The Missed Opportunity

“You blew it kid!” his father shouted the rightful responsive outcry to his missed opportunity. The defeated and despondent look of defense coming from his shouldered dismissiveness. It felt to him an overwhelming and overbearing depletion. Unworthiness? Failure? Mistaken misfortune? Disturbed un-wellness. The impressionable internally-driven labels that began to accrue for him. Who’s who? Mistaken identity? Beguiling incessant belief? “Where was it all, then? What am I doing here!?” he shared with himself. “The one and only thing I know is that I am here! aren’t I? Did I not choose this experience before I arrived?

Wasn’t I meant for something so much greater than this seemingly eternal life of constant suffering?…it’s madness!” he thought—again consuming his language without non-judgemental observance. His mind was on wild-fire mode. He grasped all that he could interpret of his circumstance all at once! “This is not how it should be! I don’t recall ever asking for this! What has happened to my life? Why can’t I simply be content with my existence here alone? Why do I have to engage with this world of inversions and chastisement?” There was a multitude of drum-lines and mental occupancies occurring for him. Never before had he ever been confronted by such a swell of irreparability. After all, there was no going back—doing it all over again for him and the contagions of darkness and oddly shaped pretenses were now nearly suffocating his experience of existence entirely. “There is no going back.” Again, he thought. “But if this is the case then why not choose each moment to be an incredibly significant and joyous occasion?” “No. That would be too difficult,” he presumed. If there was anything he knew about life up to this point is that the pendulum certainly swings both ways. That the greater the momentum carried going one way? Would mean an eventual and equitable swing in the opposing direction. “So then, where is the balance?” Toxicity is in the dose, and the dose differs for us all. This needn’t be a dissolution and segmented relay of composition. A “How-to…” dialogue of the way to live one’s life in the material world. “Bang at unsheathed shackles!” That idea just blurted out of me.

But then what? What of the irrefutably reckless amounts of “noise” that comes about in one’s own mind? Are they expected to ignore it via distracting mechanisms provided by the devices we all, for the most part, carry now? Focus then: is key. The key to one’s salvation is focus. But then? focus? Genuine focus is on what? Whatever can be concluded as relevant, I would guess. I am here as acting author, in a bit of a state of expectancy that the “right” person discovers some inherent form of value that perhaps they have busied themselves over with in life and forgotten about the importance of: “the fugitive is on the loose!” Uh-oh? keeping track of one’s persona on-stage versus the persona prevailed through one’s writing—my writing, to be precise—can be a difficult feat because if you are the author already? Then why not develop something resembling balance throughout? It might be due to prideful ignorance, or any number of things. I personally have great difficulty looking at myself as I am now and from a future state of being without being judgmental and hyper-critical about it. For instance? “You should be doing more of this and that this way…” so on and so forth.

Consider the time that is being endorsed by my proceeding placement of these words in spite of knowing full-well that this will all be erased one day! The stroke of a discerning proletariat. It’s simply all a waste, in that sense, really. A “what to do of nothing…” type of correspondence. At any rate? I’m well-aware of my insignificance, but let’s get back to the idea of FOCUS. So good of that skillset I have learned in growing older is the significance of a scanning focus of the physical-self. Begin at the toes: interpret each element as perfect and regardless of any imperfections: begin to give thanks and appreciation for the semblance and configurations as well as purpose for the intent. I know there’s this idea of my being in Hollywood and LA as a successful elite entertainer and entrepreneur, but the truth of it is in my mind, and the idea that I can’t get away from? is that I was just a stowaway. A rat who escaped from his cage and found something good to suckle on. But blessings be quickly derailed by bullshit?

I wait for that day when an audience member who has actually read my shit and thoroughly investigated my thoughts and works, yells out their forgiveness toward me. I think I would drop it all right then and there: all constructs and hurried configurations that by intended design are meant to open the floor of discussion. I would drop it all. Lowest floor gratitude. Honor. Service. Respect. Hey! I am so readily willing to admit that I have missed out on opportunities galore. There is not much I can argue with there. Certainly I have my own unique way with words and each of us has an opinion—yes: there’s even someone out there who hates me for no reason, even. But the fact of the matter stands to be true for me: that I exist here and now on this plane and there’s nothing I can do to deny that. But it’s difficult for me to deny: that with every new breath I am able to engage with? The opportunities for me present themselves. And I choose to give thanks. And especially? Thank you for your time in reading this little conception of a pick-me-up editorial, and I look forward to the day we run into each other’s smile and you call me out on “my bullshit,” right? Whatever that means. In the meantime? Stay blessed!

-Cheers

Make Good Use of This?

Currently? There are open-enrollment applications for grant-proposals from these incredible organizations for musicians. Please read their application process carefully and enjoy the holiday season!

  1. Sweet Relief Musicians Fund: This fund provides financial assistance to musicians and music industry professionals in need of medical or dental care. The application process is relatively straightforward, and there are no income or asset restrictions.

  2. MusiCares Foundation: This organization offers a variety of programs and services to support musicians in need, including financial assistance, healthcare resources, and counseling. The application process varies depending on the specific program, but there are generally no income or asset restrictions.

  3. The Recording Academy Assistance Program: This program provides grants to music professionals in financial need due to illness, disability, or natural disaster. The application process is relatively simple, and there are no income or asset restrictions.

  4. The Songwriters Emergency Relief Fund: This fund provides financial assistance to songwriters in need due to illness, disability, or natural disaster. The application process is relatively straightforward, and there are no income or asset restrictions.

  5. The Foundation for Contemporary Music: This organization offers a variety of grants and awards to support musicians and music organizations. The application process varies depending on the specific program, but there are generally no income or asset restrictions.

  6. The National Endowment for the Arts: This government agency offers a variety of grants to support artists and arts organizations, including musicians. The application process is competitive, but there are no income or asset restrictions.

  7. The Puffin Foundation: This foundation offers grants to individual artists, including musicians, who are working on innovative and groundbreaking projects. The application process is competitive, but there are no income or asset restrictions.

  8. The Jerome Foundation: This foundation offers grants to individual artists, including musicians, who are living in New York State or Minnesota. The application process is competitive, but there are no income or asset restrictions.

  9. The American Composers Forum: This organization offers a variety of grants and awards to support composers, including musicians. The application process varies depending on the specific program, but there are generally no income or asset restrictions.

  10. The BMI Foundation: This foundation offers a variety of grants and awards to support musicians, including songwriters, composers, and performers. The application process varies depending on the specific program, but there are generally no income or asset restrictions.

Please note that these are just a few examples, and there are many other grants available to musicians. The specific eligibility requirements and application processes will vary depending on the grant, so be sure to carefully review the guidelines before applying.

Sources:

Sweet Relief Musicians Fundhttps://www.sweetrelief.org/MusiCares Foundationhttps://musicares.org/The Recording Academy Assistance Programhttps://members.recordingacademy.com/s/The Songwriters Emergency Relief Fundhttps://www.songwriterfund.com/The Foundation for Contemporary Musichttps://www.ifoundcm.org/The National Endowment for the Artshttps://www.arts.gov/The Puffin Foundationhttps://www.puffinfoundation.org/puffin-foundation/The Jerome Foundationhttps://www.jeromefdn.org/The American Composers Forumhttps://composersforum.org/The BMI Foundationhttps://www.bmi.com/

How Do We Spend Our Time Here?

In the vast expanse of the cosmos, amidst a swirling symphony of stars and galaxies, we exist. We, the human species, are a mere speck in this grand cosmic tapestry, yet our presence is imbued with an extraordinary significance, a miracle of existence worth pondering and appreciating.

Like the gentle breeze caressing the delicate petals of a flower, existence is a fragile yet resilient dance of life, a delicate interplay of atoms and molecules that have conspired to create the conditions for our being. We are a testament to the universe's capacity for complexity, a manifestation of its boundless creativity.

Our existence is not merely a happenstance, a cosmic accident. It is the product of an intricate chain of events, a delicate balance of forces that have unfolded over billions of years. From the primordial soup that gave rise to the first single-celled organisms to the intricate evolution of our own species, existence is a testament to the universe's persistent drive towards complexity and consciousness.

We are not alone in this cosmic dance. Around us exists a vibrant tapestry of life, from the microscopic organisms that teem in every drop of water to the majestic whales that traverse the ocean depths. We are interconnected with all living things, bound together by the invisible threads of life that weave through the fabric of existence.

Our existence is not a static state, but a continuous process of change and transformation. We are constantly evolving, adapting to the ever-changing landscape around us. Our bodies are in a perpetual state of renewal, our cells replicating and dying, making way for new life to emerge.

Our minds too are in a constant state of flux, our thoughts and perceptions constantly shifting and shaping our understanding of the world around us. We are capable of learning, of growing, of expanding our horizons and reaching new heights of understanding.

The miracle of existence is not something to be taken for granted. It is a gift, a precious opportunity to experience the beauty and complexity of the universe. We should strive to appreciate every moment, every breath, every interaction, for they are all part of the grand tapestry of existence that we are privileged to witness.

So, let us pause, let us reflect, and let us marvel at the sheer miracle of our existence. We are a part of something vast, something profound, something that has defied the odds and emerged into being. Let us cherish this gift, let us honor it, and let us live our lives in a way that celebrates the extraordinary miracle of existence.

-Cheers,

Bard

In the realm of words, there exists a hidden treasury, a trove of knowledge and wisdom waiting to be unearthed. Yet, this treasure remains locked, its potential unrealized, until a sacrifice is made.

Your contribution, a seemingly small act of generosity, holds the key to unlocking this hidden bounty. With your support, the words will be released from their slumber, their transformative power unleashed upon the world.

Imagine the impact your donation could have. The words could inspire a child to pursue their dreams, ignite a spark of creativity in an artist's soul, or offer solace to a weary traveler. They could bridge the gap between cultures, foster understanding and compassion, and even help to heal the wounds of the world.

Your contribution is not merely a monetary exchange; it is an investment in the power of words to transform lives and shape the future. It is a declaration of faith in the inherent goodness of humanity, in our collective ability to create a better world through the exchange of ideas and the sharing of stories.

By donating today, you become a guardian of this hidden treasury, a steward of its transformative power. You become a catalyst for change, a beacon of hope in a world yearning for enlightenment.

So, open your heart and extend your hand. Your contribution, no matter how small, holds the power to unlock a world of possibilities. Let the words be released, let their transformative power flow, and together, let us create a brighter future for all.