Who are you?

[PRSKILLER]

Great post. Music wise I`m nobody, just someone who enjoys picking up a guitar, plugged or unplugged. Life wise, I`m a hard working husband to a loving wife and a playfull dad to two daughters. Soul wise, I am a surfer. Born, bred, and bled to SURF.

[Sleepin' Deeper]

Originally posted by MrKnobs In other words, who are you? Terry D.

 

 

I

[Terry Allan Hall]

A Buddhist philosopher named Chun Yeh once said "We are all really three entities...the one you see, the one others see, and the one you truly are".

I can define "me", you can define "me", but I'll still remain who I really am...me!

[Sleepin' Deeper]

Originally posted by Terry Allan Hall A Buddhist philosopher named Chun Yeh once said "We are all really three entities...the one you see, the one others see, and the one you truly are". I can define "me", you can define "me", but I'll still remain who I really am...me!

Is it ever possible that the one you see and the one you are actually meet? Would that be called enlightenment?

[DonaldDemon]

Originally posted by Sleepin' Deeper Is it ever possible that the one you see and the one you are actually meet? Would that be called enlightenment?

I think its called bad acid trip, at least in my case:(

[Terry Allan Hall]

Originally posted by Sleepin' Deeper Is it ever possible that the one you see and the one you are actually meet? Would that be called enlightenment?

Originally posted by DonaldDemon I think its called bad acid trip, at least in my case:(

[Jimi Ray Halen]

Originally posted by MrKnobs Lately I've been giving this a lot of thought. What defines a person? Is it your job? Your relationships? Your race or gender? Is part of who you are being a musician? Is it that metal door the guard locks every night at lights out?

I think you think too much!

The reason you're having these thought is because you have something to do. You seem to be good at a lot of things and have done a lot. But there is something else.

You'll find it. Sometimes it's something so close that you can't see it at first.

[MrKnobs]

Originally posted by Jimi Ray Halen I think you think too much! The reason you're having these thought is because you have something to do. You seem to be good at a lot of things and have done a lot. But there is something else. You'll find it. Sometimes it's something so close that you can't see it at first.

Boy do I! I have so many things to do it's impossible and I can't get started on any of them.

I have a couple of 300 page reports to write at work, plus some fancy sound gear to install on a vehicle and get working. I won't have any help because most of my workers are taking off for the holidays, some of them going home to Mexico until after New Years.

At home, I have a tree I need to cut down, a stump I need to remove, a boat trailer I need to repair and store for the winter, and a chainsaw I was counting on that gave up the ghost today. Someone ran into my truck and drove off, I need to get it to the body shop for three days and rent something to get me by in the meantime. The house needs painting too.

I have a second Telling Stories album to get out, a half dozen gigs to get ready for and play, and a band to manage with grown men acting like children.

Somewhere in there I have to take time out to have my GI tract scoped, and get a tooth removed and an implant put in ($3400!)

And of course it's the holidays so I have family obligations.

I keep looking at my truck in the driveway and fighting down the urge to get in it and drive as far as I can go in some random direction and just start over.

Sometimes I just wish God or life or whatever is running this show would just tell me straight up what I'm supposed to do, but so far no luck.

Terry D.

[Jimi Ray Halen]

Originally posted by MrKnobs Sometimes I just wish God or life or whatever is running this show would just tell me straight up what I'm supposed to do, but so far no luck. Terry D.

Damn, Terry, now you have me thinking too much. And that's not one of my strong suits.

There have been times where I was at my wits end and thought I was going to lose it. I reached out to whomever is out there for some help. For guidance. I'm not very religious so you know I was really desperate.

Things seem to come to me at these times. Not right away, and never directly. If I let go of the stress and step back once I've laid all my problems out on the table then answers start popping up here and there.

Like what you let go of and what you hold more closely.

[madjack]

Originally posted by MrKnobs Sometimes I just wish God or life or whatever is running this show would just tell me straight up what I'm supposed to do, but so far no luck. Terry D.

This life is a test. It is only a test. If it were a real life you would be given detailed instructions on where to go and what to do.

As for who I am;
I am the total amalgamation of all my genetic background, and all my personal experiences.
It is called "the bucket" model. My genetic background decides how big and what shape the bucket is. My life experiences (including my decisions) control what is in the bucket.

I, however, choose to define myself to myself. I may not always be honest with myself, but my definition contributes greatly to my comfort, contentedness, happiness, etc.

In my case, I refuse to define myself by an occupation, or any one endeavor.

John

[RupertB]

Originally posted by MONGOOZ i will feel a loss when i put my guitar in its case for the last time....because it will be right before they put me in my case....

 

 

+1 Its an important part of my life, even if its just little pub gigs (mostly what I play these days).

 

I wondered about "purpose" in life as much as the next person in my teens & early 20's, mostly in the context of what I was going to "be" professionally. In retrospect, the concept is one that has come to mean less today than it did in our fathers' & grandfathers' time. For good or ill (or both) we are not as strongly defined by our vocations as people were 50 years ago. I'm good at my job, I find it reasonably stimulating (as work goes), and am paid fairly but ultimately its about making a decent living for my family without sacrificing the time & energy to do and be the things that ARE me: Family, music, coaching soccer, exercising, reading, learning, growing as a person, etc.

 

Shortly after my 27th birthday, my wife gave us a beautiful baby girl. When the nurse handed her to me, my search for that THING, the thing that I was going to be REALLY good at and that would bring a profound meaning to my life, that search ended.

[Tedster]

Originally posted by madjack This life is a test. It is only a test.

 

 

I think that you're right...it is in fact a test. But not really "only a test"...it's more like a final exam, and everything you do, every interaction you have with another being, is part of your final score.

[hankypanky]

 

If it were a real life you would be given detailed instructions on where to go and what to do

 

 

This is why I got married.

[madjack]

Originally posted by Tedster I think that you're right...it is in fact a test. But not really "only a test"...it's more like a final exam, and everything you do, every interaction you have with another being, is part of your final score.

That "only" was intended to be synonymous with "exclusively", not with "merely".

[madjack]

Originally posted by hankypanky This is why I got married.

I didn't have to get married for that; I have lots of friends and aquaintances who'll tell me where to go.

[kayak]

I am the sum of my parts.

That includes part musician. Sadly, I stopped playing guitar when I was about 21, and didn't pick it up again for almost 20 years. It wasn't until then that I discovered that it really was a part of me.

But I'm also part woodworker, part outdoorsman, part rifleman, part soundman, and part of the partnership with my wife. There are probably many other parts that I don't even recognize, but which influence the whole. Who knows, maybe someday in the future I'll discover another major part of me, just as I discovered that being a musician was a part of me just a few years ago.

Sadly, I don't consider my current fulltime job as what is part of me. I'm just marking time, using it as a means to an end.

[guitarmook]

I am many things. I am a loving partner to the Vixen. I am that wierd uncle. I am the friend that you call after not calling for years and pick right up where you left off years ago. The friend my friends ask advice about difficult subjects with. I am an engineer, and the voice of reason at my workplace. I am a resource for many people, and they rely on me to make quick, rational decisions. I am a musician - a guitar player - this is the part of me that is currently growing the fastest - in a good way. I also do some recording, but that's becoming a pretty small part of who I am.

[colliewobble]

Who am I? Good question. One that I am seriously attempting to answer at age 50.

Been going thru a lot of emotional upheaval the past couple of months, but finally figured out why. It's because I AM a musician, a guitarist first. But for the whole of my entire adult life, I've put that second, third, twelfth, or wherever it seemed necessary to put it in order to live a "normal" life. Marriage, job, divorce, kids, mortgage, dogs, horses, etc.

There are a few "things" that I am...you are correct in saying that men will tend to answer "who am I" with what they do.

I'm the father of two great kids from my third marriage.
A husband of nearly 19 years (this time around).
A dog lover.
A darn good cook (not a chef, though).

I can't honestly say I've ever had a "career." I've been a medical transcriptionist for about 15 years and the money is good. And for the past 7 years, I've been fortunate enough to be self-employed and work from home. But that's what I do to pay the bills, definitely NOT who I am. I hate doing it, but do it to pay the bills.

For the past 20 years or so, I've been a church going man, and played music with worship teams for about 15 years. But lately I realized that my "relationship with God" was something I never got much out of. I was there to play music, and most times, it really was better than playing in clubs. I don't attend church now and am not interested in the worship team thing any longer. I've heard the same message(s) for 20 years. I get it.

In fact, my relationship with my wife has deteriorated lately, largely because of that. That, and I have decided to give music one more shot. But in order to do that, I have to leave our little one horse town and move to the big city 4 hours away. Wife says she doesn't want to go there. So now what?
I've decided I'm going to go. My kids are both teens and doing great. Wife and I are just going thru the motions to keep the family together. BB said it best..."the thrill is gone."

I've noticed since making the decision to go (about a month ago), my guitar playing has reached a new level. My phone is ringing like crazy with guys wanting to "put something together." But there simply aren't enough venues to work around here and I'd have to travel to play a lot. My singing is getting pretty good, too, considering that I hardly sang at all 2 years ago. In trying to be really objective about my chances for success, I've asked several top notch musicians who I respect, and who have played music for a living in the past, if I have what it takes to make a decent living at it in the city. They all said the same thing. A resounding YES. And I believe it, too. I'm not a cocky dude by nature; quite the opposite. But finally, I BELIEVE. Being 50, of course, I plan to work the blues angle, because I finally realized I'm a blues player.

So, yeah, a guitar player is WHO I AM. Ever since I heard Clapton play "Crossroads" 37 years ago. A musician, a muse, a creative soul who uses the power of music to express what is inside. That's who I am. This is what I need to do, and will do. I have a lot of baggage and the transition will be very hard. But I can't wait any more. I gotta go for it. I want to live it, breathe it, eat it, PLAY it. Just once in my life.

[Rekel]

Originally posted by MrKnobs Lately I've been giving this a lot of thought. What defines a person?

 

 

You mean the parts that make up a personality? Basically, a bunch of thoughts and habits.

 

In other words, who are you?

 

 

To find the answer to that, you'll have to find out who you are not. As far as being a musician is concerned: I have always sought new ways to improve communication (including non verbal ones) with other beings. It's funny to notice that the more I tried to speak/ play, the less I was communicating. These days I speak very little and when I do play, I play a lot less notes than I used to. I know this might sound like a clich

[Jimi Ray Halen]

Originally posted by colliewobble So, yeah, a guitar player is WHO I AM. Ever since I heard Clapton play "Crossroads" 37 years ago. A musician, a muse, a creative soul who uses the power of music to express what is inside. That's who I am. This is what I need to do, and will do. I have a lot of baggage and the transition will be very hard. But I can't wait any more. I gotta go for it. I want to live it, breathe it, eat it, PLAY it. Just once in my life.

 

 

Man, I got chills when I read that. I feel exactly the same way. I've always lived my life working for a living at jobs that paid the bills but didn't really define who I was. All kinds of jobs. Military. Pro photographer. Factory worker. ENG cameraman. Driver. More than I can even remember.

 

I've helped raise two great kids who are college-bound very soon. But they are going to be gone before I know it. They grew up so fast!

 

I'm lucky enough to have a supportive wife and a good marriage. But for once in my life, before I check out, I am going to do what I was meant to do all along, which is play music. I got sidetracked along the way as so many people do. But I found it again and this time I have a plan. I set goals and I am working towards attaining them. I am going to do what I actually want to do for once in my life.

 

So on a totally personal level I look at myself as a guitar player for the first time in my life. And I am happier than I have ever been. It's like the past few years since I've been playing out again, I've found my true self. I guess it's sort of my six string therapy.

[pro1-54]

I'm working on an explanation...

[JBJ]

an incredibly great question terry.

i dont think anyone ever trully knows who they are but i would say i'm pretty close to defining who i am as far as possible anyways.


lots of things define who we are and it;s different for everyone.

I work part itme behind a bar, i think to be a good barman you need a certian personality and manner and i've got that. I'm the guy thats always dancing or singing elvis and the one that's always flirting.

that defines me to a point, f i sold insurance i doubt i'd feel the same as i couldnt put any of my personality into that.


i'm a student, i study politics and history and i'm passionate about both so that defines a bit of who i am, i have a thirst for knowledge and love learning new stuff even if it's totally trivial. when i broke up with my last girlfriend she started crying and asked how she would learn new stuff if she didnt have me.

my attitude, personality, dress sense etc... all make up part of "me"

i'm a musician but it defines me alot less now than it used to. it's still incredibly important to me but i dont live breathe and sleep playing like i used to when i was out gigging my own material. i suppose it's kinda sad that i'm only 21 and i#ve lost the thirst but to be honest, it's been a brilliant if somewhat short lived ride and there's not much more i could hope for achieving that i havent already so now i'd rather concentrate on playing because i want to, not because i feel like i need to.

friends/ girlfriends etc... all have an effect to and to be honest, although i was oblivious to it at the time, for a good year or 2 when i was with my last girlfriend, i was not a nice person at all and one of the nicest compliments ive ever recieved was my brothers girlfriend (who i'd never got along with previously) saying to her friend shortly after i'd just become single againa nd lightened up a whole lot "jim's like a ocmpletely different person without her and that can only be a good thing" or words to that effect.

she still doesn't know i heard her saying this but it touched me on an incredibly deep level and i'm forever thankful for her opening my eyes to the way i had been and the way i should be.

i'm complicated on many levels, alot of stuff will never bother me in the slightest, it takes an incredible amount to offend me but somethign really trivial can set me off big time and i'm not bothered about social etiqquete or keeping a stiff upper lip so when i'm pissed off, people know about it.

that also comes into play when i meet new people. to most people i'm one of the friendliest guys you'll meet and will go out of my way for those i hold dear to me but if i get a bad vibe off of you or think you're not worthy of my time or attention, you won't get any of it and you'll be very aware of it.

i suppose it sounds a bit dickish and it is but i just don't like being nice because you're expected ot be nice, if i think you're a dickhead, it's probably because you are so i'm not wasting energy being nice.

i'm a walking contradiction at times too. i spend alot of time looking after my appearance, buying new clothes, wearing nice shoes, putting all sorts of expensive crap on my hair to style it, always wearing aftershave even if it's just going to uni or whatever.

i also love macbeth, some musicals, prefer dirnking wine to lager now etc... stuff like that that a young guy form a scheme in glasgow isnt usually expected to be into.

then on the other hand i'm a boxer, i lift weights, i know how to shoot and kill a man with a british army rifle, i'm not opposed to violence if and when needed etc...

alot of people don't really get how i can spend a couple of hours learning how to beat someone senseless then sit and drink white wine while reading a book but that's just me.

kinda long and probably self agrandising (sp?) but it is the way i see myself, there's plenty i would not so much change but like to limit but in the end, i'm extremely happy with who i am and i think that's one of the most important things to strive for in life.

[Adrenochrome]

These are the things that make me who I am [in order of importance]:
1. Wife & Son
2. Music (mine and other people's)
3. Career (toxicology)
4. Books/films etc
5. My wider family
6. Sports/outdoor pursuits

That's all - I'm a straight forward person.

[uitar9]

I've read through this thread and realized that I can not define who I am

And that bothers me not in the least.

I'm a husband and father who loves his family dearly. I would die or kill to protect them.

I'm an employee and have never given a {censored} about a career in over 31 years of working.

I ride the bus to work to do my part for the environment but realize that most of the idiots on the hgihways are killing me.

I believe in some form of spiritual conscience but hate church

I discovered that I love the feedback an audiance gives me during a gig.

Maybe I have defined myself. I am a citizen of this earth living with all the rest of you fine folks

[brassic]

Not an easy question to answer. Just when I think I've figured it all out, I learn something new about myself. Somethimes the knowledge is welcome, sometimes it's not. I worry about the day when I've "figured it all out" though. I'm not sure I want the whole process to stop.