… do you know the scene in Forrest Gump where he just stopped running… and didn’t really offer an explanation? Thankfully, a few of you noticed that I “stopped writing” – which meant a few were actually paying attention and reading these daily muses. To be honest, like Forrest there was not a lot of thought given to it: once I realized I was going to make it for 365 in a row, that was an easy target. And crossed, it was interesting that I still had something to say – sorta – and certainly, there is a lot of music that I still haven’t featured. Strangely the list of artists I haven’t done is longer than the ones I have, including this one… but I do have a few updates that are worth passing along, particularly as I am going to ask you to help us soon…
… I was never a big David Bowie fan… but then again, I was not a big Ed Van Halen fan until I dug into his backstory. As I look back over the last year, it was that series of posts that really turned a big corner for me. Realizing that he was gone and that so many people were touched so deeply by that loss clued me into really diving in. Sadly the same thing is true with Bowie who left us in early 2016 – before a lot of the real divisiveness that we are still dealing with. It would be fascinating if he was still with us to see what he would say…
… but I think his biggest thrill would be realizing like Ed, the lives that he had impacted with his music over the 50+ years he was in it. And this is not the start of a week on Bowie, but there will be one coming soon. I loved the song Heroes, and had put that on a repeat playlist for the last couple of weeks. That led me to look up his bass player (shocker there…) who I knew was amazing but really didn’t know much about her. Gail Ann Dorsey – and her tribute to David will give you some idea what his impact was at least on that life… and so many others.
Right after I crossed the 365 boundary, I also crossed over into my 41st years of marriage to a woman I have known for 43 years, and that was a good reason also to pause and celebrate. With shots and sickness for us both, it felt right to let us really get better and leave the streak with the exclamation point of Joy. hen turned into my favorite season – Spring. As I raked away the leaves left as a blanket last winter, behold some of the plants I had planted or moved are springing into formation in the wilderness. It is interesting to note the ones that give the most joy are those that I have noticed are flowers and not weeds, and moved to a place that others may notice. I am now planning out where to add to the palette out our windows – enough color and teasing of organization to trick you into thinking that this is real work…
… like the blog. While this is important to me, it has also become something for you. Your comments help guide me even if you don’t know it. Those that touch you, those that don’t, say more/say less, louder/softer, sooner/later… I have fooled you into thinking this is work.. And that there is actually a plan… which is where you will come in. Soon. A small team has come forward to help me rethink both the target and approach of my writing, which means they are asking me really hard questions. Not offering “advice” or “you should” – but the much harder work of challenging ME to think – deeply – about where this goes now.
First and foremost, we have been flying blind and unorganized, which we are fixing pronto. Where the readers are coming from, and more importantly, what is it they are enjoying the most we are starting to tease out. Some of you offered some insights in a survey about a year ago, and this survey is still open if you want to add additional thoughts. I particularly covet your thoughts on topics that you would like to see us dive into, and music that you would like to see represented. I am actually going to develop a real plan for the year, so get your thoughts to me before June 1.
Most of all I am happy to report that I have actually taken my own “advice” and have been working hard on the Mark 3.0 plan using the Designing Your Life and Positive Intelligence and I will be officially weaving that into my offerings going forward. The good news is that the focus on Music figures prominently in my plans… and the bad news is that it is really hard work. Questions are powerful, particularly those that force you to actually think and not simply react. I am learning how to assemble that team, and how to leverage them… so that I can offer that to you and others… I hadn’t really thought about how this song would sound with Bowie singing it, but with Gail’s voice it works – well. Enjoy it, and we will be back in touch in June with some new requests and insights… but never Under Pressure.
