In Obedience to Pure Motives
First, you must excuse me; I am a critic of human life; I know I am out of fashion in the modern world. But if musicians can play by ear, so can writers.
The other day, while walking in NYC, it was revealed to me the strange practice of devaluation in our society. It has become second nature for men to reduce or underestimate the worth or importance of their happiness, their environment, and (perhaps the worst wrongdoing of them all) themselves. This modesty needs to stop, but in order for that to happen, men must change their tendency towards humility and adopt a courageous approach. We are all geniuses. We all have a need for which only we can supply. We all have a call to do something unique, and no one else has that call. We all have a vision that no one else can see. Find your genius and turn it into an outlet for your character and life’s work. “Vision without action is daydream. Action without vision is nightmare.” ~Japanese Proverb
Keep in mind, however, that there is a difference between self-confidence and arrogance. True courage exudes genuine pride. Arrogance exudes false vanity. ![]() Will the Next Emerson Please Stand Up?
The world of Ralph Waldo Emerson was a period in history marked by the collapse of empires, the birth of science as a profession, the advancement in medicine, the abolishment of slavery in America, and the Industrial Revolution. Equally important, was the sociological trend towards fear-driven conformity. As men and women in the 19th century increasingly defined themselves in terms of their professions and possesions, Emerson feared that America was losing its most valuable resource - the individual (the ones who avoid conformity and false consistency, and follows his or her own instincts and ideas). He championed the need for man to use what he called "The Primary Wisdom", or one's self-trust, spontaneity and instinct. He felt man had become too timid and apologetic. "He is no longer upright," he lamented. "He dares not say "I think," "I am," but quotes some saint or sage."
Fast forward to the 21rst century and it's clear that the pressures placed on individuals to conform to the material values of American culture are stronger than ever. Consequently, Emerson's message has never been more pertinent. And for this reason, he has become my go-to guy for personal, intellectual, and professional renewal. Among the most influential of his writings is the essay entitled Self-Reliance, which begins by defining genius: "To believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart, is true for all men - that is genius."
Unfortunately, most teenagers and young adults in America: due to MTV airing a Jersey Shore marathon or other fascinating contributions to television history, aren't spending their free time discovering the works of influential writers and thinkers like Emerson. But.... I have a solution.
All America needs to do is put forth a modern figure of enlightenment that advocates individualism (preferably someone resembling the physical features of Justin Bieber) because nothing can bring you peace but yourself - not your profession or your possessions. Simple enough huh? ![]() ![]() The Genius of John Lennon![]() ![]() "When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down 'happy'. They told me I didn't understand the assignment, and I told them they didn't understand life." ![]() Humor. Skill. Sex Appeal. In that order.
Let’s see, where do I begin…
First (according to some), it's been long over due that I post something or put out some new music. Thanks for your reminders. And to my friends within sight, a short driving distance, and to those overseas that my music or fragmented words have reached and brought us into acquaintance, I appreciate you all. Anyways, it’s a funny thing how people (both old and new), or a random song can bust open the flood gates of creativity and you find yourself drenched with inspiration again. It’s unexpected, but damn does it feel good. You go through a lot of different phases in life. I’m going to quote my cousin - though we aren’t on the best of terms at the moment, he went out of his way to reach out to me during a recent rough patch. “Just remember that life is a circle cuzzo. It truly is. There are times you are at the top and times that you are at the bottom, but most times you are on the sides of the circle planning on how to keep from going to the bottom and planning on how to get back to the top”. Mike, that’s one of the wisest things anyone has ever said to me. Thank you. Now is now. Then is then. And the future will be what the future will be. Reality is the moment. The lawsuits (I'm involved in 2 now lol), the accidents, the stages I’ve poured my heart out on and played till my fingers bled, the cheers, the free shots of whiskey, my crappy “tour van” with no working gas gage or headlights, the pan handling in Virginia, the studio sessions, the unemployment, my old record label (thanks for dealing with my crazy antics as long as you did Adam and Scott) and the support I’ve received are all part of the beautiful struggle. And beautiful it is. I’ve learned that I have my own set of rules. I’ve learned to be brave, but not reckless. I’ve learned that sometimes you are the fighter and sometimes you are the corner man. I hope for your sake that your corner man is as good as mine is. Thanks Eddy. I’ve learned to speak out for what you believe and what you feel; or don’t, but remember you have to live with yourself at the end of the day. I’ve learned to ALWAYS choose love in the end because I’ve loved and lost, then loved and lost again, and am finding myself loving yet again. Last but not least, I’ve learned that I’m hard to get to know, but damn near impossible to forget. Mentally, I’m a million miles away, but I’m still right there in your picture frame. Cheers to the crazy ones. We are all gurus now. P.S., the random song I mentioned earlier on, here it is. What a fool I've been, but that was Zen and this is TaoFree writing — also called stream-of-consciousness writing — is a prewriting technique in which a person writes continuously for a set period of time without regard to spelling, grammar, or topic. Here's my crack at it. — What A Fool I've Been — In this life of intangibles I am well aware and plan to do everything that is unimaginable because imaginations fallible. My hearts filled with gratitude that is gradually gravitating to a brave new attitude because from the cradle to the grave doesn't it all remain palpable? Or are we just animals and nothing in this world is supernatural? Can we savor the savage soul of our mind's true altitude? People are many and their hands are empty and entitlement is ugly so I'd rather die open-minded and amazed at wonders deeds then live so blinded by someone elses beliefs. I'd rather be wounded in Love than wounded in Hatred because I'm the product of patience, generosity and intelligence and I refuse to become incarnations of any negative elements. Cultivated in love the wheel of life is constant, constantly containing prominence representative of a fountain, flowing flows of dominence. So with outstretched arms I laugh with hopes to free my past. To free it from my grasp and watch it turn to ash that will blow away in the wind and scatter as I grin. Oh what a fool I've been. ( I wrote this while listening to "A Hard Rains A-Gonna Fall" by Bob Dylan ) Happyness or Happiness?Dig it.
![]() My performance of Jeff Buckley's Hallelujah recorded live and uncut in Philiadelphia
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Anyways, it’s a funny thing how people (both old and new), or a random song can bust open the flood gates of creativity and you find yourself drenched with inspiration again. It’s unexpected, but damn does it feel good. You go through a lot of different phases in life. I’m going to quote my cousin - though we aren’t on the best of terms at the moment, he went out of his way to reach out to me during a recent rough patch. “Just remember that life is a circle cuzzo. It truly is. There are times you are at the top and times that you are at the bottom, but most times you are on the sides of the circle planning on how to keep from going to the bottom and planning on how to get back to the top”. Mike, that’s one of the wisest things anyone has ever said to me. Thank you. 






