Posts tagged every one plays a role in fate
echoes in eternity
Mar 8th
“what we do in life will echo in eternity” – Maximus (in Gladiator)
Because I just used this quote with regard to myself, and project global generation, I thought I would complete the thought with a full post. I kind of wrote about this thought several years ago: http://brucemctague.com/moment-to-do-the-extraordinary
I called it ‘moment to do the extraordinary’ using a quote from Admiral Collingwood at Trafalgar. Regardless.
This is kind of a simple thought (with complex ramifications).
Our actions impact others.
Oh.
And they live on.
Sometimes for eternity. Surely not all will <whew. thank god> … but some will.
And ‘what we do’ isn’t just a reflection of who we are (although it certainly reflects upon your character and how you are judged) but this is bigger than a ‘me’ type thought.
This is a “more than me” type thought.
The kind of thought that makes us think about choices and what we elect to do … because … well .., what we do echoes in eternity.
In one short sentence Maximus suggests that the way we live in time affects our present … and determines our eternity.
He suggests what we do in the present will affect not who we are and what will happen but also our future … beyond death.
Ultimately he suggests that you … well … matter.
That your thoughts matter.
That your choices matter.
That your actions matter.
And not only within this moment. But in the moments which end up in eternity.
It IS a simple thought. Your life matters not just to you but to others.
So it is simple with complex ramifications. What you do is up to you, but your life matters to the degree that you choose it to matter. All this type of thinking translates into an awareness that Life means something…when you are aware of it in a conscious way (i.e., you pay attention to it).
But it is bigger than the ‘here & now’ life you are living … this quote suggests that this makes our decisions infinitely more important than just the here and now.
Anyway. In eight relatively little words he suggests a lot … and it may seem complex <or maybe I am just making it complex> but the meaning of life is actually quite simple in that it is about choice.
Life is a conscious choice … or series of choices … on your part in that you get to choose your present, future and eternity ‘you.’ No one else. Just you. Yup. Your life, its meaning, is up to you.
In the end I imagine this is all about realizing ‘a moment’ really can matter … if you want it to.
And while you are limited in what you can see <timewise> at any point you should, and most of us do, have a sense of eternity. In that there is life, and lives, after us. And in some way … sometimes small … sometimes big … we will echo within that Life.
Maximus is correct … what you do in life does indeed echo in eternity.
Simple as that.
dirty windows
Mar 5th
“And I do not assume that my experience is universal. It is simply mine, and I offer it to you as a window, dirty though that window may be.” – opticalnoise (a blogger)
Ah.
Sometimes young people say things with the type of panache you only expect from older people.
This young blogger wrote the quote and I liked it enough to use it.
Experiences are personal (unless there is enough similar critical mass to make it quasi-universal).
And in the business world I often find myself debating with people when they offer their experience as …. well … not dirty but rather … well … universal (and that is an issue).
Two thoughts.
- Research of one is not research.
- The odds that the person relating the experience (in business management) actually reflects mainstream American (or any mainstream consumer) is so low that even Las Vegas wouldn’t take them odds.
Bottom line? Realize that your experience is most likely not universal (particularly when discussing business … but beware on personal advice also).
This may seem like a no brainer, but I can’t tell you how often this basic rule is ignored. I think a large part of it is that is because people personalize their experience (or their wife/husband’s) that they cannot fathom that no one else feels exactly the same way.
Anyway.
All that said I am now going to share my dirty window experience list (although I actually stole the thought from a blogger named arina and put my own dirt on some different windows).
I created the list because I almost have it all figured out (yeah … not so much). Thinking back from my personal experiences I believe there are a few universal experiences (let’s call them windows we all peer through on occasion just for the sake of this post) that seemingly work without fail throughout life:
- The Karma window
Karma is this random thing floating out there in the ether that somehow impacts cause & effect on all of us. Simplistically … for every action there is a reaction. Yeah. Every action <and thought just in case you have forgotten>. It is amazing to me how often we forget that our actions always, yes, always, have repercussions.
Whatever force we exert … things we send into the ether around us in the form of our thoughts, feelings and actions … comes back to us in kind (if not sometimes multiplied). There are no exceptions and you get no free passes. Oh. Please note I included thoughts & feelings in the “cause” column. That is truly the Karma aspect. Somehow … someway … thoughts & feelings enter into the ether as some type of tangible force (or ’cause’) that often creates a nuclear-sized effect. Never forget that.
- The Life window
This may actually be a different pane of glass in the Karma window. We are all connected by invisible glass in one window … called the Life window. When we hurt someone or when we pass judgment on someone … we are affected as well. Sorry. Life, for some reason, just likes to keep everything balanced.
What that means is you are probably better off (or more likely to be happy) if you attach what you care about (and Life objectives) with good intentions for other people. If you look at it selfishly, when your objectives benefit other people there is less difficulty in achieving them. Oh. And others will assist you. If you don’t look at it selfishly … well … just assume more good shit will happen in your life if you do good shit (and think good shit about other people).
- The Creation window
Everyone is creative and every one has unlimited creative potential. It is just how you define creation. Create art. Create financial success. Create the most awesome balance sheet your company has ever had. Create a kid that will be the next president. Everyone one of us has the potential to create some type of greatness. You just have to make sure the window is open and the blinds are open. Oh. And make sure you know that you actually have that window.
- The Neutrality window
Life is neutral. It does not play favorites. This is probably a derivative of the balance thing. In the absence of good & evil Life probably wouldn’t choose sides but rather stay in bed taking a nap. Life does not decide someone is more important or less significant. Life never randomly punishes. Life never randomly rewards. Nothing is random but pretty much (with some notable exceptions) everything is earned. Everyone is given an opportunity to learn something (which ultimately is the key opportunity for personal success). Everyone pretty much has a chance in Life (albeit it is tougher for some people than others).
- The Action window
This is the window right next to the neutrality window. In the absence of individual action Life will do its own things in its own time. Life does not just happen to us. It requires our active participation. Remember. Life is neutral. If you are inactive … Life is inactive <with you>. It will not take interest in you until you take interest in it. It is too busy paying attention to people paying attention to it.
- The You cannot Ignore ‘What is’ window
“What is” will evolve into “what will be” when ignored. That I guarantee. In other words … you will continue to receive what Life gives you even if you refuse to accept it. If we ignore our problems, they will only get bigger and more urgent. If we ignore opportunities, they will cease to exist. If we refuse to learn lessons from the past, larger, more serious, lessons will be given to us. If we obsessively pursue a goal or idea that is not right for us, it will elude us until we accept that we can live without it.
- The Stagnancy window
This one is the opposite side of the Action window pane. And this one is a warning. Stagnancy is addictive. What I mean by this is, if the view from your window is awesome, you can find yourself sitting there doing nothing but enjoying it. So. This I guarantee … it may be a beautiful view today but if you don’t move … and just stay there … it will lose its appeal. Stagnancy is the death of inner growth and happiness (or seeing beauty in life). When you do not use skills you lose them. Similar, without continuing effort in personal growth, you are doomed to fall back as Life continues moving. What happens then? Obsolescence. Life, and people, and thoughts, and whatever …. just pass you by.
- The Impatient window
Impatience is sneaky in life. Sometimes it can disguise itself as ambition or ‘goals’ or things like that. Because the allure, and desire, of success is something we all desire. And we may like the idea of instant gratification or easy success or short cuts … but deep down all of us know that things of value have to be earned. And that is where impatience rears its ugly head. You are peddling as hard as you can toward success … but as look through this window you are impatient, and it is challenging, because you want it NOW … but this window is about patiently waiting for the reward to come in its own time. Ok. This doesn’t mean you should be scared to do things nor shouldn’t be ambitious … this is more about having some common sense. Good things typically don’t come easy. If it were all that easy anyone could do it. Maybe learn to be patiently impatient for success.
- The Reality-based Optimism window
Here is a reality <2 of them actually>. Negativity begets negativity. If you think negatively I can guarantee you will never attain happiness. Uh oh. But. If you always think optimistically I can guarantee you will always be disappointed (sorry about that).
So can you ever be happy? Yup. By being realistic, but being optimistic. A truth in this window? Good things DO happen to good people. Well. Let me be specific … that is ‘good people who exhibit some reality-based goodness’. By the way … for anyone who wants to debate the view from this window …. research (published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences) predicted in simulated models that generosity/trust pays. Mathematically they found it pays to be trusting in the long run even though you will sometimes be cheated (so that is how Santa can figure out how to assess naughty or nice).
- The Trade-off window
For everything you gain you have to give up something else. A simple complex one.
And the last.
- The Desire window
This window sometimes has a weird filter over it that makes things not look as they really are. What I mean by that is not everything we go after is what we truly want. Sometimes we only think we know what we want … and sometimes we don’t know what we want until we get it. Maddening? You bet. But everyone has this window. Unfortunately this window is most typically found in the main room so you look through it a lot. This window is also, individually, often the dirtiest. You will be tempted to go to other people’s houses and look thru their “desire window” and hope for some guidance. Sorry. No can do. Your Desire window is your Desire window. I kind of think they are like snowflakes … no 2 the same. You will probably not have a more aggravating window in your home. Too bad. Every home has one.
So.
There you go. I will admit though … while I made my personal experiences universal … I do look through other people’s dirty windows as often as I can. Like the opening quote said … they offer a view … regardless of how dirty the view may be.
above the influence and ordinary
Mar 1st
So.
The majority of the time I find advertising “doing the right thing” messages to teens<young adults> silly and a waste of money.
I would even add in the effort invested in the websites and such as a waste.
If there was ever a group that should simply be encouraged to create a curated type ‘hub’ (it could be web driven, advertising driven, club/group driven, grassroots driven, whatever driven <some do this>) this is it.
Yes.
Some initiatives do a nice job of encouraging teens to become involved but typically it is built around “the higher message” (“doing this is bad and will be bad for you”).
I believe efforts would be better invested to simply empower the group you want to be empowered to build it on their own and permit them to find the ‘voice’ that they want to speak in.
Now.
This doesn’t mean I disagree with the intent behind these initiatives (anti smoking, anti drug, anti -any vice) it’s just that I believe kids know the difference between right & wrong.
Maybe we should just let them <empower them> tell us its wrong … but also let them tell us why they do wrong things.
Because, frankly, we all do wrong things knowingly and it is pretty hypocritical for us to assume all young adults won’t do the wrong things sometimes (and naïve of us if we believe they don’t know it is wrong while they are doing it).
For tween/teens.
It sometimes really comes down to “can I do the right thing <what I know is right> and still feel like I fit in <and look cool … or whatever the right word is for his generation>.”
Therefore any initiative which showcases “it is acceptable to do this” in a way that is relevant to the generation (without being preachy) I think is getting closer to being successful. And has a chance of maybe pointing the way for someone.
In addition.
I do believe it is a worthwhile investment to show young adults “the prize.”
What do I mean?
Well.
Among all the silly things I have seen Above the Influence do … I saw one commercial that I believe is right.
It’s called Ordinary Day.
Ordinary Day: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHGK3J_u5ts
I think the brilliance in it resides within the ordinariness of it.
That the best things in life are often the overlooked ordinary things.
Now that, my friends, is a great message (no matter how old you are).
But I also believe it is a spectacular message to young adults who are often overwhelmed with expectations of the spectacular and grandiose.
I wish more people trying to communicate important things to young adults would do it his way.
Tell them the “spectacular” is slightly overrated and that the ordinary is often overlooked in its extraordinaire.
Anyway.
Here is some stuff about above the Influence. As noted earlier I like the intent.
It’s a state of mind. It’s about being yourself and not letting negative influence get to you. Pressure to drink, do drugs or do anything that goes against who you are in order to fit in – that’s negative influence.
And if you’re one of the teens who want to stay above it, you’ve come to the right spot.
iacta alea est
Feb 29th
“the die is cast” (iacta alea est) – Julius Caesar
die is cast by HotWheeler deviantart
I was tempted to call this ‘now or never part 2.”
For this is all about post choice/decision.
And the fact there is no turning back.
The fact that “we have made our choice … and the die is cast.”
<die as in dice>
Julius Caesar said this as he crossed the Rubicon, defying the Roman Senate, and starting civil war.
Caesar was stating that he was making an irrevocable decision.
And, as dice is a game of chance, he will have to play them as they are cast.
I think more people should think this way with regard to choices. Too often I feel people think a choice is simply but of a moment. And the next moment they can make another choice.
And that may be the case … sometimes … but as noted in ‘now or never’ … not all the time.
Some choices are truly forks in the road where you cannot go back and start over.
And I believe most of us would be better off if we thought more of our choices should be thought of this way. As ‘the die have been cast.’
But, hey, that’s me.
Ok.
One more thing.
Let me take a minute to discuss an “irrevocable decision.”
“It is always thus, impelled by a state of mind which is destined not to last, that we make our irrevocable decisions.” - In Search of Lost Time, Volume II: Within a Budding Grove
Now or never is a state of mind which is but a window in time. It is there … and gone. And it is within those windows in which irrevocable decisions are made.
To use the quote … it is within this window you throw the dice.
Now.
“Irrevocable” is a lot like “forever” or maybe “never.” I mean that big, all encompassing, fraught with peril, audacious-type thoughts are captured in those little words.
And that is why many people do nothing in now or never moments. You just hold the dice.
Because it is scary to make an irrevocable decision.
It is kind of scary to know you will have thrown the dice … and will never get to throw them again. And have to play them as they lay. Regardless how they lay.
Yup. That the die have been cast.
But know this.
If you do nothing when it is now or never … Life will cast the die.
And Life will make the irrevocable decision.
Personally?
I would rather cast my own dice.
Nothing against Life but <I am sure he is a great guy or gal> … but I do not know it well enough to trust it with my fate.
now or never
Feb 28th
“Sometimes there is no next time, no time-outs, no second chances; sometimes it’s now or never.” – Alan Bennett
Life is tricky.
While there often seems to be unending line of second chances standing outside your door sometimes … well … you look outside one morning and they have all gone to have a scone at starbucks.
And you are alone.
And you can’t play the ‘next time’ card or ask the next second chance to come on in. Or say … uhm … can you wait a minute? <until one of the second chances comes back from the bathroom>
Nope.
Its now or never.
And this gets even trickier.
Because while I suggested a line of second chances typically hangs out outside your door they don’t really stand around. You just kind of envision, and hope, they are hanging around.
What that means is this is a judgment call on your part.
Now.
If it helps … the odds are with you.
Life DOES give you a shitload of second chances and timeouts and next times. Probably more than you could ever use in a lifetime as a matter of fact.
But that’s not the point.
This is about the moment when the odds say … oops … none of them available.
Now or never.
Life walks right on up to you and says … ‘what’s your call?’
And this is actually the judgment call.
Life doesn’t say (in an aside whisper) … “Hey, just so you know, this is one of those no time out, no second chance, no next time moments.”
(sorry about that)
You just gotta know.
I guess the point of this is to remind everyone that while Life is extremely generous in giving time outs and second chances … there are going to be now or never moments.
And you have to be prepared for them.
And do your best to recognize them.
And make a call.
Oh.
And, I imagine, it is also important to recognize afterwards, if you fucked up and didn’t see it, that it was a ‘now or never’ moment.
And that is important because … well … you cannot undo or go back or ask for a second chance.
Because, well, it was a now or never moment.
And you are done with it.
It is gone.
Move on.
Don’t beat yourself up (wasted energy).
Don’t try and fix it.
Live & learn.
It sucks but, trust me, you will get another ‘now or never’ opportunity again one day <whether you want it or not>
And … at that moment … remember … “sometimes there is no next time.”
waiting versus living
Feb 22nd
Mr. Magorium: “37 seconds.”
Molly Mahoney: “Great. Well done. Now we wait.”
Mr. Magorium: “No. We breathe. We pulse. We regenerate. Our hearts beat. Our minds create. Our souls ingest. 37 seconds, well used, is a lifetime.”
- Mr. Magorium’s Wonder emporium
(here is the clip just so you can see the wacky Mr. Magorium: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9XcG7e9a4E )
I loved this.
37 seconds … well used … is a lifetime.
We breathe.
We pulse.
We regenerate.
Our hearts beat.
Our minds create.
Our souls ingest.
It makes you think of … “oh, I only wish I had time to … bla bla blaaaa …”
Or.
“I wish i had more time.” (followed by a wha wha waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa … that’s whining in case you need a definition)
Look. Here’s the deal.
Everyone has the same amount of time.
We all get 24 hours in a day. We all get 365 days every year (except one and it is really only one month anyway).
How we choose to spend that time is about prioritizing. Figuring out what is most important to us <and, yeah, I said ‘us’ and not someone else and responsibilities and stuff like that>
In fact … how you spend the time is kind of irrelevant … it’s just the fact that you actually have a choice with what you do with your time.
We make choices.
We live with the consequences.
Use your time for something useful (or don’t).
That’s up to you.
But, please, please don’t tell people you don’t have enough time.
37 seconds … when well used … is a lifetime.
wasted or not
Feb 20th
Well.
Who would have thought Whitney Houston dying would make me write 2 posts? (not me)
And, while I’m not weeping over her death, I certainly respect her talent and how good she was at her craft.
But. What I do weep over is the fact it seems like when someone like Whitney Houston dies people start blathering about her addictions and shortcomings … and inevitably you see the comment “what a waste.”
Or.
“A sad waste of a great talent with a once in a lifetime voice.”
Well.
Was her life a waste? Really? C’mon.
The woman had more brilliant moments to take with her to her grave then most of us will ever dream of in a lifetime (so the whole “wasted” thing kind of aggravates me).
And as I noted when she passed away … why should we judge her based on her flaws (as if we don’t have any) and by our expectations … but rather by her legacy as a singer?
I admit.
It drives me a little crazy when people start questioning what her legacy will be … for a singer admired for her amazing vocals, but who also battled drug and alcohol addictions that generated tabloid fodder of her health, marriage issues and finances?
Surprisingly (to me) one of the best Whitney articles was written by a Pravda writer (and one who typically almost makes me scream & throw things with his often skewed slightly absurd opinions): http://english.pravda.ru/society/showbiz/13-02-2012/120486-whitney_houston-0/
In addition. 
I was also slightly surprised, among the spectacle someone calls her funeral, that Kevin Costner stepped up to the plate with a really nice articulation of what I imagine all these famous, talented, people face … insecurities of “am I good enough.” And the day to day neverending subtle, and sometimes not so subtle in today’s world, are you god enough questioning. It has to take its toll.
That is no excuse for how Whitney handled it (the well publicized flaws) nor how anyone handles it. But. In the end. We can only hope all the baggage that people are focusing on evaporates and what’s left behind will be is a focus on a spectacular career of work and music.
There was also a nice tribute from Lenny Kravitz as he was performing the night after she passed away.
Intro. To Push by Lenny Kravitz: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQaTUg1JSw8
(side note: Craig Ross is the guitar player you always see by Lenny’s side – not only is he an incredible guitar player, and showman, he write/co writes the music. Are you Gonna Go my Way was his repetitive riff and the solo. Same thing for Is There any Love in Your Heart and My Love. He, and Lenny, is awesome in concert if you ever have the opportunity to see them).
Ok. Back to Whitney.
Separating the legacy from the lurid isn’t easy. “I’d like to say her incredible voice will trump all in how she’s remembered,” says Yahoo music’s Chris Willman. “Unfortunately, with a lot of entertainers who come to tragic ends, it becomes hard to appreciate their art or how it was intended, without thinking of the tragedy of their lives.”
Anyway.
I wish two things.
First is that people celebrate her life & talent and not focus on tragedy we may associate with her life. oh. And the spectacle ends.
Second.
Mainly because I cannot believe I wrote two things about Whitney Houston.
Because she was just one. And every day approximately 151,650 people die in the world.
It boggles my mind the amount of loss experienced every single day. Its not just the 151+ thousand but the ripples of people affected by each loss.
Maybe part of Whitney’s legacy is that it should remind us all of someone’s loss somewhere that happens every day.
That number I gave you makes one wonder just how many stories are not covered and discussed. Yet, each is maybe just as important as Whitney’s.
I guess maybe when one really special voice like this leaves us it should make us all think of the imperfection perfection of life.
And remember each and every one imperfect soul not as imperfect … but as perfect in their own way. And that there are another 151649 stories not being told that day.
contemporary dance music (sort of)
Feb 10th
Well.
I have always loved good dance music. Club, house, electronica … not sure what you call it but something with a good hook (it could just be smooth refrain or a looped backbeat) with a slightly below frenetic pace but fast enough beat that it gets the heart pumping and you drive a little faster (and do some bad but fun dancing).
And I know music is trendy but there seems like a bunch of new good dance-like stuff coming out. And here is the twist (today). They seem to be taking already upbeat pop songs (which invariably are built around a great hook) and juicing them up with a dance electronica sound.
Ok.
Let me call it electronic pop … or how about global pop (just because it seems to be more of a global ‘movement’ in music) and move on.
Well thanks to David Guetta, Pitbull, Taio Cruz and a growing list of cross over pop stars there is a swirling mass of really good fun stuff … combined with a bunch of mindless drivel encompassing intensely bad electronically produced music that is so alarmingly awful you not only wonder how it made it on the radio but how it was made at all.
How can you discern the drivel from the good? The hook. Always the hook. That is why some pretty good pop & hip hop artists are making some pretty good stuff in this quasi-new genre.
And you know it is truly becoming a trend when you hear a sleepy ole Adele song being spruced up for the dance floor. I sense Taylor Swift is not far behind on the dance floor remix scene.
Anyway.
To me it all began sliding into my listening vision maybe with Jason Derulo … probably only because he did an amazing job of sampling an Imogene Heap song.
And then Taio Cruz came along with Dynamite which was just fun to listen to.
It is global empowerment … Davide Guetta Ft. Usher
It is sexually driven … In the Dark and Juicebox
It is pop .. Jason Derulo sampling Imogene Heap … We found Love by rihanna … Katy Perry (almost anything she has done) and Maroon 5’s Adam Levine is building a new career off this genre
It is rap/hip hop pop … Flo Rida Feel Good and Gym Class Rejects with Maroon 5
It is just fun .. LMFAO (not ‘sexy and you now it’ which is a complete waste of airtime but their first song) and Usher ft. Pitbull as well as Jennifer Lopez ft. Pitbull
My best of the best (at the moment) and some of these are great driving songs and most are great dance club songs:
Pitbull
In the Dark by Dev http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgEixhE3Oms
Stereo Hearts by Gym class Heros ft. maroon 5/Adam Levine http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3E9Wjbq44E
We found Love by Rihanna ft. Calvin Harris http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tg00YEETFzg&ob=av2e
DJ got Us Fallin’ in Love by Usher ft. pitbull http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-dvTjK_07c&ob=av2e
Moves like Jagger by Maroon 5 ft. Christina Alguilera http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEPTlhBmwRg&ob=av2e
Give me Everything by Pitbull ft. NeYo (awesome song) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPo5wWmKEaI&feature=related
Watcha At by Jason Derulo ft. Imgene Heap (sample) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBI3lc18k8Q&ob=av2e
On the Floor by Jennifer Lopez ft. Pitbull http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4H_Zoh7G5A&feature=related
Juicebox by Sexoflex (so NTSW you won’t hear it on mainstream and I wish I could just upoad the song because the video is nasty) http://vimeo.com/33340940
Got a Feeling by Flo Rida ft. Etta James (which is awesome he used her all in its own right) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OnnDqH6Wj8&feature=related
Break your Heart by Taio Cruz ft. Ludracis (Ludacris may be one of the best hip hop rappers out there) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_SI2EDM6Lo&ob=av2e
Without You By David Guetta ft. Usher http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUe8uoKdHao&feature=related
Turn me On by David Guetta ft. Nicki Minaj (but may be one of the worst videos of all time … and is extremely aggravating if heard over & over) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVw7eJ0vGfM&feature=branded
Dynamite by Taio Cruz (older song but still sounds good) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUjdiDeJ0xg&ob=av2e
Firework by Katy Perry http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGJuMBdaqIw&ob=av2e
And I just heard an old school which reminded me I loved this remake … Coolio doing Fantastic Voyage (excellent remake). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbhkuu4e0iw
Anyway.
It is always interesting how new music genre evolves. This has always been around (mainly in Europe) but it seems to be going mainstream.
survival
Feb 6th
“it is not the strongest of the species that survive, not the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.” – Charles Darwin
I love this quote.
Mostly because those with ‘brawn’ scoff at those with ‘brains’, and vice versa, when survival (and that doesn’t have to mean life & death but rather success or failure) is being played out.
Regardless of the side someone is on … both believe they have the advantage regardless of the situation.
But.
Chuck (as Darwin was called to his closest friends) suggests you don’t have to be the sharpest knife in the drawer nor do you have to be the strongest tool in the drawer to survive.
You just have to be flexible. Responsive to what is happening. Have a willingness to adapt to the situation.
Flexibility is certainly an advantage if you have the desire to succeed at anything you do (ask any coach). We all face times when we have to deal with situations that do not “fit in” to our routine or our ‘comfort zone.’
I say “tough noogies” (not sure exactly what that means but I bet you get the point).
Adapt or die.
Sure.
One of the most frustrating things in life is when you have done your best and yet things still go wrong. Or maybe you didn’t get to where you wanted to get to (what you were ultimately aiming for).
You have to be flexible.
You have to adapt.
You have to have the ability to fit in a changed situation or to modify your behavior & actions accordingly.
If instead you stubbornly hold on to some things that don’t work … and repeat mistakes … this inflexible will cause failure (or simply not reaching what it is you were aiming for … which is a derivative of some type of failure).
By the way … in other words … continuous behavior along those lines means you will not survive.
Ultimately you have to decide to do things differently to experience different results.
Easy? Nope.
It can be uncomfortable. It can be emotionally draining.
We know that when we are asked to change again and again, the physical and psychological reaction, which is actually excessive stimulation to the system, puts our ability to adapt under massive strain. All the change produces stress and carries with it a physical and emotional price tag. The more radical the change … the bigger the price tag.
Excessive stimulation has at least three levels — sensory, cognitive and decisional. To help us function, each of us has developed strategies or destimulation tactics to lower the level of stimulation when we feel uncomfortably close to the limits of our adaptive range. We use these tactics every day, often unconsciously. By becoming conscious of them we can increase their effectiveness. By examining our own responses to overstimulation we can learn ways of consciously influencing change. We can begin by influencing small events, then expand our influence to larger patterns of experience.
At this but you need to detach and rise above all that you are today so that you can be tomorrow.
You need to not only be prepared to recognize when change needs to occur (typically there is a threshold on where you need to stop fighting the change or risk falling so far behind you cannot catch up or just be ‘eliminated’ at that time … oh … that survival thing) but you also need to be ready to change.
Look.
Everyone has the capability to change.
In fact I have a nifty chart which shows how most people accept & accommodate change:
Its pretty simple but shows that we need to work through the different levels of response to effect change. I would imagine there are several points to be made but here are the two from me:
- you learn as you move through each phase at each point actually changing how you think about future problems/challenges to further change
- you can get stuck anywhere in any phase at any time (the nifty chart actually helps show how easy it is to NOT change because you get stuck somewhere).
So. As change is introduced to you & your life you are forced through all four levels. I would imagine the last conclusion would be to attain the fourth level as quickly as possible.
Anyway.
Survival, and change, pretty much always depends on the most basic first step – believe that you are able to make the changes. And take the first step.
Without that? You have the thought …. but no action.
And the result of no action? Lack of survival again.
All that said …
I tend to believe a lot of people will read the Darwin quote and seek to find meaning within ‘survival of the fittest’ bigger picture.
Think small my friends.
Think day-to-day.
Think “me.”
Think that survival is about adapting to the environment around you.
And adapting means “initiating a new order of <personal> things ….”
”It must be considered that there is nothing more difficult to carry out, nor more doubtful of success, nor more dangerous to handle, than to initiate a new order of things. For the reformer has enemies in all those who profit by the old order, and only luke-warm defenders in all those who profit by the new order. This luke-warmness arises partly from fear of their adversaries, who have the laws in their favor, and partly from the incredulity of mankind, who do not truly believe in anything new until they have had an actual experience of it”. – Machiavelli
Bottom line.
Always think about how can you adapt.
By the way … I am not suggesting (and I believe Chuck Darwin wasn’t either) 100% change to adapt … successful change typically begins by pinpointing anchors of stability (one you either have or can develop) which help to make the transition change not only viable but more likely successful for you..
Regardless.
Make change your constant companion and friend.
rat girl thoughts
Jan 27th
So.
I wrote about Rat Girl (Kristen Hersh) awhile back … and have been meaning to come back to the book and some quotable/comment-able thoughts from Kristen and her book.
Let me say this upfront.
Rarely have I found so many quotable thoughts from one book.
Anyway.
There is no particular order for these thoughts & quotes. I simply wrote them down as I read Rat Girl. So there is some spontaneous nonlinear thinking to be shared (and several other posts will follow using specific quotes).
With that … it seems appropriate to start with this following quote because I love music and I tend to believe it is one of the few global forms of communication with the ability to cross cultures and actually bend cultures …
“They <songs> don’t commit to linear time – they whiz around all your memories collecting them into a goofy pile that somehow seems less goofy because it’s set to music. Songs are weird. They tell the future and they tell the past but they can’t seem to tell the difference.” - K. Hersh
Well.
I am not sure I have ever heard a better explanation for why music is so powerful, oh, and timeless. Great songs & songwriters have the ability to capture moments & thoughts in a way that they become timeless …’ or maybe better said they become ‘a relevant time’ to the listener.
And there are really two thoughts here.
Some songs inspire timelessness on things you are experiencing now … they just express eternal ‘truth.’
And the some songs are, well, not timeless.
What do I mean?
Well.
Not timeless is easy to describe. They are of a genre and style and wording that may make it a hit today but quickly slips away into that irrelevance space that most tepid shit ends up in.
But timeless? Whew. That stuff speaks to you forever. Because, as Kristen suggests, they live concurrently in the past, present & future in what they say and how they make you feel.
You hear it and it can make you think of something that was. And you ache, or think or just laugh a little.
You hear it and it can make you think of something that is. And you ache, or think or just laugh a little.
You hear it and it cam make you think of something that could be. And you are hopeful, fearful … or just think.
That goofy pile of thoughts is less goofy set to music … and by being less goofy it makes you think … think about something.
And that is what makes a great song great.
It doesn’t have to be great grandiose type thinking … it is just thinking.
Once again … if you ever need to explain to someone what makes music the thing that is universal globally … just pull this quote out.
It is a timeless quote.
Next.
“Play a grown up ‘til you grow up.” – K. Hersh
Ok.
Let’s think about this one a little.
This was written by a 19 year old. Bi polar. Pregnant. Fronting one of the most avante garde bands of the time. And she is often thrown into environments where she was expected to be a grown up … and make grown up decisions (or maybe think like a grown up).
Putting this quote into perspective … all she really wants to do is be a musician … to create and play what was in her head.
What did she do?
Play a grown up.
I like this one for a variety of reasons.
Mainly because it was written by a 19 year old. And one who embraced her originality (which would almost presume she would balk at being “grown up”).
But I also like it because in its simplicity it is a Life truth.
I think a lot of teens understand this (play a grown up). And will do it … that is if they are permitted to and it is nurtured.
All teens contain originality. That is what youth is all about.
Some young people are strong enough to “play grown up” on their own (see Kristen Hersh as an example).
But most young people aren’t strong enough … okay … maybe ‘resilient enough’ is a better way to phrase it. They seek to fit in first and foremost. It’s the safest path. And, therefore, true originality is few and far between (being part of a flock isn’t conducive to originality).
So. She reminds us that even those teens who are grown up – are simply acting like it … that is until they actually become a grown up.
Ok. I say all this to make a point.
We adults can either nurture it or destroy it. And destruction is a lot easier than nurturing. Destruction can happen in the smallest word or action.
We adults need to remember this. Not all teens are as strong as Kristen Hersh. Most are more fragile. Does this mean we should pamper our youth? Absolutely not. But be cognizant of repercussions of our actions as we nurture.
Also.
There is a business side to life, yeah, I said life. By business I mean there are rules of the road we all have to follow on how we are supposed to act, what is appropriate or not, all that stuff we need to do and are supposed to do … if we want to get what we want. And this is true regardless of your age. and to make it trickier it all varies depending on the situation.
What do I mean? If you are 19 but put in a situation surrounded by 40 year olds you have one of 2 choices …
(1) act like a 19 year old and get nothing
(2) or act like a 40something and get what you want.
Simple to do? Nope.
But if you don’t even try and act like a grown up and you are 19 in this situation I can promise you one thing, unequivocally, you won’t get shit.
In the end? Play a grown up until you are a grownup.
Another awesome quote in its simplicity.
Next.
This one is mindboggling as she, in her own words, defines passion in life.
“I think you need something in your life that is both beautiful and necessary. A person or a mission or a place. Beautiful might not be pretty and necessary may not be understood, but, still … I think caring, not death, is the passport to heaven.” – K. Hersh
Ok.
I have been tempted to have this quote framed.
And, once again, from the mouth of a 19 year old.
“beautiful may not be pretty and necessary may not be understood.”
Whew.
That is chill bump type stuff.
Not all passion is shared. And what is necessary to you may not be necessary to someone else.
Frankly that thought may be one of the most difficult for people to grasp.
We so often set a ‘standard’ for what is good, acceptable or the ‘best’ for people.
So what happens to the people who don’t ‘fit ‘within the guardrails? They are oddballs … out of the norm or mainstream … and are forced to swim upstream.
Shit. So what about the majority who do go easily within the guardrails? Maybe they never get to see what is beautiful and necessary (what a fucking shame).
Regardless.
This quote is a big thought. A thoughtful thought. And rather that have me define it or explain it I just posted it so everyone could read it … and all I ask is for everyone to think about it.
Because, honestly, I cannot stop thinking about it.
Next.
“If you play too many wimpy chords you’re just asking for wimpy scales. Play colors.” – K. Hersh
This one is awesome for not just for musicians but for anyone in the creative business.
Shit.
This is actually awesome for anyone.
A lot of people are really successful playing it safe. Or doing what others have done. And then there are the few … those who play colors.
I am not suggesting, using her words, that it is bad to be ‘wimpy.’ Because in this case wimpy isn’t bad … it’s just … well … maybe not aspirational. And that’s okay because not everyone does aspirational stuff. And not everyone SHOULD do aspirational stuff. Not everyone s wired for that.
But.
Boy.
“Play colors.”
If you are even closed to being wired this way this simple quote is pretty powerful.
Me?
If I could have one thing in my obituary it would be “we saw colors when he was there.”
Do I believe I deserve that now? Nope.
But that is surely what I am aiming for.
Ok.
This is the last quote I will use from the book.
“Everything about Betty is huge, bigger than life. I’m smaller than life – so unremarkable that I’m practically invisible.” – K. Hersh
So.
I lied.
There was an order in the quotes … at least I that I purposefully put this one last.
For a variety of reasons this one really struck me.
And, no, you don’t need to know who Betty is to think about this and understand it.
But.
Think about this as you read this quote … fact here was one of the most talented songwriters and singers of her generation … and she thought herself unremarkable.
And small.
And it got me thinking.
That word unremarkable.
It’s a big word.
Maybe even an immense word when referring to oneself.
Maybe I like this quote not because I am as talented as Kristen Hersh … but rather because I feel unremarkable.
Not in a bad way. Just that in comparison to some pretty remarkable people I have been fortunate to have known.
Frankly … I tend to believe a lot of people feel the same way. They feel unremarkable. And maybe not invisible but … well … not remarkably visible to the broader world.
And yet I, just as most people I imagine, would like to do something remarkable.
C’mon.
We all want to leave something behind… but how do we do that when we are so small in life.
So few of us actually make an impact … well … a really big impact.
The kind of impact that makes you remarkable.
And I do think the majority of us feel small and insignificant on occasion (if not the majority of the time). I know I do.
And once again that’s not bad. It just is.
But I want to make a difference.
Is it “making people see colors?”
Or implementing the global education initiative?
Or something else?
Heck. I don’t know.
What I do know is Kristen captured the essence of our smallness in a way that was clear and concise and thought provoking.
And it made me want to be sure I at least tried to do something that, in the end, was visible.
So.
You may not like the book (Rat Girl).
And you may not like Kristen Hersh’s music.
But, boy, you gotta like how she takes some really complex thoughts and breaks them down into some really simple words.
Thank you Kristen.
