It’s far too easy for me to forget.
This morning I woke up and drove Sweetheart to school, and came home to Buddy (who calls me “Dayo-dayo”, since he can’t rock L’s yet), changed his butt, and checked on Kid, who needed a bottle. After taking care of breakfast, I set to work on an article I’m working on for the next NAC newsletter. Honey was still in bed – we had a crazy weekend of shows, seminars, family gatherings, and of course work.
Over the last two days especially, I think, it’s become painfully aware of how good I really have it. I play music for a living. My Nikki does the web design, branding management, social media strategies for most-if-not-all of the projects I’m involved in from home. We have so much time to spend with the kids and with each other, that it can fade into the background. Do we work every day? Oh yeah, definitely, but how much of that work would be possible without each other’s loving support? None.
Nikki has a knack for seeing things that I don’t, and that’s usually a business thing, but right now I’m most focused on her ability to find the poetry in her own day-to-day life. My own tendency has been to look for it in others, write a song about it, maybe – then call it a day. Maybe my approach is a repurpose of the old “grass is always greener” adage. But that’s where I start to fail though.
So much of what I do is intended to create a future for myself and my family by enhancing the present of others. In the process (I’ll be gentle with myself) – there’s a possibility that I disengage with the present, losing focus on amazing things that are right in front of me – like an easy morning with the kids while I write. Like remembering to play guitar because it’s fun, not because it’s my job… Like remembering that my work is supposed to be fun for those closest to me – instead of being only for the strangers I sing and dance for at my gigs.
Dear reader, thanks for indulging this morning’s introspection, and maybe you’ve just watched me grow a little…