Ever since I could remember, I have never wanted to be identified by any one aspect of me or my life. I never wanted to be known only for my career or something I did. I always wanted to be a collection of many varying interests and achievements. The only problem with being so diverse and overly well rounded was that I never was able to fulfill any of my potential at anything. “Jack of all Trades Mater of None” fits me to a Tee.

One of the facets of my life that is well known is that I am a music… person. I struggle to call myself a musician. I see musicians as those that create, that know more music theory, or are true artists. I just sing with an above average voice. It’s fine. There was a time, however, when I wanted nothing more than to be a professional singer and performer. Since about the age 20, my body has decided it wanted to digest my vocal cords. I have had a hiatal hernia, which has caused my stomach acid to progress into my esophagus and damage my throat including my ocal cords. The result of which is significantly diminished vocal range and endurance. Try as I might, I have never been able to fix it. Surgery, pills, dietary changes only managed to reduce it. Needless to say, I am now thankful I never did attempt a music career. I went into IT.

Which is another aspect about me. I am a bit of a computer nerd. Not in such a way that I live and breathe it, or I would have been much more successful. Rather just enough to be better than average and to afford me an above average life.

What IS strange is that I have yet to combine these 2 aspects. I don’t have an electronic instrument at home, I rarely use my technology for musical purposes save for playing songs. I never made very many mixed tapes or any playlists. Suffice it to say, I became a musical technology curmudgeon. I was very late on the Spotify bandwagon. It wasn’t until the last 3 years that I really began to use it more than buying an album in ITunes.

All of this to say I am pleasantly surprised at the amount of new to me music I have learned since I have embraced the new Way. I have been introduced to fantastic work music, long play lists for meditating and calming, new music by new artists that I never would have had heard I not picked some random playlist made by someone else or, worse yet, one the AI put together for me. Some of you reading this may be rolling your eyes at my crotchetiness. To that I say: 😛

One of the artists I was introduced to is a guy by the name of Ben Rector. Many of his songs are not the traditional and common place love songs. Some are about friendships, self improvement, “What If”, etc. I feel as though he may be an older soul than myself with all the nostalgia he likes to peddle. I feel no shame in admitting I have listened to his albums over and over in the couple months since I was introduced to his work.

One of his songs relates to one of my previous posts quite nicely. In “Note to Self”, Ben is writing several notes to himself to help him through the day, week, month. “Clean the living room,” “Do that week old pile of clothes.” “Do the things you don’t wanna do.” In other words “Be Intentional”. The song speaks for itself and is not a bad get you going kind of jam. 5 stars.