RE: [Harp-L] Re: Everything in life is competition

["Anthony Smith" <anthony@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Damn!  What would happen if someone mentioned discipline, self control,
dedication to being the best you can be and taking responsibility for your
own actions!  All equally offensive concepts I'm sure.  

In the end, the best of the best, the most successful at
anything/everything, is the person who does the things failures don't like
to do. That is what separates Kim Wilson, Jason Ricci and the likes from
everyone else.  Guaranteed.


-----Original Message-----
From: harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx [mailto:harp-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of Buzz Krantz
Sent: Thursday, July 16, 2009 6:30 PM
To: Splash
Cc: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Re: Everything in life is competition

Hey Splash
Thank you . Finally a voice of reason...  I agree with you. The only 
competition  should be with yourself.   Why do it if it doesn't make you 
feel good.
   buzz................................................


Splash wrote:
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Anthony Smith"
> Everything in life is competition and music is no exception.  Each and 
> every musician is competing against every other musician for the 
> consumers time and money.  Everything has an "opportunity cost" 
> associated with it.  By choosing a PB sandwich, you forgo eating a 
> roast beef sandwich.  By choosing "this", you forgo choosing "that" and
that is the point here.
> -------------------------------
>
> I have chosen to live in a different way.  I live in a Universe full 
> of abundance.  There is more than enough to go around.
>
> For example:  Some people have recently on this list expressed that 
> they do not particularly get enthusiastic about Jason Ricci's playing.
>
> However, his shows always have plenty of people in the audience.  
> There is an abundance of people who do like what he does and are 
> enthusiastic about it.  I enjoy watching him play, and even more 
> appreciate his acknowledgement of the fans as an integral part of the 
> process.  There is no lack or need in his world.  Only abundance.  He 
> is not competing, no matter how much his supporters or detractors try and
fuel the debate.  He just writes and plays.
> And gigs.
>
> The competition is only within ones self, to try and bring yourself 
> greater satisfaction and happiness.
>
> Once I was driven to be "better" than the other guy.  That's a losing
game.
> We are all magnificent!  Each of us just have a different angled light 
> to share.
>
> When I stopped trying to be what others expected, or wanted me to be, 
> or what I thought they wanted, and I just focused on what got me 
> jazzed up and able to communicate, everything changed.  I got Zen, or 
> something.  And people started getting the message.  I became better 
> able to just communicate.  And that's enough.  Actually, it's everything.
>
> I realized that writing and playing for the satisfaction of creating 
> was all that matters.  And when I stopped caring whether anybody else 
> "got it" and communicated first to myself, and second to my musical 
> partners, that communication path opened up like never before.  And 
> the audience understood.
>
> People came up to me after playing and told me how much they liked the
"new"
> me.  I even have people coming up and saying they enjoyed something I 
> did many months ago.
>
> And that was never possible when I was in a "competition" for some 
> other external thing.  I only try to be better for ME.  And that is 
> mostly done when practicing or woodshedding.  When I play for others 
> these days, I stay within myself and don't push things.  I just let it 
> go and give it all away by not thinking about it.  If I communicate 
> and they get it and take some home with them, that's even better.  But 
> that has no bearing whether I am happy with my performance or not.
>
> Sometimes I don't give as fine a performance that I know I am capable of.
> But that's life.  I acknowledge my humanity to myself and move on.  
> Being human means that every now and then you suck.  Such is life.  
> Even a sucky performance has some cool moments, and sometimes it's the 
> boo-boos that upon later reflection are the coolest.
>
> Being in a constant competition is a self-imposed stress maker.  I 
> choose to do music the other way.  Stress Kills!
>
> Life is meant to be fun.
>
> PEACE
> Splash
>
> "When yer havin' fun, winnin' takes care of itself."  -  Satchell Page
>
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>
>   
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