15 Ideas on Finding Time to Think

April 14, 2015 by Leave a Comment

15 Ideas on Finding Time to Think

It seems there is never enough time for anything these days. There are so many tasks we need to get done, so many things we need to do in order to maintain some sort of pace in order to avoid getting buried by life. But, this leaves little time for contemplation. There’s just no time to think. The kind of thinking where you can get rid of distractions and do away with that little voice in your head reminding you of everything that needs to get done.

When I was a kid, and I would include my years in college, I had time to think and talk about stuff with my friends; important stuff, meaningful stuff. We would discuss life’s big questions – what do we want to do when we grow up?, who is up there in space looking back down at us?, why can’t people get along?, what are the best albums ever made?, what makes great artists so good?, how can we make the world a better place, do you think she likes me?

Even with classes and homework there was plenty of free time. And back then I didn’t waste it on TV. I watched Monty Python and the Packers games with my friends, but not much else. There also wasn’t the distraction of social media.

There are ways to get back our time. Instead of sitting in front of the TV all night and making status updates I’ve come up with some alternatives. All of these ideas I did at some point years ago. I thought if it worked so successfully back then why not go back to basics.

Here are 15 ideas on finding time to think:

Playing catch: There’s something relaxing about throwing a baseball around. Once you get into a rhythm it can be a kind of meditation.
Fishing: There’s nothing better to slow things down. It’s just you, a friend or two, a fishing pole, and the water. Most times I never even caught fish, but the conversations were great.
Riding a bike: Good exercise and you get to see things from a different perspective. As a kid I biked everywhere. It’s the only way I got anywhere sometimes. The sound of the rubber on the road can be hypnotizing.
Going for a walk: More good exercise. I don’t walk as much as I used to. In college it was the only mode of transportation I had. It makes your senses perk up.
Shooting hoops: More good exercise that forces you to concentrate and think about your shot. It’s good for focus.
Exploring/hiking: Is there anything better than getting away from it all and communing with nature? Listening to the wind blow through the trees or birds singing is calming. Add the sound of water running over rocks or a waterfall and you’ve got yourself the perfect place to stop and take a meditation break.
Building models: I loved to build model tanks and airplanes. It takes focus and discipline. When you start, it sometimes feels like it’s an impossible task because there’s so many pieces and it’s going to take forever to complete it. You can’t rush through it and it’s a good way to slow things down.
Drawing: I always loved drawing, like most kids. I took drawing and painting in college and it opened my eyes to look at things in a different way. Take an art class – it’ll get you thinking with a different part of your brain.
Looking out the window: I don’t know if anything beats daydreaming. There’s so much going on outside that you can’t help but reflect on what’s going on inside. Clouds, trees, insects, animals, and people can trigger so many thoughts.
Staring at the stars: This gets you thinking about life’s big questions. You can’t help it. It puts life into perspective looking up at the universe and looking at light that’s just getting here that might be hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of years old. You realize you are a speck yet full of possibilities.
Gardening/yard work: Getting your hands dirty reconnects you to the earth. It’s as if a chisel cracks away the shell of modern society and you and mother nature are reunited.
Planting a tree: There’s something sacred about planting a tree. Maybe because it’s going to be there for years; possibly longer than we are. It’s majestic, mighty, and unwavering.
Listening to music: I love this one. I get lost in music a lot. It’s where I go to feel like I’m alive. Music stimulates the creative side of my brain.
Road trips: This is where you can really get to know someone and know yourself a little bit better. It’s a great way to strip away the layers and be honest. It might be because you need to travel light and it gets you back to the essentials – food, shelter, sleep, and companionship.
Reading: Pick something that makes you ponder life like poetry, philosophy, mythology, or some sacred text (whatever that means to you). It elevates your thoughts.

I think this list gives us a way to get unstuck and think our way into a more positive existence. If we believe things will never change, we’re trapped. We need time to think and re-group. School has semester breaks, in football you have halftime; take time for yourself to re-think your game plan.

When do you find time for yourself? How are you able to think clearly with distractions? What are your results, or what do you hope the results will be?

Filed Under: Inspiration, Life Lessons Tagged With: ,

The 5 Most Underrated Songs by the Beatles

April 7, 2015 by 3 Comments

The 5 Most Underrated Songs by the Beatles

The amount of songs written and recorded by the Beatles is staggering. With a recording career that spanned just over 7 years they released 13 albums and 22 singles (enough to fill 2 more albums known as Past Masters Vol. 1 & 2).

We know the melodies to most of their songs as if they are a part of our DNA. But, even with such a vast catalog there are some hidden gems – songs that don’t get the attention they deserve.

I’d like to call attention to the 5 most underrated songs by the Beatles.

1) I Don’t Want to Spoil the Party – This gem is from the album Beatles for Sale. All the elements of a great Beatles song are here. Starting with the opening guitar lick, it dives right into a strong melody with tight harmonies that border on the sublime. Listening to Paul harmonize with John is a true joy. I don’t know if there’s anything better than listening to John and Paul sing together and you’d be hard pressed to find singers more attuned to each other. Only the the Everly Brothers and the Bee Gees are their equals.
A very thoughtful and crisp guitar solo from George pours out of his Gretsch that shines with the spirit of Chet Atkins and Carl Perkins, yet it is pure George. This is one of those songs you can listen to 10 times in a row and it’s a pleasure each time.
2) If I Needed Someone – For my money, this is one of the best songs George Harrison ever wrote. George shows off his Rickenbacker 12-string to great delight on this track from Rubber Soul. It stars just as much as George’s vocal. Paul and John provide harmonies to lift the song to another level.
This songs has the distinction of being the only song composed by George that was played live by the Beatles; having performed it on their 1966 tour. George also pulled it out for his 1991 tour of Japan.
3) Hey Bulldog – This lively track was recorded in February 1968 right before the Beatles left for India to learn Transcendental Meditation with the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, though the song wouldn’t be released until January 1969 when the Yellow Submarine soundtrack was issued.
The song starts with a moving and catchy opening riff on piano, played by John, then builds as George and Ringo join in, followed by Paul. It features one of Paul’s bass masterpieces as well as a blistering guitar solo by George.
It’s impossible to not get drawn in by the energy this song gives off. And hearing John and Paul interact with each other on the fade out just makes you smile, which is exactly what the Fab Four do – make you smile.
4) Octopus’s Garden – This song by Ringo Starr gets lost in the Beatles canon and that’s a shame. It’s a playful track and you can feel the love the group had for Ringo as they do their best to let him shine on Abbey Road. And shine he does as he provides one of his most solid vocal efforts.
The song bounces along and you can’t help but tap along and move your head from side to side as it plays. Paul lays down a steady bassline and augments the song with some honky-tonk piano in the pre-chours and chorus. The highlight to me, is listening to Paul and George harmonize together. It is truly blissful.
George’s guitar solo is perfect cherry on top of this slice of Beatles wonderfulness. The track is fun to listen to, what else can you say.
5) You Know My Name (Look Up the Number) – The Beatles’ sense of humor shines through in this interesting piece. The comedy is woven into a nice little jazzy number. The Beatles were a tight band, no matter what style of music they attempted.
The interplay between John and Paul is delightful and listening to John at the end of the song sounds a bit like Monty Python. If you don’t get a laugh out of this there’s something seriously wrong with you. It also features a sax solo by Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones.
There you have it; the 5 most underrated songs by the Beatles. Like their more popular songs, each one offers a different bit of creativity. They may not stand out to the masses, but these five songs truly represent who the Beatles are. For the Beatles, and for all artists, there is no such thing as lesser works.
Anything you think should have been on the list? What would you have left off?
Filed Under: Creativity, Inspiration Tagged With: , ,

Innovators Think Completely Differently

January 20, 2015 by Leave a Comment

Innovators Think Completely Differently

Innovators think completely differently. I read a story about two doctors at the Texas Heart Institute who saved a man’s life by completely removing his heart and replacing it with a pump they devised. The man has no heartbeat and no pulse. The pump sends blood through the body with a constant flow, like a garden hose. Read more about this amazing story and watch the incredible video.

This story shows that to make giant leaps of progress you need to totally look at the problem completely differently. Instead of looking at ways to fix a damaged heart, the doctors looked at ways to take the heart out of the equation. All innovators think like this. They see the world differently and behave in ways that are contrary to so called normal constraints.
I took a drawing class in college in which the instructor had us draw an image from a photograph, but with an interesting twist. Before we began drawing the instructor had us turn the photograph upside down. It was a great lesson in looking at things differently. Upside down the photograph had shapes, shadows, and colors I didn’t see when looking at it right side up. I know my drawing turned out differently because of this exercise, and I would go so far as to say it was better than if I had drawn it using the photo right side up.
Our mind often sets about fixing problems before even fully realizing what the problem is. We assume we know what the issue is and we go to work on it. Instead, we should take a step back and try to study the problem more closely before trying to come up with a solution.
Is there something you are working on that needs a different way of looking at it? What if you look at it upside down? Inside out? Not look at it at all? The possibilities are almost endless.
Doesn’t that make the problem more fun to solve now? Let me know what you come up with. Here’s to innovation!
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My 3 Words for 2015

January 6, 2015 by Leave a Comment

My 3 Words for 2015Last year I started an exercise made famous by Chris Brogan – write down three words that will become the theme for the year. This replaces the traditional new year’s resolutions. I believe I had some good results with my three words for 2014, although the words took on different meanings throughout the year, which is absolutely fine. It was interesting to see how the words manifested themselves into the course of the year.

Here are my three words for 2015:

Treasure – I want to treasure the moments I have with family and friends. 2014 presented some challenges (my mom almost dying of pneumonia and losing my job). With those challenges behind me, I want to go forward appreciating the wonders of life. And in most ways I already have. 2014 taught me to realize that our time here is limited and I need to embrace the people I cherish while there’s time; while they are alive or while we are working together. Maybe I’ll have a lot of time with people, but as life teaches us, we don’t know. Don’t wait until it’s too late.
Map – In my new position as Marketing Director I am the only marketing person. There’s so much to do. I’ve been writing things down on a sort of mind map. It’s an interesting and complex chart of everything I want to accomplish with my marketing efforts. I need to remind myself, that when I get overwhelmed I need to look at my map. It will guide me in the right direction. I don’t need to second guess myself. At times it’s difficult because I’m used to being part of a larger team where I could ask my colleagues for help or advice. They’re still only a call, email, or text away, but I need to be strong enough to know that what I’ve charted is the way to go.
Replenish – 2014 wiped me out physically, mentally, and spiritually. I need to work on restoring my body function, my mental health, and my spirit. I need to think more consciously about what I’m doing. Does my action replenish me or does it drain me? I need to look for those people, places, and things that replenish me. I need to make time for them and incorporate them into my life. I need more “me” time in 2015. Maybe I’ll look at it in terms of sabbaticals for myself. Whether that’s some point during the day, or a designated amount of time somewhere.
What are your three words for 2015?
I’m interested to see how this plays out this year. Here’s to 2015!
Filed Under: Inspiration, Motivation Tagged With: ,

My Favorite Books of 2014

December 23, 2014 by Leave a Comment

My Favorite Books of 2014After reading so many wonderful books in 2013, I wasn’t sure how 2014 was going to be able to compete, but compete it did. 2014 provided a treasure trove of insight, information, and realizations. There are some stellar pieces of work out there.

Without further ado, here are my favorite books of 2014:
80/20 Sales and Marketing by Perry Marshall. One of the best books I’ve ever read on sales and marketing, period. This is not only an eye-opener, but a shock to the system. Marshall is a visionary and his ideas will change the way you see marketing and life. I’m not kidding when I say this book will literally blow your mind. He doesn’t talk theory, he talks realities, and he’s got real-life examples and proof that what he’s talking about works. If you want to achieve amazing results with your sales and marketing, read this book.
difference by Bernadette Jiwa. This book is a mere 95 pages, but don’t let that fool you. This book contains more wisdom on marketing than books three times the length. It provides some thought-provoking written exercises for you to complete. This book helps you strip away the unnecessary BS to get at the truth of what really matters. It’s a beautifully written work and a sheer delight to read. After reading difference, you’ll see marketing, and your role in it, in a different way.
QR Codes Kill Kittens by Scott Stratten. Stratten has compiled an entire book of terrible uses of QR codes and of inappropriate marketing decisions. Each example leaves you scratching your head and wondering, “what was that company thinking”. It’s a hilarious look at what’s wrong with marketing today, but it’s a great reminder of what not to do. Read it and save a kitten.
Show Your Work by Austin Kleon. Where his previous book Steal Like an Artist talked about creativity, this book delves into getting your creative work noticed. Kleon lays out how to go about this in 10 steps. Filled with examples from his own career, as well as those of other famous artists, the steps are well thought out, and best of all, do-able. Kleon writes in a way that makes you feel like the mystery behind achieving success has been lifted, which is a gift in itself.
The Promise of a Pencil by Adam Braun. An inspiring story of how a 24 year-old employed on Wall Street, found his true calling by giving. Braun was in India when he asked a young boy what he wanted more than anything in the world. He answered, “a pencil.” Braun was inspired to leave his job and work on a “purpose” instead. That purpose was the organization he started, Pencils of Promise, which has since built over 200 schools across the world. An inspiring read, and it makes you realize one person can make a difference.
Choose Yourself by James Altucher. A sometimes unconventional approach on how to live the life you want. Altucher is one person who moves to the beat of his own drum. He has wonderful insights on how to achieve what it is you want out of life and he does it with vulnerability, humility, and humor. If you want to take charge of your career, love life, and finances this is essential reading. After reading this you’ll want to get your hands on his other work, his blog, and podcast. He’s just simply one of the most fascinating people you’ll run across.
Body of Work by Pamela Slim. A great book to help you bring all the loose ties of your career together. After reading this and doing the exercises, you’ll have a greater handle on your career so you’re able to tell a compelling story of your work and your accomplishments. If you are transitioning careers or in between jobs, I highly recommend getting your hands on a copy of this as quickly as possible.
The Power Formula for LinkedIn Success by Wayne Breitbarth. There’s not many more people more knowledgeable about LinkedIn than Breitbarth. If you want to boost your visibility on LinkedIn and give yourself the advantage over everyone else, you’ll want to read this book and implement every Breitbarth suggests. It’s jam packed with helpful tips to get you to standout from the crowd and help you land your next job, win new clients, and make more sales.
Are any of these titles on your list? What were some of your favorites? Is there something you’re looking forward to reading in 2015?
Happy reading!

 

Filed Under: Books, Inspiration, Marketing Tagged With: , ,

7 Steps to Become a Learning Machine

December 2, 2014 by Leave a Comment
7 Steps to Become a Learning MachineIn my last post I wrote about finding the motivation to learn something new. Once you have the motivation, how do you do actually go about learning?
There are three different ways to go about it; some people learn by listening, some by watching, some by doing. This is how school is set up. A teacher stands in front of class and lectures about a subject, writes on the board, and then has you work on it. But, how do you go further than that? How do you go from memorizing something to becoming intimately familiar with it?
Here are 7 steps to become a learning machine:
1) Model someone successful – Who can you model yourself after? Find someone who has done it before, with the kind of success you admire. How did they start? How did they learn? What were their breakthroughs to improvement? If you can learn shortcuts that will help you avoid their mistakes it might save you some frustration.
When I was learning to write songs, I copied what my heroes did. I tried to write songs like them. Listening back now I can still hear the influences – The Beatles’ “She’s a Woman”, Fats Domino’s “Walking to New Orleans”, or Roy Orbison’s “Only the Lonely”. I was learning how to craft songs like they did, but eventually I developed my own style. This also leads us to number two.
2) Model everyone – When I was trying to be a better baseball player as a kid, I tried to model my swing after dozens of major league players. I knew how everyone on the Milwaukee Brewers batted, along with others from the Royals, Yankees, Angels, Red Sox, and anyone else whose swing I liked.
By trying to copy how others players stepped up to the plate, approached their at bat, and swung at pitches, I could find out what worked and what didn’t work for me. Eventually I settled on a cross between Paul Molitor and Dave Winfield. Not that I was trying to be them, but what they did worked for me.
Today, I golf instead of play baseball, but I use the same philosophy. I model my swing after Ernie Els (because we’re about the same body type) and Inbee Park (because she reminds me to be fluid and take my time). Two different swings, but I can take something from each to make it my own.
Try everything you can to find out what works for you.
3) Read – This goes without saying. Read all you can about a subject; everything from the masters to people who might not be famous but have found great hacks to become skillful.
Make sure you mark up the book, take notes, jot down reminders or ideas as you read. If what you read just blows you away, re-read it. There will be a lot you missed the first time around. The lessons that resonated with you the first time will get stuck deeper in your head and you may look at other points differently.
4) Learn the basics first – We often expect expert results when we haven’t even achieved beginner’s skills. You need to learn to crawl before you can walk. It’s the same principle.
If you look at anyone who goes through a slump or tries to re-energize what they’re doing they always go back to the fundamentals. You’ll hear this in sports a lot.
The basics are the foundation on which you can go off in different directions, maybe in places no one else has ever gone before. But, but before that happens you need to understand the fundamentals.
5)  Practice – It takes time to learn something. We’re not going to be good right away, yet we are devastated when we aren’t. Instant gratification cheats us out of proper development time. I think our ego gets in the way of this. We expect to be good and we want to show others we know what we’re doing. We want to do this before we’ve put our time in. That’s what “paying your dues” is all about.
When you first try to learn something you’ll probably suck at it. That’s okay. Everyone starts out the same way. Give yourself permission to try something without having to be perfect at it.
We look at professionals and think they burst onto the scene overnight or they have natural talent that they didn’t have to work on. It may even be portrayed that way in the media. That’s false advertising. Those people spent countless hours practicing their skills before they got any sort of notoriety.
Nobody sees the sacrifice that went into developing their craft. Nobody sees the musician practicing scales at all hours of the day and night, or the swimmer doing laps at 4:00 am, or the baseball player at the batting cage all winter long, but we do see the concert, the Olympic Medal, and the home run to win the game.
Without those private hours of practice those public moments of glory would never have happened. They couldn’t happen. So, don’t take practice lightly, it’s your building block to personal greatness.
6) Never think you’re done learning – No matter how good you are at something, you’re never an expert. This keeps your mind open to continuous learning. Once you think you’ve mastered something you are closed off to new ideas about it.
Think of yourself as an explorer. There’s always something new to discover. With all you know, there’s so much more you don’t know. You needn’t look any further than the library. There’s so much information that’s written that it’s physically impossible to read everything out there and know everything there is to know. You’ll never know it all, so keep your mind open.
7) Share your expertise – When you share what you know it keeps you on your toes. It reemphasizes what you know (or maybe don’t know – re-read point #6) but it also allows you to see it from the vantage point of the person who is just learning.
Teaching also takes us back to each of the other six points mentioned. It can re-introduce you to the fundamentals, it can bring back memories of the people you modeled, and you may find something new to read. Sharing what you know allows you to experience learning all over again.
What steps have you taken to become a learning machine? Are there any steps that you use that I didn’t mentioned? What are they and how do they work for you?
Here’s to becoming a learning machine!
Filed Under: Inspiration, Life Lessons Tagged With: , ,

It Pays to Be Nice

November 4, 2014 by Leave a Comment

It Pays to be NiceYears ago my wife and I were flying out of O’Hare in Chicago during the Christmas holidays. We asked the gate agent at the terminal if there was a meal on the flight. He checked our tickets and said there wasn’t. We thanked him and headed to the food court to grab a couple of sandwiches.

We bought our food and headed back to the terminal when we heard our names over the PA. When we approached our gate agent, he told us that he had moved us to first class, and that there was a meal in first class. He smiled as he said the last part. We expressed our gratitude while he changed our tickets.
It was a crowded flight and he could have done that for anyone. What probably set us apart from the others is that we didn’t complain when we found out we didn’t get a meal. It wasn’t his fault, but I’m sure he heard complaints about it from others.
The lesson here is that it pays to be nice. You should always be nice without the thought of getting something in return; because it’s the right thing to do. Often you’ll be rewarded for it. We were rewarded for treating the gate agent respectfully. After all, he had no control over whether or not there was a meal on our flight.
I’m sure he felt good giving us the surprise upgrade. When people are nice to us we want to be nice back. If a server at a restaurant makes you feel special you’ll leave a larger tip. If employees at a company treat you like a friend and not a transaction you’ll visit more often, spend more money, and tell others about your experience. We love being valued.
When we are treated how we think we should be treated we remember it. It can fuel us for days with positive energy and it inspires us to be kinder. Thankfully, as human beings, we have the power on how we treat others.
Companies often forget that customers are human beings; not an account or ID number. We have names. We have feelings, aspirations, and fears. It benefits everyone to remember this. When we treat someone like a decent human being amazing things can happen.
Filed Under: Inspiration, Life Lessons Tagged With: ,

Lessons from INBOUND 2014

September 23, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Lessons from INBOUND14

With Simon Sinek at INBOUND14.

Last week I joined 10,000 other marketers from around the globe in Boston for INBOUND 2014. It’s the largest conference of its kind for inbound marketers. Not only were there great speakers and the brightest minds sharing their expertise about marketing inside and out, but inspirational leaders as well. I’d like to share some lessons from three of these inspirational keynote speakers.

Simon Sinek – Author of Start With Why and Leaders Eat Last.
I can’t even begin to say how excited I was that Simon Sinek was speaking at this conference. Since first learning about him a few years ago I have become a huge fan of his work. Do yourself a favor and check out his books and watch his TED Talks. His talk about leadership did not disappoint. A few highlights:
“Leaders take care of the people, people take care of the numbers.”
“It’s not about the metrics, it’s about the tree in the distance.” Meaning we need to have something to strive for. The striving for is the part that brings us together for a common goal. You need a vision.
The sacrifice of being a leader is time and energy.
I was thrilled to be able to sit in on a question and answer session with him after his keynote, and I was lucky enough to meet him during a book signing. When I started telling him a story about my work experience and my own downsizing, he stopped signing my book to look me in the eyes as I spoke. He gave me 100% of his attention. He is a fantastically brilliant, and humble person, and possesses a great sense of humor. It was an honor to hear him speak and meet him.
Malcolm Gladwell – Author of Outliers, The Tipping Point, David and Goliath and others.
He gave a wonder talk on the 3 components needed for transformation.
1) Attitude – Needed for you to change habits of mind. The proper attitude also gives you the courage to be independent.
2) Imagination – You need this in order to re-frame the problem. If you re-frame the problem, the solution is possible.
3) Urgency – Allows you to push yourself harder and faster than you would normally. This gives you speed to the market your competitors can’t match.
Shiza Shahid – Founder of the Malala Fund
She gave a powerful talk on what is needed to change the world. She said, “We are the caretakers of our combined human destiny.”
She also spoke about our power to create change, “You can change what you cannot accept.”
She also gave perhaps one of the most moving lines I’ve heard in a while, “We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.” We don’t need to rely on others; we have the power to make the world a better place.
Those are a few of the highlights; of the many I took with me. My week in Boston was about being inspired, making great friends, and learning some new marketing lessons. What a transformational week. I can’t wait to see what I can accomplish until INBOUND 2015 takes place.
Filed Under: Inspiration, Marketing Tagged With: ,

Don’t Lose Sight of the Real Heroes

August 19, 2014 by 2 Comments

 

Medal of Honor Ryan Pitts

Photo courtesy of Department of Defense (Defense.gov)

I was watching the ABC Nightly News a few weeks ago when they ran a story on Medal of Honor recipient Ryan Pitts. During the segment, they mentioned that he was one of nine living recipients. There was footage of him with the President and of him standing at a podium, but nothing he said was broadcast. He had to go through an incredible ordeal in Afghanistan to get it and there was nothing from him. His words didn’t mean anything apparently.   

A few minutes later they ran a story on “Weird Al” Yankovic. He was interviewed. His words were more important than those of a Medal of Honor recipient. Frankly, it was embarrassing. “Weird Al” was a bigger story than Medal of Honor recipient Ryan Pitts.
A few days later, Ryan Pitts was on the Late Show with David Letterman where he got to share his experience. I somehow knew I could count on Dave. Nine of Pitts’ fellow soldiers did not make it back from the mission they were on. As you would expect a hero to do, Pitts downplayed his role and his injuries.
Pitts was in Milwaukee recently to share his story at the VA Hospital. He was also interviewed on the CBS 58 News during his visit. Locally he was a bigger story than he was nationally.
I live in a country where I can do what I want, thanks to people like Pitts and everyone who came before him. But, do I spend my time on important things? Or do I waste my time on trivial things that don’t matter? I’m not saying we shouldn’t have our guilty pleasures, we all need something to help us unwind and just enjoy life. We need to recognize when it’s all too much so we don’t lose sight of the real heroes in our lives. You might even know some personally. Honor them if you get the chance.
Filed Under: Inspiration Tagged With: ,

Robin Williams and The Artist’s Soul

August 12, 2014 by Leave a Comment

Robin Williams and the Artist's SoulThe death of Robin Williams has deeply saddened me. I feel sorry for his family, and for those of us affected by his work. But, I mostly feel sorry for him. Artists like Robin Williams give, and give, and give, and yet he didn’t feel like he got enough back out of life to live. 

We take for granted that artists are there to inspire us, make us laugh, make us cry, help us fall in love, and get over falling out of love. They give up more than we know. The artist’s soul is fed by giving, by creating, by going where most of us fear going. They are open and honest and feel and experience life to the extremes. We love where they take us.
Artists are in a spotlight that few of us will be under. Sure, artists get fortune and fame, but as we’ve seen over and over again; that is not what life is about. That does not provide true happiness and fulfillment.

I remember when I read about the suicide of Del Shannon back in 1990. That hit me hard, though at the time I wasn’t familiar with his body of work except for “Runaway.” I thought it was tragic that someone who had given of himself so freely couldn’t find satisfaction or happiness.
I have felt the same way with other artists that have ended their lives, but Williams’ death hurts much more because of the amount of joy he brought to me. Reading the countless tributes, I know he affected others just as much. There’s a sense of guilt with that as well. He gave so much, but I couldn’t do anything for him, like I could do anything for him since I didn’t know him personally. It’s funny how we just take, and think our interaction is complete with the purchase of a ticket or CD.
What I can do is admire and respect artists who give everything to entertain us. When someone exhibits behavior we question, we have no idea what that person is dealing with, we can appreciate their life without judgment. I can love those around me and encourage them through this journey called life.
I feel like Robin Williams was a comet that could only shine for so long before burning out. He gave what he could, and it was time to move on. He will truly be missed and I hope he has found what he was looking for.
Filed Under: Inspiration, Life Lessons Tagged With: ,
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