The center of the universe?

"I went to this concert...."
"I've got a neat car......"
I I I !

A lotta folks out there, and each one of us the middle of the story we tell. Each individual the
center of the world. The world certainly spins around a lot of people - it's a wonder it spins at all.

*I* first had this idea planted in my mind during an SAT test. The verbal section
had this really neat excerpt for a book, talking about how we all think that we're the leading
actor/actress on the stage of life. A rather err....Good point, especially when you think about
how we're really NOT. If you disagree, consider your importance next time you're in a traffic jam.
"I need to get over a lane." Yep, you, and ten thousand other "I's", all stuck on I-95 north.

I love to take life lessons and apply them to a musical situation. More often than not, music is an excellent mirror.

Us guitarists have the bad reputation of being too loud. Hey, more of us in the monitors, right?

If we zoom out a bit, and see the band as the big picture, and not our personal goals, we take a big step in the right direction of becoming a musician, and not just a guy or girl who plays guitar.


And this doesn't mean being timid, and turning down. If you can honestly say that the big picture needs more guitar, turn it up! But do look at that picture, first.

I've been yelled at before by bandleaders because I was too quiet. (That's probably a first in guitar playing history.) I guess I was putting my personal goals (not totally bombing onstage) in front of the big picture...Making some music!

So try this at your next gig, or even dinner with your family.

Instead of viewing yourself as the main story line, try picturing yourself as one of many actors on a stage. And then - what's the play about? Making you important? Or having fun, and making some great music? In fact, a sense of relief may be felt when you "decentralize" your world, and view your true place in the cosmos....

http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/releases/nebula/2006/35/image/a/format/large_web/




Crank it up!

- PM

PS. Try this in life, too.