"Within Siddhartha there slowly grew and ripened the knowledge of what wisdom really was and the goal of his long seeking. It was nothing but a preparation of the soul, a capacity, a secret art of thinking, feeling and breathing thoughts of unity at every moment of life. This thought matured in him slowly, and it was reflected in Vasudeva's old childlike face: harmony, knowledge of the eternal perfection of the world, and unity."
I felt a strong inclination to publish this quote from Hermann Hesse's Siddhartha. Despite being a very short novel, I found myself gripped by the spiritual journey that the title character takes over the course of his life. It is at times humorous, moving, suspenseful, and exciting. I can't remember the last time a book took hold of me in such a way. The subtleties with which Hesse describes each new environment makes the experience incredibly immersive. To my eyes, it reads more like a fable being passed down from an elder than anything else.
This post wasn't intended to be a book review, but rather an exploration of the idea that we are all unified in some way. Despite the divisive nature of many elements of today's society - ranging from socio-economic factors beyond anyone's control to citizenship to what sort of clothes we wear - when we get down to the bottom line, we are all sharing the same planet. We are all made of the same basic materials and have the same needs and desires as everyone else. Our lives are not just isolated streams going in one direction. We belong to one ocean, with currents going every which way. Each new event is an opportunity for us to have a meaningful interaction with another stream, if you will.
My grandfather turned 90 yesterday, and I was struck by the outpouring of well-wishes and support from friends and family alike to celebrate this occasion. Not that I was surprised by any of it - my grandfather is a wonderful man who has touched innumerable lives for the better - but it occurred to me that we all have these opportunities to build connections across the country or the world. Some of us may be in better positions than others to do so, based on any number of factors, but unless we are incredibly reclusive, we all interact with a number of people every day. Why not take the time to begin depositing into those every-day relationships to create something meaningful?
And here's some Bach.
Be well!
~Mike
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
All I needed were a few kids to yell at for being on my lawn...
The past two days have been filled with good food, better friends, and merriment all around.
Yesterday I was done with work at the lovely hour of 9:45 AM... meaning I had the whole day towaste be productive! Aside from a brief and fun rehearsal at night, I had no other plans. I can't remember the last time I had 10+ hours free in a row. I did what any sane person would do on a 60 degree+ day in early March.
I made an enormous pot of chili.
This pot of chili, to be specific. Make it. Make it now! It is outrageously easy and requires only the smallest bit of planning. And an hour (plus a half if you don't have shredded/cooked chicken handy). I used sliced jalapenos instead of chiles, and it had the perfect amount of kick to it.
I also went running for the first time in... longer than I really remember. Pretty decent jog around downtown. Running past Zaza's and Purity and Ithaca Bakery and Joes and Shortstop, though - not a good choice. So much good food!
I had forgotten how much I love running. Something about the steady rhythm of each footfall, that point just before you're actually short of breath where you reach a little deeper and feel your air flowing, and also just getting out to move feels great. The next day, feeling that extra little twinge in your legs with each step is hugely satisfying. Having time to just clear my head of anything else is also much needed during these busy days.
That time came again this evening after work, when I spent some quiet time on my porch with a bowl of chili, a book, and a cold beer. Got to see this view as the sun set:
Yesterday I was done with work at the lovely hour of 9:45 AM... meaning I had the whole day to
I made an enormous pot of chili.
This pot of chili, to be specific. Make it. Make it now! It is outrageously easy and requires only the smallest bit of planning. And an hour (plus a half if you don't have shredded/cooked chicken handy). I used sliced jalapenos instead of chiles, and it had the perfect amount of kick to it.
I also went running for the first time in... longer than I really remember. Pretty decent jog around downtown. Running past Zaza's and Purity and Ithaca Bakery and Joes and Shortstop, though - not a good choice. So much good food!
I had forgotten how much I love running. Something about the steady rhythm of each footfall, that point just before you're actually short of breath where you reach a little deeper and feel your air flowing, and also just getting out to move feels great. The next day, feeling that extra little twinge in your legs with each step is hugely satisfying. Having time to just clear my head of anything else is also much needed during these busy days.
That time came again this evening after work, when I spent some quiet time on my porch with a bowl of chili, a book, and a cold beer. Got to see this view as the sun set:
 |
| Ooh, I'm trying to be artsy with the wind chime in the foreground. |
And now you know why the title of this entry makes sense.
For your listening pleasure:
I've been on a Schumann kick lately.
Be well!
~Mike
Saturday, March 10, 2012
"Everything You Need You Have"
I like this.
It always seems like we never have enough time in our (days, weeks, months) to do all that work, learn all that music, cook all those meals, pay all those bills, take those classes, and - oh, yeah - spend quality time with friends and family. But the time is here. Planning can be progress, but it can also be a blinder keeping you from seeing your goals clearly.
Be well!
~Mike
It always seems like we never have enough time in our (days, weeks, months) to do all that work, learn all that music, cook all those meals, pay all those bills, take those classes, and - oh, yeah - spend quality time with friends and family. But the time is here. Planning can be progress, but it can also be a blinder keeping you from seeing your goals clearly.
Be well!
~Mike
Friday, March 9, 2012
The first post has a bit of both.
Let's start with the trifles, eh?
I'm pretty excited for the start of this blog, which I'm hoping will not only give me an outlet for some of the more public messages I have for family and friends (and the whole world - how lofty!), but also for personal growth. I don't typically write much, especially after spending four and a half years at music school, so this should be a nice change of pace. I'm hoping that writing about issues on which I feel strongly - or not - will clarify my own views on the world around us and allow me to engage in meaningful conversations with peers, mentors, and strangers alike.
... That wasn't such a trifle, I guess. Here's a video of a baby porcupine eating a banana to fill that void.
The event that inspired me to start this blog and write this entry is the latest social media explosion regarding "KONY 2012." It took me a relative length of time to find a viewpoint that correlates with my own, and I think it is important to share this. This seems to be one of the most important issues I've seen in quite some time, not least because of the impact on the families affected by Joseph Kony and the Lord's Resistance Army, but also because of the questions it raises about social media's place in our society and in our lives.
The power of social media is something that we all know and understand. Even those of us who aren't on Facebook probably haven't joined or have deactivated for a very specific reason. That alone is a testament to its power. The fact that people can be mobilized through social media in such an awesome and rapid manner to support any number of causes is a game changer. However, as the great Peter Parker (Well, "great" before the sequels. What tripe.) knows, "with great power comes great responsibility."
The fast-acting nature of social media means that we have to be unbelievably cautious of the messages contained within. We have a responsibility to ourselves, our society, and our world to be critical thinkers and to question everything - not for the purpose of tearing others down, but for building up our own understanding and our own viewpoints. All too often, we confine ourselves to the first dogmatic viewpoint we find and re-post the same message mindlessly. Is it wonderful that people are becoming more socially aware through Facebook and Twitter? Absolutely. It is equally terrifying, then, that our positions on anything are supposedly "informed" by one friend's re-post of a link to NPR or FOX News. We must do our own research from a wide variety of sources. Even though we may loathe any prominent figure in the media for their views, and can't bear anything but to turn the channel when they appear on the radio, the fact that they have a voice which regularly reaches millions of people makes it worth hearing, even if you later say, "Wow. I can't imagine ever agreeing with that."
I'm about to post something from NPR, and I hope you read it. Even more importantly, I hope you don't stop there, no matter what you think of its message. My personal opinion is that it is a thoughtfully-constructed interview that brings up a number of questions that range from obvious to peripheral, and so it's a good place to start. It's also fairly unbiased from my perspective (which is itself biased, of course). By now, you've probably seen the half-hour video and if you haven't, you definitely should before you read the NPR article. Give yourself a foundation on which to base this research and more. And please comment, both here and elsewhere. Social media is great, but meaningful, personal discussion is the most direct route to our own fulfillment and understanding.
Here's the NPR article.
Be well!
~Mike
I'm pretty excited for the start of this blog, which I'm hoping will not only give me an outlet for some of the more public messages I have for family and friends (and the whole world - how lofty!), but also for personal growth. I don't typically write much, especially after spending four and a half years at music school, so this should be a nice change of pace. I'm hoping that writing about issues on which I feel strongly - or not - will clarify my own views on the world around us and allow me to engage in meaningful conversations with peers, mentors, and strangers alike.
... That wasn't such a trifle, I guess. Here's a video of a baby porcupine eating a banana to fill that void.
The event that inspired me to start this blog and write this entry is the latest social media explosion regarding "KONY 2012." It took me a relative length of time to find a viewpoint that correlates with my own, and I think it is important to share this. This seems to be one of the most important issues I've seen in quite some time, not least because of the impact on the families affected by Joseph Kony and the Lord's Resistance Army, but also because of the questions it raises about social media's place in our society and in our lives.
The power of social media is something that we all know and understand. Even those of us who aren't on Facebook probably haven't joined or have deactivated for a very specific reason. That alone is a testament to its power. The fact that people can be mobilized through social media in such an awesome and rapid manner to support any number of causes is a game changer. However, as the great Peter Parker (Well, "great" before the sequels. What tripe.) knows, "with great power comes great responsibility."
The fast-acting nature of social media means that we have to be unbelievably cautious of the messages contained within. We have a responsibility to ourselves, our society, and our world to be critical thinkers and to question everything - not for the purpose of tearing others down, but for building up our own understanding and our own viewpoints. All too often, we confine ourselves to the first dogmatic viewpoint we find and re-post the same message mindlessly. Is it wonderful that people are becoming more socially aware through Facebook and Twitter? Absolutely. It is equally terrifying, then, that our positions on anything are supposedly "informed" by one friend's re-post of a link to NPR or FOX News. We must do our own research from a wide variety of sources. Even though we may loathe any prominent figure in the media for their views, and can't bear anything but to turn the channel when they appear on the radio, the fact that they have a voice which regularly reaches millions of people makes it worth hearing, even if you later say, "Wow. I can't imagine ever agreeing with that."
I'm about to post something from NPR, and I hope you read it. Even more importantly, I hope you don't stop there, no matter what you think of its message. My personal opinion is that it is a thoughtfully-constructed interview that brings up a number of questions that range from obvious to peripheral, and so it's a good place to start. It's also fairly unbiased from my perspective (which is itself biased, of course). By now, you've probably seen the half-hour video and if you haven't, you definitely should before you read the NPR article. Give yourself a foundation on which to base this research and more. And please comment, both here and elsewhere. Social media is great, but meaningful, personal discussion is the most direct route to our own fulfillment and understanding.
Here's the NPR article.
Be well!
~Mike
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