Who Puts the Bomp in Your Swagbag?
Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 08:49AM Please forgive me being so remiss in my datamusicata responsibilities. I have been very much involved in my father’s death and reviewing my own life and nothing seemed very important compared to that.
So that’s what I want to talk about today. What we do with what we have. I was thinking a lot about life and what it’s for; what it’s worth; what are our responsibilities, opportunities, etc, and I came to the idea that when you get here you are this empty vessel.
You have whatever gifts came with your dna line up and you have the experience of whatever life situation you woke up into and then it’s all up to you.
You have to decide what you are going to fill this empty vessel with and then figure out how to do that. Most of us, don’t think about anything, we just roll along following the path of least resistance. Even the most gifted person usually does this, because their gift presents to them the path of least resistance.
Some people fill their lives with family. They make babies, they nurture them and help them grow into the next generation and then they nurture their grand children and if they are lucky and healthy, they nurturne their great grandchildren. Their family is their life.
Some folks make no babies and throw themselves into their careers, striving relentlessly to get to the top of the heap; or striving to amass a fortune.
For me, it was learning my craft; getting better and better at playing my guitar; performing; singing; songwriting; I work hard at them all. And I do this to the exclusion of a large family. I am lucky enough to have a great wife, who has her own career and agenda and we have each other. My song and my albums and my performances have become my children, I guess.
But the point here is that you start out with this empty vessel that is you and whether you want to believe it or not, you choose what you are going to put into that vessel, that container of all your knowledge memory and gifts.
What your life becomes is made up of the stuff you chose to put into that container. You put revenge in there then that is what you carry around and what informs everything else inside of you. Everything you put in there becomes part of who you are.
So I’m asking you, what are you putting inside that vessel? What are you putting inside of you?
And as you think about what you have or might put in there, don’t forget the part about everything that you put in that vessels becomes a part of you. That old adage about “you reap what you sow” is unbelievably resonant.
I’m thinking it over and I’m trying to choose wisely. Looking over my trove of stuff and deciding what I really want to keep and what I don’t want inside of me; what I don’t want to inform who, how and what I am. This has been a very reflective time for me. Sometimes I wish that I had done this reflection decades ago, other times I think that whatever I did, it al contributed to who I am now.
I hope we all choose wisely, because we really don’t have as long as we think we do.
Reader Comments (4)
What a beautiful post James. At this time in my life I have thought alot about what kind of person I want to be and what's really important to me in life. Material stuff really doesn't matter but it's how you treat people that really shows what you are made of. Every day I try to be the kind of person my parents raised me to be and use my talents to help others as much as I can. You make life bearable with your music and you wouldn't believe how soothing it is to all of us in good times and bad ones. Imagine how nice a place this world would be if we all did our best always no matter what it is we are good at especially in our relationships with others. Something to think about.... Take care and know that we are all thinking of you at this difficult time.
Love,
Diane
As I see it, not only are we responsible for filling the "vessel" with the essence of ourselves, we also fill that "vessel" with those around us. When those around us pass, we still have their essence as well. The example of their lives are important in helping us to learn how to choose the contents we store in our vessel. It is obvious to all who may know you as a person, friend, or performer, that your essence reflects those others who have contributed and influenced your growth as a human being. You and I have shared that kind of loss, losing a father, a guide and a good friend as well as also losing someone who has had a great influence on our lives. I have been fortunate to have my vessel contain the essences of my dad and friends who have shown me a light that I never saw before. I know that when we lose someone to death, we are privileged to have a bit of their essence remain with us. So, our dads and our friend live on within us, a part of our makeup and an ingredient in our lives and essence. Know this, that as I was there with and for you that Sunday in May, I am here with and for you now, anytime. Thank you for your essence!
Can't argue with that.
Good thoughtful posts that can help us all. Thanks for taking the time to write them. My life is surrounded by remarkable people.