New Beginnings
Today marks a turning point in my life. One year ago, I faced a failure that, in retrospect, was inevitable. If I had been paying closer attention, I would have seen it coming from miles away. The pain of this anniversary is real, but so is my gratitude. Without it, I wouldn’t have experienced one of the most productive years of my life — physically, intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually.
To mark this occasion, I have begun posting content on Substack. This isn’t the auspicious, fanfare-style entry I’d hoped for, but sharing my writing has become a part of the journey that started a year ago today. Welcome to The Perpetual Now. The name comes from my commitment to fully embracing the present moment, learning from the past but not living in it. It is also a pithy way to talk about musical improvisation (one of my favorite subjects), so expect more about that topic soon.
What You’ll Find Here:
I plan to cast a wide net. Expect columns on:
1. Music – It’s my profession and my passion. I’ve been a performing guitarist for over 25 years, taught guitar and music theory for almost as long, and I still love the process of musicking.
2. Philosophy – I’ll explore ontology in music, existence, being, temporality, and how we experience one another.
3. Life – Think of this as Malcolm Gladwell meets Ted Gioia—on a budget.
4. Other – Expect the unexpected: “The top five artists in my YouTube rotation” or “A brief history of the Post-It Note” (which, yes, relates to the theme of new beginnings).
Since this is a new endeavor, I can’t say exactly where it will go. I’ll post weekly—likely every Sunday—and the topics will evolve. At first, the length, voice, breadth, and depth will vary wildly. I need to find my rhythm; the only way to do that is to write, publish, and see what resonates.
Some columns will (hopefully) be profound. Others might be meandering, even dull. But I will improve—guaranteed.
This Substack is my way of reclaiming the narrative, turning failure into success.
Thanks for being on the journey with me.