My entire adult life has been predicated to some degree on the idea that life is what one makes it. At least the big decisions have always been made that way.
But sometimes I forget I have this power, and I feel fustrated about this or that, to the point of feeling trapped. Here's an example: The last few winters have been horrible in Michigan, and this year's Spring has been the worst I can remember. Today as I was running an errand for my wife and raging to myself over the weather, it suddenly hit me that - wait a second - while I can't control the weather, I can certainly control where I live. That is a choice. I'm not stuck here. As soon as I started thinking about that, I calmed down a little. I started to think about finding another place to live.
Yes, it would be inconvenient to leave, but I can do my work anywhere.
Then I somehow realized that I'd be happier being purposeful in all aspects of life, and taking even greater control of things. Tonight was going to be kind of boring because we had no plans, and my wife was tired and had some cakes to bake for a family event tomorrow. So I decided, well, just go into the studio and write some music, no clients, no purchase order. It was fun! It gave the evening some meaning. I felt I'd moved my life just a tiny bit in a direction I want it to go.
It doesn't have to be a big thing. I did some things this afternoon with the guitar amp that I'd been putting off (swapping out a few tubes).
So my early summer resolution is to return to first principles and think about what I want. Then make it so.
I realize this has nothing to do with guitars or amps except the part about tubes, but I think it's right to talk about these kinds of issues with my friends here.
But sometimes I forget I have this power, and I feel fustrated about this or that, to the point of feeling trapped. Here's an example: The last few winters have been horrible in Michigan, and this year's Spring has been the worst I can remember. Today as I was running an errand for my wife and raging to myself over the weather, it suddenly hit me that - wait a second - while I can't control the weather, I can certainly control where I live. That is a choice. I'm not stuck here. As soon as I started thinking about that, I calmed down a little. I started to think about finding another place to live.
Yes, it would be inconvenient to leave, but I can do my work anywhere.
Then I somehow realized that I'd be happier being purposeful in all aspects of life, and taking even greater control of things. Tonight was going to be kind of boring because we had no plans, and my wife was tired and had some cakes to bake for a family event tomorrow. So I decided, well, just go into the studio and write some music, no clients, no purchase order. It was fun! It gave the evening some meaning. I felt I'd moved my life just a tiny bit in a direction I want it to go.
It doesn't have to be a big thing. I did some things this afternoon with the guitar amp that I'd been putting off (swapping out a few tubes).
So my early summer resolution is to return to first principles and think about what I want. Then make it so.
I realize this has nothing to do with guitars or amps except the part about tubes, but I think it's right to talk about these kinds of issues with my friends here.