It’s interesting when an artist is imploring you to be in the moment…and the audience is immersed in their phones. Saw Tool again and there was an explicit no photo or video policy. Multiple times stadium security told individuals to put away their phones or face expulsion. More times those people waited 5 minutes then pulled out their phones again.
I don’t get it. I’ve been making a very concerted effort in my own life to be more present. Especially when one of my favorite artists is imploring in song,
Choosing to be here, right now,
Hold on, stay inside of
This holy reality,
This holy experience
Choosing to be here in…
Really? Can you not hear the words? Maynard spent most of the show singing his songs about disconnection and overstimulation and the irony was that much of the audience was guilty of just what he was warning against…railing against.
I’m a huge fan of Maynard’s. Not just for his incredible musical talent but because of who he is as a person. He is a hard worker: he digs in to numerous projects at once and succeeds at each of them. Not from luck, not just from his celebrity, but because he really works hard. He is a stalwart advocate of sobriety- often mocking those who do drugs or drink to excess, despite (or in spite of) the fact that he runs a winery. He is an amazing musician who surrounds himself with other hardworking musicians. They aren’t known for drunken brawls or getting arrested, but for each having numerous bands and solo projects going at once. He practices BJJ with fervor and he is a dedicated husband and father. He doesn’t seek to put his face in the spotlight, he isn’t an attention whore. He is a hard worker. That is to be admired.
I get to see him again in 4 weeks for his autobiography tour. I hope I can alter my own life more in the meantime. I’m not afraid of hard work. I work hard even through my own health issues, sometimes to my own detriment. I still have plans, I still have dreams, there are still things to be done. Being present, giving up some of the overstimulation, making myself be more accountable to my own goals… these are worthwhile endeavors. Maynard is a good reminder.
He is also a reminder to do these things, to put in the good work, with a glad heart and graciousness. Complaining helps no one.