (just slightly) the English Parliament behind the snow-covered, leafless trees of Embankment. This was "the day that London stopped", being completely unprepared for the volume of snow the night before. The next winter ('11) I actually left London the day before even worse snow storms came through. I was glad I missed it to be honest. But I was really glad that I got this unique shot. I actually like the icicles on the old street lamp (right of photo) the best.
Second is Spring - well, I'm going to confess, this wasn't taken in Spring. It's Australia, which doesn't really get four seasons. So I'm calling it Spring. I don't think you could say it doesn't look like it. I was very happy to get a lucky opportunity with this angle so I could get the Habour Bridge, Opera House, Fort Denison, a little of the CBD, and a fortuitously placed yacht.
Third is Summer - (well, the end of Spring in truth...) I call these "The Windmills of Don Quixote" because it's said to be windmills in this area that are referred to in Miguel de Cervantes legendary novel "Don Quixote". They're in the Spanish region of La Mancha, which falls between Madrid and Valencia. I encourage you to read the book - although, like me, you may not get through it. It is often considered one of the earliest examples of fiction prose (depending on what books in history you refer to as fiction), particularly due to its appeal to the common man. But when you consider what the common man's reading skills would've been like in Spain in the early 1600's I can only imagine how long it took to read!
Fourth is Autumn (and it really is!) - And what a place to be in Autumn, or any time of year for that matter. The Lake District in the UK is without question one of the most beautiful places on earth. It doesn't surprise me in the slightest that, despite not wanting to originally move there, my ancestor Robert Southey lived the latter half of his life there. This photo is taken with my back to Derwent Water, facing Keswick (said Kez-ick) with the mountain ("fell" locals would call it) Skiddaw, tallest in the region, in the background. I think that the man-applied red spots on the sheep add a certain something. Something unique. It takes away a little of the stereotypicalness of the scene and makes it different, albeit it in a "tainted by man" sort of way.
So place your votes using the poll in the right column! Thanks!!
Saturday, August 13, 2011
A Year Of Love and Surprises
It was a year ago that I landed in LA.
I don't think I need to tell the story again but certainly I'd had to make some very sudden and unexpected adjustments to my life's plans and was feeling rather defeated. Particularly as these unexpected changes had put me out of a lot of money and separated me from my UK bands.
Coming to LA was a big financial risk at a time when I was no longer in much of a position to take financial risks. Due to the love and support of my family, particularly my parents, I was able to make this sudden adjustment, while facing the sure knowledge that I would be returning to Perth at the end of the year to pay back the debt I'd created, then maybe return to LA if I could afford it and felt it was right.
This decision changed my life. Most notably because 4 days after arriving I met my now-Fiancé; the delightful, individual and delectable Samantha Brenner. I assure you that any doubt I had over whether LA was the place for me disappeared the instant I laid eyes on her. And since then she has surprised me daily with something about her incomparable-self that makes me so happy whenever she's by my side, or even if she's not.
I will get to the relevance of this soon, my gushing aside.
This has been one year of fresh fun, unexpected surprises and endless love. The best year of my life to date, no question. The thing that's most enabled me to grow though is knowing that I still get down and frustrated with things despite all the happiness in my life, and am subsequently learning how to deal with these moments in a more balanced and productive way as I don't have so many extraneous factors to point the finger at.
Again, Sam is a big help with that, and today I'd like to share something she said to me.
I was talking to her about my frustration over getting my EP recordings finished and about other annoying things that are getting me down or angry.
This may not be the exact quote but this is basically it;
"Is expending all this time and energy on these problems and thoughts making you feel happier?"
Although talking things through is crucial, as demonstrated by the fact that talking is what produced this comment, sometimes you can be left dwelling on something that's getting you down. Ultimately, it's positive action that results in you ending your day feeling happy. I believe this is a fundamental part of living a happy life, as a happy life can be simply defined as approximately 30,000 days of being focused on happiness (if you get past 80) and not negativity.
So is what you're doing now going to make you happy at the end of the day? Well...of course the answer is yes as how could reading my blog do anything but make you happy...
But in a more general sense you need to cut out things that aren't adding to your happiness, even if it seems selfish at times to do so. Unselfishness usually results in happiness, but can result in the opposite if not done so with a balance of consideration to self.
Next time you finish the day feeling unhappy, frustrated or angry try pondering for a moment exactly why it is that you've not been happy and satisfied with your day. For me that may be "because I didn't get any writing done", or "because I'm struggling financially", or "because [X, Y, Z] situation is annoying me."
Adjust your plan for the next day to not include anything that can be avoided, whether that means spending less time obsessing over something that is annoying you, spending at least some time getting done that thing that is so easy to put off but so crucial to your happiness (like an exercise program for example), or not wasting time on something which is monopolizing your time and attention but in truth doesn't add to your fundamental happiness.
Some things you may not be able to change though. So make the decision to turn any energy you're putting into being down and frustrated about that thing you can't change and instead put it into something that does make you happy and you can change. You will find this other thing more easily to let go of when you're feeling happy.
Some things you can't change immediately but you can change over time if you're committed. So think about what little step you can take the next day so that you can see that you're one step closer to making the change that you know will result in you being happier, e.g. working on a skill or building knowledge, like playing an instrument or learning about something you want to start a new career direction in.
It's always amazing to me how adjusting how you spend as little as 30 minutes to an hour of your day can be enough to make you feel happy instead of down at the end of the day.
Lastly, consider your day again and look away from the things that are getting you down and towards the things that should've made you happy, were you not so entrenched in what was making you unhappy. This may be a funny conversation you had with a friend (aren't you lucky to have them!), the little task that you've been procrastinating that you finally got done, or the smile you saw on your little child's face when you got home.
For me it's easy - I just look at Sam and I know that any reason I'm finding to be down is easily corrected by the knowledge that I'm the luckiest guy alive!
So there is the final relevance of all my gushing. Thanks for reading all that. I hope it helps you make your days happier.
Thanks to all those who voted on my sunset pictures from last week. The most liked photo was of Yallingup Beach, Western Australia. This will soon be available at my new Etsy store, which I would put a link to here but it doesn't yet exist as you can't have a shop with nothing in it! I will keep you informed though.
Look out for my next post and vote on your favourite photo for this week.
I don't think I need to tell the story again but certainly I'd had to make some very sudden and unexpected adjustments to my life's plans and was feeling rather defeated. Particularly as these unexpected changes had put me out of a lot of money and separated me from my UK bands.
Coming to LA was a big financial risk at a time when I was no longer in much of a position to take financial risks. Due to the love and support of my family, particularly my parents, I was able to make this sudden adjustment, while facing the sure knowledge that I would be returning to Perth at the end of the year to pay back the debt I'd created, then maybe return to LA if I could afford it and felt it was right.
This decision changed my life. Most notably because 4 days after arriving I met my now-Fiancé; the delightful, individual and delectable Samantha Brenner. I assure you that any doubt I had over whether LA was the place for me disappeared the instant I laid eyes on her. And since then she has surprised me daily with something about her incomparable-self that makes me so happy whenever she's by my side, or even if she's not.
I will get to the relevance of this soon, my gushing aside.
This has been one year of fresh fun, unexpected surprises and endless love. The best year of my life to date, no question. The thing that's most enabled me to grow though is knowing that I still get down and frustrated with things despite all the happiness in my life, and am subsequently learning how to deal with these moments in a more balanced and productive way as I don't have so many extraneous factors to point the finger at.
Again, Sam is a big help with that, and today I'd like to share something she said to me.
I was talking to her about my frustration over getting my EP recordings finished and about other annoying things that are getting me down or angry.
This may not be the exact quote but this is basically it;
"Is expending all this time and energy on these problems and thoughts making you feel happier?"
Although talking things through is crucial, as demonstrated by the fact that talking is what produced this comment, sometimes you can be left dwelling on something that's getting you down. Ultimately, it's positive action that results in you ending your day feeling happy. I believe this is a fundamental part of living a happy life, as a happy life can be simply defined as approximately 30,000 days of being focused on happiness (if you get past 80) and not negativity.
So is what you're doing now going to make you happy at the end of the day? Well...of course the answer is yes as how could reading my blog do anything but make you happy...
But in a more general sense you need to cut out things that aren't adding to your happiness, even if it seems selfish at times to do so. Unselfishness usually results in happiness, but can result in the opposite if not done so with a balance of consideration to self.
Next time you finish the day feeling unhappy, frustrated or angry try pondering for a moment exactly why it is that you've not been happy and satisfied with your day. For me that may be "because I didn't get any writing done", or "because I'm struggling financially", or "because [X, Y, Z] situation is annoying me."
Adjust your plan for the next day to not include anything that can be avoided, whether that means spending less time obsessing over something that is annoying you, spending at least some time getting done that thing that is so easy to put off but so crucial to your happiness (like an exercise program for example), or not wasting time on something which is monopolizing your time and attention but in truth doesn't add to your fundamental happiness.
Some things you may not be able to change though. So make the decision to turn any energy you're putting into being down and frustrated about that thing you can't change and instead put it into something that does make you happy and you can change. You will find this other thing more easily to let go of when you're feeling happy.
Some things you can't change immediately but you can change over time if you're committed. So think about what little step you can take the next day so that you can see that you're one step closer to making the change that you know will result in you being happier, e.g. working on a skill or building knowledge, like playing an instrument or learning about something you want to start a new career direction in.
It's always amazing to me how adjusting how you spend as little as 30 minutes to an hour of your day can be enough to make you feel happy instead of down at the end of the day.
Lastly, consider your day again and look away from the things that are getting you down and towards the things that should've made you happy, were you not so entrenched in what was making you unhappy. This may be a funny conversation you had with a friend (aren't you lucky to have them!), the little task that you've been procrastinating that you finally got done, or the smile you saw on your little child's face when you got home.
For me it's easy - I just look at Sam and I know that any reason I'm finding to be down is easily corrected by the knowledge that I'm the luckiest guy alive!
So there is the final relevance of all my gushing. Thanks for reading all that. I hope it helps you make your days happier.
Thanks to all those who voted on my sunset pictures from last week. The most liked photo was of Yallingup Beach, Western Australia. This will soon be available at my new Etsy store, which I would put a link to here but it doesn't yet exist as you can't have a shop with nothing in it! I will keep you informed though.
Look out for my next post and vote on your favourite photo for this week.