Monday, April 01, 2024


I am reminded, by the picture above, of the first CD themed concert following the official release of "Once Upon a Summertime - The Music of Blossom Dearie", nearly a year ago; when Sharon Sable and I ventured on a road trip to Mt. Vernon Nazarene University, in Ohio. In the afternoon of our concert, I took a walk to take some pictures toward making a Facebook photo post. The picture above, in particular, spoke to me, and now, a caption has come: "If I only think about where I am, I can't go anywhere". This, actually, has become the central element in learning to to express more deeply from the piano, and specifically, to get out of my own way. But more than that, it pretty well sums up life's lessons that have brought me to this point. Learning to let go (of where I think I am, or ought to be) may simply mean turning our focus away from that which is occupying the space in front of us (which may equate to: in our way). And if we are turning our focus away from what is directly in front of us, to what, exactly are we turning our focus? I suspect that the answer may simply be away from what is in front of us (in our way). Or to go back to the caption, if I only think about where I am, I can't go anywhere.  The landscape opens up when we don't insist on painting it ourselves.