It occurred to me that many people obsess over their time. No time for this, no time for that… it also occurred to me that once we die, time no longer exists. Why obsess over something that loses its meaning once we lose our existence? It may be healthier to obsess over how we serve more and better while finding balance and peace.

Closing your eyes and getting your mind to a totally blank slate… it feels great; like I took a nap. I tried to be aware of the thoughts in my head. I only heard myself “listening.”

I have lots of gigs tomorrow. Is tonight the right night to stay up late and eat like crap? No. Today is for rest, de-stress, good and quality food. Today is for sleep. It’s for preparing my mind and my body for what will come tomorrow. Screwing over David from Tomorrow doesn’t sound like a good idea.

There is nothing better than being at the same space and at the same time with someone.

When artists create art, they hope to sell that art. In order to sell the art, they need to find a market. How does one make a market?Too often I see artists say “hey, I made this thing, buy it.” But if consumers of art don’t know that you exist or that they have a problem that the artist’s art solves, why would they buy?Instead, I think artists should start by asking: who would want to buy art I make?I suggest they create a blog and advertise it. Get people to subscribe for free. Then, share your vision to those subscribers. When the art is ready to ship, you now have an engaged audience you can sell to.This idea doesn’t have to be only for artists. Anybody who has an idea they need to ship, can do it. All that is required is the effort and grit to find people who will care, and serve them.

I made a chicken soup.Whole chickenChayotePotatoCarrotCulantroSweet red pepperOnionThat’s it. I barely added salt.I don’t know what it is… but that combination of flavors melts away stress, coughs, and drains my sinuses well. Is it the soup? Or is it the nostalgia of chicken soup when you’re sick? Sometimes art has that effect. It’s not the form or the piece, but it’s the nostalgia that makes all the difference.

Closing the computer, turning off the noise, and going to sleep. It’s a ritual I look forward to every day. It’s sometimes a ritual I wish I could repeat multiple times a day. Who’s to say I can’t? There’s always something refreshing about waking up.

We made it. You made it.Rest. Everything will be there in the morning.

I blogged about Bob Knight yesterday. I wrote about seeing life as it is; and not seeing it through the lens of hope and idealism. Is that negative? No. My simple way of thinking about being a realist (as opposed to a cynic or an optimist): I give myself space and time to interpret what I see by staying behind life’s pace. I argue I get the best of both worlds ;-)

Late (im)famous Indiana basketball coach Bobby Knight passed away. I’m not much of a basketball fan; therefore, I can’t fully appreciate his legacy on the court. I do read, and I appreciate his thoughts on leadership. Have you read, The Power of Negative Thinking yet? “Being alert to the possible negatives in any situation is the very best way to bring about positive results. And the reverse is true, too – ignoring or failing to spot potential hazards in advance makes failure all the more likely.” — Bob Knight, The Power of Negative Thinking.I also love this quote from Bob’s “10 Commandments of Leadership.”“Never stop looking for new ideas. Be self-critical of your beliefs when others offer possible alternatives. Remember, you’re not the inventor of the wheel or the Internet. Learn from the wisdom of others - listen to people who came before, like the playwright George Bernard Shaw: ‘Some see things as they are and ask, ‘Why?’ I see things as they could be and ask, ‘Why not?’‘“ - Bob Knight, The Power of Negative ThinkingAs much as I appreciate optimism; life is simply not that way. Life is life — a balance between hot and cold, order and chaos, and life and death. People who see through the rose colored glasses at the effectual truth of life are often considered cynical or negative. I see us as being realistic. I think Bob was like that too.