Everyday Beauty

As a musician it’s so easy to get caught up with desiring all the bright and shiny objects, but what about everyday life?

I was pondering the notion of beauty. We all want it in some form or fashion. Whether it be via physical appearances or having that awesome gig that every musician vies for because of its stature in the entertainment industry.

The reality is there is beauty in the ordinary. Every day we are confronted by different types of beauty, but do we notice it? There is beauty in our daily routines, what do I mean by this? The very fact that you are able to get up in the morning and be able to do what you do is important and matters.

So how can you make it count?

It can be so easy to be bitter or annoyed that you don’t have something but have you taken the time to ask why? Why do we want certain things and who or what is telling us we need it. Is it society? Is it our friends? Is it our industry? Is it all a lie? Well, it depends on your viewpoint.

What matters to you? At first, I thought I knew: music/work, getting things in order, making a certain amount of money, doing certain projects… spoiler alert, the list is your typical worldly things that everyone wants. Going deeper and taking inventory of what TRULY matters can be surprisingly different.

So how can you find out?

It’s not easy with social media. Being able to curate your image can be very revealing of how you react to society and how you feel about your own life. Comparison doesn’t have to be the killer of creativity or be destructive but it does take away the focus from yourself to others and that is probably not the most fruitful thing you could be doing.

Here are some thoughts regarding how I am working on focusing on what matters.

One day at a time

I am totally guilty of trying to do too much in a short period of time and it doesn’t work. I understand the importance of hustle and I can be a hustle queen but the real question is, when is this productive or are you wasting your time (It’s usually the latter if not strategic)? Big dreams require effort, time and adjusting to whatever life throws at you.

You have to be consistent each day in pursuing what you want and adjusting when necessary to achieve your goals. You cannot force things to happen, and if you are able to, you will run into obstacles that might be more of a heartache than a help. Ever tried to get that chamber ensemble running and it just ain’t working out? It takes time to establish one’s self, build trust and find the right people. Or are you working on finding a new job (I feel your pain) just trying to get an interview or audition can feel like mission impossible.

What to do?

Be proactive but make sure your actions are meaningful and productive and give yourself a timeframe with milestones. If you are not getting what you want or need it’s time to pivot and adjust accordingly.

Gratitude inventory

I am not one to be into journaling (shocker, OMG! But everybody does it ) but taking the time to reflect on the things you do have can really be an eye opener. There are times that I find myself getting frustrated because I don’t have certain things or haven’t been able to get that music project going or this that blah blah, fill in the blank.

This is when I need to take a step back and become more aware of what I have and remember that not only is the grass not always greener, but that someone out there in this world doesn’t have the privilege I have and if the grass is green on the other side they probably worked on it. So it’s time to get real and get grateful and figure things out your way.

Consider the things you want to change

Being grateful for what you do have doesn’t mean settling for crap. If you find yourself in a position where you need a change you have to analyze why and create a plan to make the shift and understand what that means in terms of relationships, money and lifestyle.

Be an opportunity hunter and have your foundational things ready. Those things would include your music portfolio, resumes and finances. Having a solid baseline can really make a difference. So make it a priority so when you take action you can do it in a place of strength. If you don’t have those things then you need to have an active plan in getting that in place so you can make your next moves. That will be your personal call to action.

If you had to keep only a few things or people in your life who or what is it?

We get so caught up with the things we want but what about the everyday things we encounter and what we have? I know some people hate hypotheticals but the reality is all the things that we have and people in our lives have the possibility to weigh us down and cloud our vision to see the beauty in our lives.

This might sound harsh when I add people to the mix. We all encounter people in our lives who are not focused on our wellbeing and are a total drag. When my father passed away it was a wake-up call. What am I doing in my life and who am I surrounding myself with? It is very easy to get caught up in the ways of the material world but when it comes down to it we need healthy relationships with people who truly want to connect with us, for some people, it is family or friends; others colleagues at work. The reality is we are surrounded by people in our daily life and maybe some are not as hard to remove from our lives but we can focus on putting our energy on the people that make our lives meaningful and put our time and efforts towards those people.

If I were to move right now (as a New Yorker you move a lot, this is a rite of passage), what would you take? I am in the process of trying to have just the essentials (minimalist in progress). I am over trying to manage the excess in my life. I want to be free from material possessions and am constantly trying to figure out how to purge the things I am not using or truly don’t need.

Notice the beauty in ordinary acts

Everyday life doesn’t have to be a drag. As a matter of fact, ordinariness is a form of stability and there is a beauty in that. You know the old saying, “the grass is greener” try watering the grass in your pasture it and it will grow. Changing one’s perspective can make each day easier.

You don’t need to do a gratitude journal if you don’t want to (cause I don’t) but reflecting on what you do have can be a powerful thing for our minds and hearts. There is beauty in the ordinary.

Go and have an ordinary, typical day.