2011-11-05 (Not) A Book Report
It's been another month where we have been very busy, but not necessarily in ways that you'd find newsworthy. We just kept pushing ahead in our lives and in our music, which doesn't always mean stories to share with you. Fortunately, I read "Just Kids," by Patti Smith, so I think there's still something worth saying to you.
No, I'm not going to use a book report to fill space, but I was moved by this book and reminded of some things. I don't think any are new ideas for me, but I think they're all important, at least for me. And maybe they'll mean something to one of you as well, or inspire you to read the book, to find your own ideas (or maybe just to read it and be moved, as I was moved).
Jason showed up for a work session with a very early birthday gift for me. I haven't done much reading at all the last few years, and any time I might have spent on that in the past is now filled with other things. It takes a special book or the right circumstances for me to make time these days. (Somewhere in time, younger versions of me are as disappointed to read that as some of you. But I love you all anyway...Ha!) So, Jason showed up with a book. In this case, a number of things prompted me to find time to read it. And I devoured it quickly, spread across just a couple days. Here are a handful of the things I was reminded of as I read.
- I'm sure this applies to more than just musicians and artists...In fact, I can see how it applies to life in general...Our journeys to glory or success or meaningful happiness are not necessarily straight-forward. We often take strange, unexpected paths or have to try new things we haven't thought of before. And, either way, we must persist, and often we have to have courage (sometimes to stand up to things outside of us and sometimes to stand up to things inside us). So we have to keep ourselves open to the paths before us and we have to know what we most want. Press on to the victory, right?
- How very, very blessed I am not to be living in abject poverty whilst I do this. I have always lived in places with their own toilets. There have been no lice. I have managed to be free to work on what matters without having to sleep in doorways or clean needles from my stove when I move in. I manage to eat enough and haven't had to shoplift for music equipment. Going to keep that in mind as I snuggle into my comfortable bed tonight...
- If I have to choose between love and music, I'll choose love. There's no story that can't be made sadder, no triumph (of art or war or will or any other sort) that can't be made to shine less, no goodness that can't be dulled by taking away the love. No artist or other hero can fill all their emptiness without love. Not that a person needs a romantic partner to have a fulfilling life, but there are all sorts of love we can give and receive. At the very least, being a person full of love makes it a better life. And, yes, if I had to choose, I'd choose love.
- Related, it's amazing the troubles we can make it through and the dreams we can obtain if we have good friends who stay by our side. (Not just about having those friends...We should be those friends.)
- For those of us making music (and probably any sort of art), there's something special to finding someone who can be your companion in art, as it were. Someone who understands what you're doing, but is outside your head and willing to offer input. Someone you can trust with your unfinished (or possibly finished) work. Maybe they'll just be a fellow creator, or maybe they'll be a bandmate or other sort of partner in your project. But they'll be a good friend with good instincts. And, yeah, there's a lovely magic in that.
- Even if you're genius, the path to artistic success will probably involve crossing paths with the right people at the right time. And since you never know when or how that might happen, you've just got to give the best of who you are every time you're putting your art out there. Play every show like it matters, because it does. Because, going back to the very first point, even if the person who can get you your break isn't there, what you do might still mean something to somebody watching. You might be the person who helps point them at their next unexpected path or gives them something that gets them through their own battle.
- And, honestly, a lot of those add up to this: community is important. If you caught my interview on NWCZ radio, you know that I truly believe in the benefits of community, especially of musicians and artists coming together to create community. It's just the way to find someone to fill in the hole on your bill, to stand in for your sick bandmate, to kick you when you're not giving all you could. I truly believe the path forward will be better with community than without.
Like I said, nothing new or revolutionary, but seeing my ideas validated by someone else's life helps keep me on track. (And these appeal to my optimistic, dreamer, hippie "love is the answer" little self, clearly.) Now, go read it yourself. Or make some kind of art. Have courage. Keep battling. And appreciate your lice-free living place!
xxx
Amber