So today I learned a lesson while walking down RIb Mountain. I was thinking back to conversations I have had with my man Dan Newman, and he said something that made it pretty clear. I have recently jumped back into the journalism game at the City Pages, and that means I have to revisit musicians and venue owners. I really have issues with that sort of stuff sometimes. I have been burned by some local musicians who have thought I did not write glowingly enough about them. But, that is not here or there.
What I remembered is that Dan told me that sometimes that thing that is so important to someone else, is not important to you. That thing which you are passionate about, and would stake your life on, well that is not always universal. You might think so, because it is your thing, but honestly it is not everyones thing. Hence the issue.
But, this also is in the mirror. That which is important to me, is not always important to the world, and while I think the things i am passionate about are something the whole world should take notice of, the world is often busy. Like I learned with Andy and the up north thing.
I learned this once years ago at the hands of Steve Resnick, when I wanted to get a blues guy on z104, and I was convinced I was doing the right thing, and I did all I could, and some crap I should not do, and as a result Steve told Tom, and Tom yelled at me.
So, It is important for me to remember that just because I think the thing you are telling me is lame, chances are it rings somewhat true for you. Just the way the thing I am talking to you about is important to me. It drives me nuts when I talk to someone and I feel minimized, and I hope that in the act of setting boundaries I never do that.
Sherry L. de Alvarez
3:30 pm on June 17th
I think you and I are having some kind of cosmic mind/soul sharing thing this week…this topic is something I have been struggling with lately…trying to impress my thoughts and beliefs and passions about what is important to me on others. It’s only led to frustration. And I’ve had to stop and realize…there are plenty of things that don’t seem important to me or that I don’t have the time/energy to give a crap about…so likely that is true for other people…I think I am coming to this conclusion (which is only partially formulated…): It is not possible or reasonable or even necessary for everyone to care about every single issue/topic/whatever you want to call it; even if it seems THAT important to me. But it is important that those who should and can care about certain things to actually do so. Just as we are all given different gifts and talents and placed in different parts of the world at different times in history, we are all given a heart to care and do something about certain/different issues. If it weren’t that way…nothing would ever get done. The line I still have trouble drawing, however, is between what is important enough to care about and what isn’t and how best to do that. Am I going to drive people away from something by having too much passion? (Not that I shouldn’t have that passion, but it does need to be tempered in different ways to reach different people…) Am I going to be judged for my passions or for not having enough passion for something else? (I know I’m not supposed to care about the judging part, but as I human, I fall short in that area as well…) I’ve been saddened by others who haven’t chosen to pick up the crosses I have, but I am working at trying to be understanding of it and realize that there have been plenty of their crosses that I haven’t offered to carry either…
It’s good to know others think about this stuff, too! Thanks, Dino!!