Ode to Lameness

“What is my life if I am no longer useful to others.” - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Mediocrity is awesome. Yup. Totally radical. Only fulfilling some of your New Years resolutions? Totally commendable. Why should we strive for greatness when basking in unproductivity is so enjoyable?

Sarcasm.


Every time I lose interest in one journal, I go get another one and think it'll solve my lame journaling habits. I've left quite a few journals unfinished. 3/4 empty even. I never thought I'd feel that way about a blog but it's creeping in. Goethe is cool and all but... I don't have to quote him EVERY time do I?

Nope. Making a new blog. It's going to be sweet. I'll link it to this one so people can see the history.

Short one

I love life. I've spent it in a weird way today. Mostly on the computer. Being fairly productive.

Thought you should know.

Some philosophy: Sometimes it's better to do than to think about what you should do.

Yup.

Quality Education

“There is nothing more frightful than ignorance in action." –  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

I'm a bit of an artistic critic. I've got very subjective taste (I'll admit it) but I do have some training in the objective world. You can't truly judge music without knowing its history or the theory behind it. You can tell if it pleases you emotionally but that's never been the sole determining factor of "quality." When you look for a romantic partner, you can't just decide based on the chemistry you feel around certain people. That's a major factor, but if their lifestyle isn't compatible with yours, it's just not going to work. It's the same with music. If a composer tries to write "classical music" but has never learned orchestration, it's bound to be flawed. There's a reason there are rules. There's a reason I'm taking classes in the subject. 

Rock is a horse of a different color. It has different rules. I can't say I really know them. Maybe I do.

Back to Classical. Or Jazz. Or Broadway. You can break the rules but you have to know them. There has to be something that grounds you in the genre, just as in a relationship there has to be a bond that connects you to your significant other. It's more than physical attraction. That dies if it's not based on something more substantial. The reason Beethoven's music has lasted so long is because it is grounded in the fundamentals of music. It both explores the way the music impacts one emotionally and makes musical sense at the same time.

Many who write music of a religious nature justify its artistic flaws because it feels good still. Well, yeah! It's connecting with your soul. Your deeply founded beliefs. But is that enough to qualify it as "great" music? Would it have even greater impact if it was both spiritual AND brilliantly constructed?

Don't settle. There are too many options out there to find the first piece of art or potential soulmate or philosophy and deem it a "masterpiece." Seek out truth in all forms.

January 1st: Overnight

“One ought, every day at least, to hear a little song, read a good poem, see a fine picture, and if it were possible, to speak a few reasonable words.” – Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Some tell me that "the world can't change overnight." Let's play with that phrase. What is the world? A big living sphere. Volcanic eruptions change it overnight. Let's say that the world is "our world," or the way we perceive the external elements of our lives. That's a matter of perspective and that can certainly change overnight.

The year changed just changed overnight. 

One morning, you're out of work and without love. That day, you meet the girl of your dreams and her dad offers you a job. You wake up the next morning with a completely new life. That didn't happen to me, by the way. It was just an illustration.

I plan to start blogging 6 days a week. I'm making that change now. Overnight. Done. Decided.

I will write at least 4 bars of quality music 6 days a week. Committed.

I will read the word of God every day. Devoted.

I resolve.

Weird. I hadn't seen myself as a resolute person before. I guess that just changed overnight.

Free

False advertising is a major pet peeve of mine. The internet is certainly guilty of it, from companies saying they'll offer something for a price much lower than they plan to charge to people pretending to be someone they're not. I've never entered a chat room but it sounds just like a masquerade ball where no one removes the mask and you don't actually get to dance. Lame.

Are we guilty of false advertising in our own lives? Do we tell people we want something we really don't?

Are we honest? Do we deliver what we say we will? Are we vulnerable and transparent with those closest to us? Do we have integrity?

Integrity: (n) undivided or unbroken completeness or totality with nothing wanting.

It's a tough gig.

Obligations

"There is nothing so terrible as activity without insight." -Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

I am a free man. I choose my contracts. Being able to do something does not create obligation to do it. When I do bind myself to a concept, a task or a person, I willingly create an obligation because I see increased freedom in that.

Registering for a class is a contract. I submit my will to fulfill the requirements to allow myself the freedom receive instruction and mentoring. I see a degree in the future that will allow more freedom.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ has standards and I commit to live them out of a desire to receive spiritual progression and freedom.

Developing close friendship requires commitment and effort but it yields the freedom to share experiences, trust and love. 

"The truth shall set you free."

Bedtime Stories

"Magic is believing in yourself, if you can do that, you can make anything happen.”  -- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

I finally saw that movie tonight. It totally changed my outlook.

The events at first glance didn't progress logically and they were specifically designed to not follow the normal sequence of events.  But deep within that structure, under the facade of chaos and entropy, it worked perfectly. It wasn't a movie that sucked you in and made you forget you were watching a movie-- it brought attention to the fact that you were and it was so consistently ridiculous that you become accustomed to the new set of rules it introduces. Brilliant.

Not every movie has to go to deep and tragic places to move a viewer. The human heart is, in fact, capable of learning without pain and struggle. Wonderful news!