Is there redemption in Rock and Roll? Ever since the first parents of the post-World War II age questioned the depth and relevance of their children’s music, the generational gap between the new boss and the old boss has been one of semantics.
There is a certain timelessness in stories, songs, soliloquy’s, psalms. Patterns repeat, and we are at once shocked to find our stories and messages come up, time and again. Once in a while, you can get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right.
I was reminded of one of my favorite music videos from 1978 as I outlined this essay. The Who’s “Who are you?” shows that band in rare fine and fun form. The song itself is, upon closer inspection, a take from the daily practice of the great Stoic philosophers from 2,000 years ago; introspection and self-reflection.
As the story goes, lead guitarist for The Who, Pete Townshend, has spent an entire day in Tin Pan Alley in London negotiating royalties with record executives. He came away with a hefty check. He felt he sold out. This feeling was further exacerbated when he ran into Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols, who affirmed Pete’s fears; he had indeed sold out. This chain of events drove Pete to ask himself the question, “Who are you?”
In practice, this is a question we can ask ourselves daily, as the great stoic Marcus Aurelius has suggested. Although it does beg two other questions; What do you stand for? Why are you here?
Who are you? Take stock of what you do well and what you can improve. Reflect upon your importance to those most important to you. Perform the “It’s a Wonderful Life” test and try to envision the world without you. You’ll see that your importance far outweighs your perception.
What do you stand for, or what values do you personify? Can you name the principles you live by? We seldom take the time to identify our values. Once we understand our values, we can better understand the importance of congruence. If you are out of alignment with your values, you will feel out of sorts, even anxious, and not know why.
Finally, why are you here? When we understand our why is at the root of what motivates us. Play this game. What would your mission be if you were brought back from the dead for a year to do something specific? How can you apply this mission to your day-to-day interactions?
Now the Stoics have layers of insight into what they believe is the highest form of living. They’ve shared this philosophy through numerous writings and passed down philosophies. One that resonates deeply with me is this: try to be different from anyone else you know. Creative expression is one thing, but the more impactful difference is that of your character. Here is an easy alliteration to help you remember; try to be the most gracious, most grateful, and most gritty person you know.
Be the most gracious. Show courtesy, kindness, and magnanimity to everyone, a little more with each interaction you might have.
Practice gratitude. There is a multitude of things we all have to be grateful for. All of us do. If you take some time every day to record just three little things to be grateful for and write them down, you will be surprised at how this record of gratefulness will give your day buoyancy.
True grit is genuinely a challenge. The only thing that matters is persistence. It is the one neutralizer of any perceived disadvantage.
Be more gracious, grateful, and gritty than anyone you know. This bears repeating.
Finding timeless advice in the lyrics of a 1970’s power rock ballad…well…Who knew. Ouch.
Be well, dear reader.
Here is a great fun video of The Who in 1978.
