Like most people, the thought of starting a blog has been rattling around in my brain for a few years. I came up with an idea for a name, and then it sat, untouched for a year. Then I thought about different things that I could write or comment on, fiddled around with different blog programs, and then it sat again...Well, this is the official beginning. (And what a riveting way to get things started!)
This will most likely revolve around music discovery, comments on new bands that I am getting into (whether they are new to everyone else remains to be seen), and just random thoughts on life and culture.
This is my beginning...
[UPDATED - 6/15/2014] My initial thought about having a blog was that I would write a lot about bands, the music industry, discovery, etc.. What I have discovered in writing so far, is that at this point in my life, although music is an important part of my life, there are so many other things that are occupying my time and take up space in my mind. Several years ago, all I thought about was music - playing music, writing music, recording music, music music music - but something happened along the way that I didn't expect. My priorities, and my thoughts about who I am changed. I used to have an identity that was completely wrapped up in being a musician. I thought that it was something that made me important, something that validated me as a creative individual, and I looked forward to being sought after by bands and artists that might "need these magic hands to play the drums for them." While I do love to play the drums, and I enjoy playing for all sorts of people, I've come to the realization that I am much more than that as a person.
I've been learning that a person's worth is not found simply in what they do, and what they can offer people. If we look at each other that way, or ourselves, it means that we are only valuable if we have something that the people around us want from us. As soon as we stop being "productive" in their eyes, we can be cast out as nothing, since nobody wants anything further from us.
I read a quote the other day about families and friends being the only group of people that get together purely based on their commitment to one another, not the tangible (or material) benefit of what can be gained from maintaining that relationship. In other words, with friends, people get together because they enjoy one another and care for one another. There is no motivation for any sort of material gain from that relationship. It is simply the lives of the people involved are enriched by one another. With families, the individuals may not even enjoy being with each other (siblings, etc.), but there is a commitment to live and work together because of the status of your relationship, rather than the motivation for material gain.
A lot of random thoughts are pouring out... My whole point in all of this is that I been discovering that every individual is important and has worth, no matter what their abilities may be. If we look past the idea that we have something to be gained when connecting with other people, we will be able to see that there is a great variety of people in this world, and every one has worth simply because they exist.
This will most likely revolve around music discovery, comments on new bands that I am getting into (whether they are new to everyone else remains to be seen), and just random thoughts on life and culture.
This is my beginning...
[UPDATED - 6/15/2014] My initial thought about having a blog was that I would write a lot about bands, the music industry, discovery, etc.. What I have discovered in writing so far, is that at this point in my life, although music is an important part of my life, there are so many other things that are occupying my time and take up space in my mind. Several years ago, all I thought about was music - playing music, writing music, recording music, music music music - but something happened along the way that I didn't expect. My priorities, and my thoughts about who I am changed. I used to have an identity that was completely wrapped up in being a musician. I thought that it was something that made me important, something that validated me as a creative individual, and I looked forward to being sought after by bands and artists that might "need these magic hands to play the drums for them." While I do love to play the drums, and I enjoy playing for all sorts of people, I've come to the realization that I am much more than that as a person.
I've been learning that a person's worth is not found simply in what they do, and what they can offer people. If we look at each other that way, or ourselves, it means that we are only valuable if we have something that the people around us want from us. As soon as we stop being "productive" in their eyes, we can be cast out as nothing, since nobody wants anything further from us.
I read a quote the other day about families and friends being the only group of people that get together purely based on their commitment to one another, not the tangible (or material) benefit of what can be gained from maintaining that relationship. In other words, with friends, people get together because they enjoy one another and care for one another. There is no motivation for any sort of material gain from that relationship. It is simply the lives of the people involved are enriched by one another. With families, the individuals may not even enjoy being with each other (siblings, etc.), but there is a commitment to live and work together because of the status of your relationship, rather than the motivation for material gain.
A lot of random thoughts are pouring out... My whole point in all of this is that I been discovering that every individual is important and has worth, no matter what their abilities may be. If we look past the idea that we have something to be gained when connecting with other people, we will be able to see that there is a great variety of people in this world, and every one has worth simply because they exist.