Fixing A Hole
I'm fixing a hole where the rain gets in
And stops my mind from wandering
Where it will go
June 1, 2007, will mark the 40 year anniversary of The Beatles’ release of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. The album won numerous awards, including the Grammy for Album of the Year. It is considered by many to be the first “concept” album.
1967, folks. I was six going on seven. Some of you guys weren’t even born yet. Hell, some of you guys’ parents weren’t even born yet. I don’t remember the release, but I became a Beatles fan during my teen years in the 70s (after they’d broken up), and Sgt. Pepper’s remains one of my all-time favorite albums.
Fixing a Hole is my favorite song from the album.
I'm filling the cracks that ran through the door
And kept my mind from wandering
Where it will go
The song works on multiple levels, but I think it’s mostly about distractions. Things that get in the way and prevent us from performing at our optimum capacities as creative beings. As writers, as parents, as lovers, as people trying to find our way.
What are some of your distractions? What prevents you from taking the slice of life you know you deserve? Drugs? Alcohol? The day job? Gambling? The internet? Dysfunctional people who you’ve allowed into your daily existence? The media?
And it really doesn't matter if I'm wrong I'm right
Where I belong I'm right
Where I belong.
See the people standing there who disagree and never win
And wonder why they don't get in my door
Lovely play on words. But how do we, as 21st century Americans, cut through all the distractions and get on with doing what we know we’re supposed to do?
I don’t pretend to have the answer.
John Lennon once said, “Life is what happens while you’re making other plans.”
How can we make those “other plans” a priority, and keep up with the holes that constantly need fixing?
I’m asking you.
And stops my mind from wandering
Where it will go
June 1, 2007, will mark the 40 year anniversary of The Beatles’ release of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. The album won numerous awards, including the Grammy for Album of the Year. It is considered by many to be the first “concept” album.
1967, folks. I was six going on seven. Some of you guys weren’t even born yet. Hell, some of you guys’ parents weren’t even born yet. I don’t remember the release, but I became a Beatles fan during my teen years in the 70s (after they’d broken up), and Sgt. Pepper’s remains one of my all-time favorite albums.
Fixing a Hole is my favorite song from the album.
I'm filling the cracks that ran through the door
And kept my mind from wandering
Where it will go
The song works on multiple levels, but I think it’s mostly about distractions. Things that get in the way and prevent us from performing at our optimum capacities as creative beings. As writers, as parents, as lovers, as people trying to find our way.
What are some of your distractions? What prevents you from taking the slice of life you know you deserve? Drugs? Alcohol? The day job? Gambling? The internet? Dysfunctional people who you’ve allowed into your daily existence? The media?
And it really doesn't matter if I'm wrong I'm right
Where I belong I'm right
Where I belong.
See the people standing there who disagree and never win
And wonder why they don't get in my door
Lovely play on words. But how do we, as 21st century Americans, cut through all the distractions and get on with doing what we know we’re supposed to do?
I don’t pretend to have the answer.
John Lennon once said, “Life is what happens while you’re making other plans.”
How can we make those “other plans” a priority, and keep up with the holes that constantly need fixing?
I’m asking you.
posted by Jude Hardin | 11:40 PM
9 Comments:
Jude,
I finally weaned myself of the TV habit, but the phone and internat (both of which I need for work-related tasks) morph into an out-of-control waste of time.
Just read an article about how much time "multi-tasking" wastes. The article suggested only checking e-mail once an hour.
I'm starting with that, then will expand to 1 1/2, 2, etc. I actually plan to set a timer--I'll let you know how it goes.
Not sure it this sort of distractive behavior is a result of a lack of discipline, self-sabotage, a warped need for constant stimulation, or what.
(Looking forward to see what your other blog visitors suggest.)
Great post!
Hi Kathy,
Yep. The internet is a marvelous tool for writers, but it can also be a huge waste of time. I think it's important to do a certain amount of promotion on the web, and networking and making friends is nice, but when it starts eating into writing time it's no longer constructive. It becomes a black hole, eating entire galaxies of time.
I guess, like everything else, moderation is the key. Hope that timer works out for you.
Jude, I can't believe it's been 40 years. I grew up on the Beatles, and was a consummate fan. I was 14 forty years ago. Man. I still remember holding that album in my hands as I listened on our old hi-fi. It was a wonderful time to grow up, wasn't it?
In a world filled with distractions galore, it is essential to devote time to what is really important.
Family. Friends. Health. Writing. That's the stuff that matters.
Thanks for another wonderful post, my friend.
Aaron
Hi Aaron,
Amen. We all need to MAKE time for the things important to us. Life is just way to short to do otherwise.
How many times have you heard someone say, "I'd love to do that, if I only had the time."
Why don't they have the time?
That's the question.
Precisely, my friend. Precisely!
"And it really doesn't matter if I'm wrong I'm right
Where I belong I'm right
Where I belong."
One could interpret that to mean a certain amount of distraction is merely a part of life. In the moment, we may view it as a hassle, but ultimately it all contributes to the creative process. Non?
I personally HATE the telephone. As the eldest in a family of girls, I've always been the sounding board and middle sister is...neurotic is putting it gently. She often calls 3 times a day, makes me want to scream, BUT also gets my a$$ away from the keyboard and sometimes even gets my head out of my a$$!
Sometimes getting in the 'zone' makes for creative flow, but sometimes expanding the zone to include those distractions can make for creative flood!
For me anyway. But then, I'm willing to concede to the possibility I have multiple personalities. :P
Oh, and for the record "if only I had time" is a freakin cop out! You can take your kid to a ball game...or cut the grass. Grass will need cut again next week anyway. What if your kid finds someone else to take him to that game?
Hi Lainey,
As always, your sense of humor and positive spin on things brightens our day. Thank you.
I was once flying off to Tampa and Chicago to interview for jobs over the Thanksgiving holiday. My mother-in-law came up to me when I finally got back and said "life is what happens, while you're making other plans". Was the coolest thing she ever said to me.
My big distraction is work. Not writing, but that little thing I do to pay the bills. If I could just do something about that...
I know exactly what you mean, Jamie. Those pesky bills, that soul-sucking job...
Come on book deal!
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