TAYLOR ROSS™|MUSIC

Awake at 6:55am
But didn't get out of bed until 7:45am
Coffee and 3 articles.
Meditated 20 min
Yoga 20 min

Ran 3.6 miles/5.8 kilometers in less than 31:08
Both the fastest and the farthest I've done so yet.

I'm not fast,
and I have no aptitude for running.
I hate it,
and it hates me.
But the people that do it are crazy

&
I 
want 
that.

It's just wonderful practice sitting with discomfort, 
accepting the unfolding of an experience, 
and breath.

& Breath.

Practiced piano for 1 hr.
Composed for 2 hours,
Contemporary Flute Solo
Made progress,
and exciting developments
- motivically.
I'm looking forward to having this performed and recorded.
I should put a deadline on it.
August 2nd. 
Sounds good - pun.

Had a little early dinner for my grandmothers 93rd birthday.
Showed her Psalm 23 and the intro that I'd recorded. 
Would love to get it performed live 
- but 6 split with clusters would be difficult to perform.
Even for pros.
I'll just have to record it in the space that will be available next mon-sun. 
I look forward to that experience.

Then went to a meeting at 
The Boise Institute for Buddhist Studies
Saw some people that I have great love for.
Home by 7:30 and finishing this up so I can get lights out,
& my pm routine.

The best morning starts the night before.

Next.

"4) VOCATION — The word "vocation" comes to us from the Latin verb "vocare" — meaning "to call". Your vocation is your calling. Your vocation is a summons that comes directly from the universe, and is communicated through the yearnings of your soul."                                              

"When vocation was first used in English in the 15th century it referred specifically to a summons from God to perform a particular task or function in life, especially a religious one. This meaning is no surprise given the word's source: it comes from Latin vocation-, vocacio, meaning "summons," which in turn comes from vocāre, meaning "to call." Vocation also has a secular position in the English language as a word for the strong desire to do a certain kind of work, or as a word for the work itself, making vocation a synonym of the words calling and occupation."

I'm not religious, technically, this is just to say that there's a difference between a hobby, a career, and a vocation. Art, as a vocation, is my singular pursuit, and I am blind to neither the blatant and incredible luck in having been afforded the opportunity for this endeavor, nor to the fact that this luck does not make ineffectual the effort I'm willing to exert, or the sacrifices I'm willing to make in order to do so.

Roll the Dice
by Charles Bukowski

if you're going to try it, go all the
way.
otherwise, don't get into it.

if you're going to try it, go all the
way.
this could mean losing girlfriends,
wives, relatives, jobs and
maybe your mind.

go all the way.
it could mean not eating for 3 or
4 days.
it could mean freezing on a
park bench.
it could mean jail, alcoholism.
it could mean derision, 
mockery, 
isolation.
the isolation is the gift, 
all the other is a test of your
guts,
how much you really want to
do it.
and you'll do it
against total rejection and the
highest of odds
but it will be better than doing
anything else
you can think of.

if you're going to try it,
go all the way.
there is no other feeling like
it.
you will be alone with the gods
and the nights will flame with
fire.

do it, do it, do it.
do it.

all the way
all the way.

you will ride death straight to
hell, 
your perfect laughter, 
the only good fight
now.

Thanks Chuck,
See you tomorrow.

1. Rebekah Pothaar ↩︎
2. Merriam-Webster dictionary/vocation ↩︎