Looking back, it’s fairly obvious that I’ve always aspired to keep a “board of directors” for advice and guidance. I haven’t simply looked up to people around me in silence and awe, I’ve literally roped those people into mentorship and service. I have many memories – some crisp and less-so – of talking philosophy, economics, life stories, relationships, values, goals, etcetera with one, some, or all of these wonderful humans in a variety of spaces and times. The better I got to know each of my chosen ‘board members,’ the more human they became to me. This is not to… Read More »
Decompression
Never underestimate the power of decompression, be it time alone with a good book, or sharing the craziness of life with your friends. I say “sharing” carefully – somehow getting together with friends to “decompress” has become fairly synonymous with BITCHING. If you’re a creative person making your own way in today’s world, yours is a path of increasing uncertainty these days. Getting together with friends and colleagues that are your equals in passion and motivation is a great way to refill your own energy tank. Getting together to “bitch” will just drain your tank further. Choose your Friday nights… Read More »
Let There be Light?
Air has sound. Initially, we think of it as silent, invisible substance. But dig deeper and think of the wind — the sound changes as it encounters obstacles, impediments. It’s just air, but it definitely has sound. Think of the sound of air as it’s compressed and released. Our lives are surrounded by the sound of compressed air… refrigerators, air conditioners, pumps… so many of us are so used to it that we’ve become unaware of it; we’ve tuned it out. (Actually, fun fact — did you know that compressed air is so widely used that it is often regarded as the fourth… Read More »
When Sound Rattles My Soul
Last weekend I traveled with the Buffalo Silver Band to Syracuse where we performed an epic arrangement of “Feierlicher Einzug” (Gesundheit!) It helped that we were epically displaced around the chapel so that we surrounded our audience and ourselves. It’s a beast of a song. In rehearsal, the first time we read through, all I could think was “holy crap on a cracker, I’m blowing my brains out!” and “Are we going to get to breathe anywhere in this?!?!” But rehearse we did and magic we made. The SU Brass Ensemble, Buffalo Silver Band, Bones East, and organist Bette Kahler joined forces in this… Read More »