me playing bass on stage somewhere in Colorado (photo by Kirsten Aaland)

Mindfulness

Playing Music for Over 20 Years Taught Me an Invaluable Lesson

How to stop rushing and go with the flow.

Being a funk bassist is one of the greatest joys of my life. It is all about finding the groove, losing myself in it, and riding that wave all the way home.

I’ve been playing bass for most of my life and have had my fair share of successes with it. But almost nothing compares to the lesson it taught me about how to go with the flow.

It showed me that life is one long spontaneous jam session spanning many genres, tempos, and vibes. You never know which way the song will turn. Such is life.

So becoming one with the groove is where it’s at. This means being open and adaptive as life changes.

But, despite our best efforts, we all fall out of the groove sometimes. We stop going with the flow and start rushing instead.

Rushing life is like rushing a song. It doesn’t gel well. It’s stressful and creates vibes of awkward tension that are not fun to listen to, let alone live in.

When I’m jamming on my bass with other musicians, I sometimes feel myself rushing the notes. Not only have I earned the stink eye from everyone in earshot, but I may as well prepare my eulogy because the…