Something to Say

Two things have been on my mind since the death of beloved drummer Taylor Hawkins—we all have the capacity to inspire and support each other, and no one of knows how much time we have on this earth. To quote my friend Scott’s favorite song of the moment “Enjoy yourself, it’s later than you think”.

I sometimes find myself saying "I don't have anything to share, or put out in the world" or "it's all been done/said". Or worst of all— "it doesn't matter, no one cares". But on the flip side, I find that I get so much out of things that other people write, say, and make. And sometimes it’s a simple thing, a quote, a quick comment, or a doodle. And I’ve continued to make music, design, and art. And once in a while someone lets me know that something I made or shared resonated with them. That helps me feel good.

So maybe being vulnerable, sharing our thoughts, hopes and dreams, and our point of view is NOT a waste of time. Obviously a bit of editing, curation, and healthy filtering doesn't hurt. But imagine if no one ever shared anything. There'd be a lot less stuff out there for you, me and the world to sit with. I think we'd all be a bit more bummed out and alone.

But back to Taylor Hawkins. He was a true music fan, a supporter and beloved member of the music community, and happened to be an incredible drummer and musician. But some of his old interviews I've been reading, he never felt completely confident as a drummer, and struggled with self-criticism. But he continued to push through, releasing records and touring, because he loved playing (and was in fact, one of the greatest drummers of all time). I guess maybe we all have the potential of letting fear get in the way of doing something. We may think we're not ready, we're not good enough, or we get distracted by how things aren’t working out exactly way we want. We’ve all been there, obsessing about some tiny technical detail or perceived blemish that only we can see.

Yet millions of people could hear Taylor’s playing and his music, and get so much out of it—the heart, the combination of energy, technical prowess, and feel. Imagine if he had listened to his fear and stopped playing music. I'm sure there were people, records and bands that Taylor found comforting to him throughout his life, and maybe because of those, he was able to push through and make his art. Either way, I’m thankful that he did what he loved, and shared what he had to say. His death is a terrible loss to the music community, but his voice was a gift. I am inspired to keep going, and be a little more like Taylor.