The good, the bad, and the ugly

I home from New Orleans and the New Orleans Traditional Jazz Camp, I was drumming. What a great experience. I return with new insights on teaching jazz and maintaining a happy heart. 

• the key to becoming a musical stylist is imitation and playing with your superiors
• jazz fans who play are a force to behold: devoted, passionate, intense, friendly
• I had one major break through this week on the drums: keep is simple, keep it steady, don't dominate the stage and presto people respond in a very positive way. Learning this was worth the $3500 or so I paid to attend. More on this soon. 

The bad: New Orleans is a study in contrast, wealth/poverty, happiness/despair and the smell of stale beer, urine and vomit. 

The ugly: too much eating, drinking, and other nasty habits that lower life satisfaction and joy at every turn. I asked an instructor how he stays healthy to keep playing. He laughed bitterly, "don't do what I've done".  A large percentage of my fellow campers are overweight, some morbidly so. Too many have an unfortunate relationship with alcohol and food, and an aversion to the gym. I mean they really drink a lot. Bloody Mary's for breakfast! Six beers before the jam! And, most of them are seniors. 

What do I take away from this? A renewed determination to stay healthy through conscious living. And recount my blessings: my loving wife, sober friends, good health, stable self-employment, food on the table.

best, 

David