Hey, folks.
Happy New Year and jolly festive wishes to you. I hope Christmas and the New Year were kind to you. How are you going on your new year’s resolutions?
I’ve personally been too busy to make any. Or more honestly, have probably been avoiding the task. Not that I think that’s a bad thing. I’ve changed my mind a bit recently on planning and goal-setting. Because while it might seem easy for people like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Tim Robbins to set a huge long-term goal, visualize every step leading towards it, and just make it happen like they were Goal Gandalf, it seems to me ‘chasing your dreams’ generally involves more chasing than getting. Life does seem to get in the way.
Which is why I was greatly inspired in December on hearing Tim Minchin’s 2013 graduation speech to students of his old alma mater, the University of WA. If you’ve heard the speech, you’ll know what I mean.
Two points he made in his very clever speech included:
“One. You don’t have to have a dream. Americans on talent shows always talk about their dreams… I never really had one of these dreams and so I advocate passionate dedication to the pursuit of short-term goals…”
As Tim went on to explain, if you focus too far in front of you, you’ll likely miss out on noticing the next exciting and fulfilling opportunity meant just for you.
And two – to paraphrase Tim, don’t take yourself so seriously; enjoy your life! The world may revolve around you from your perspective, but it doesn’t according to anyone else. We are all a meaningless blip in an ancient universe, so have fun and make the most of your blipfield J As Tim puts it:
“There is only one sensible thing to do with this empty existence and that is fill it… Life is best filled by learning as much as you can about as much as you can. Taking pride in whatever you’re doing. Having compassion, sharing ideas, running, being enthusiastic…”
So that’s what I plan to do in 2015.
Music update
On the gig front, I’ve been doing a fair bit of the above, and having a ball at my gigs. Our little family just made a great weekend out of my gig at the Endeavour Tavern on Saturday afternoon, and oh, what a little piece of paradise that pub’s beer garden is, overlooking the beautiful beaches of Lancelin. I did nearly lose my P.A. to a very brisk sea breeze but hey, it would have been a small price to pay for what was a blissful afternoon of music-making. And we all had a great time in the region seeing the Pinnacles and Stromatolites; eating at Lobster Shack, where my step-daughter learned she LOVES the taste of rock lobster; swimming and snorkeling in the Indian Ocean; and sandboarding on the amazing white dunes of Lancelin with the kids. We are lucky and life is good.
Upcoming gigs
I’ve just added some new gigs, and more to come too, so check out my home page at sulijo.com to see where to find me having more fun making music.
A couple of changes include:
Craigie Tavern Sundays have moved back from 6pm-8pm, to now 6:30pm to 8:30pm.
Mt Henry on Thursday 22 January has been cancelled as the venue is renovating.
Some of the projects I’m getting up include a bit of rebranding and redecorating of the website, including a name change :-o ..as well as some more trio and band news, which is pretty exciting in my books :D And of course continuing the creating and songwriting fun.
I’d be interested to know from you guys, if you've made new year's resolutions yourself, or if you've chosen not to, and why...