I think in songs. Feelings remind me of songs, situations remind me of songs, ideas remind me of songs. It happens ALL DAY LONG.
Does this happen to anyone else all the time? Ahhhhh!!!!
Right now, David Bowie’s CHANGES is running through my head.
We’ve all been through so much change; and I’ll admit that there are days when I mourn the loss of the freedoms that we took for granted pre-pandemic. There are days when the polarization of our community becomes too much. There are days when I feel overwhelmed, and I don’t know how we are going to get through this.
For solace, I often go to one of my many mentors; and yesterday it was Dr. Jordan Peterson’s article “On Chaos into Order” where he references Carl Jung’s work about the process by which the absolute unknown, chaos, is transformed into order. In his newsletter article, Peterson states that “the artist lives on the border between chaos and order. The artist chooses to live farther into chaos than the good citizen and tames that chaos, by dreaming, so that the good citizen can start to feel comfortable there, in the bright daylight hours.”
Interesting.
Sometimes when things seem overwhelming, it’s important to remember that growth and creativity happen in the deepest darkness and often in times of chaos. I often think of Peterson’s solution to many of life’s challenges; and that starts when you wake up every morning.
It’s simple: clean your room. A simple way of starting your day off with some semblance of order. Right?
I wholeheartedly agree with my friend Tyler’s mother’s famous quote, “unmade bed, unmade head.” Great analogy! So true.
That said, I’ve spent much of the last few days getting my “house in order” and clearing the clutter (chaos) to make room to breathe in the joy of life and welcome in positive change, abundance, and freedom.
Last Friday night, I was having a particularly hard time after losing a dear friend and had just come from visiting his wife and children in Toronto. I was in such a state of despair that it felt as though all the blood had drained from my body. I didn’t know what to do with myself.
I was hungry, so I decided to stop at Drom Taverna on Queen West in Toronto for their European-style comfort food, and, luckily enough, they had a fabulous band playing (I do take myself on the best dates by the way)!
In no time, I had a beautiful plate of delicious food in front of me, which I enjoyed on the patio while watching a mind-blowingly talented band play live. My spirits were lifted in no time, and my blood began to flow again. WOW, that’s the power of hospitality and music.
We are so fortunate to have so many incredible musicians and artists in our midst, and it’s more important than ever to find ways to support their work.
I’ve been involved with this industry in one way or another for over 30 years, and it breaks my heart to see how many producers, recording artists, clubs, restaurants, festivals, events, and businesses of all kinds that have suffered irreparable damage because of the pandemic. It’s a shame.
I have been working behind the scenes for months to find ways to support and identify funding opportunities for artists and musicians, and have even collaborated with local government to help orchestrate a music strategy for our region. It’s a drop in the bucket though given the losses sustained, but everything helps! Each one of us can make a difference.
This afternoon, I had a very serious discussion about the state of the festivals and events industry with the top executive at Festivals and Events Ontario. We talked about how the pandemic has decimated the industry.
As things started to open up, Business Development Manager of Festivals and Events Ontario, Debbie Mann, launched a brilliant new platform to connect with the event industry across the province – by hosting an informative, interactive chat every Tuesday with a variety of special industry guests.
I am thrilled to have been invited to join Debbie on Tuesday, October 5th at 11 a.m. via Zoom.
We will be having a conversation about how industry leaders are adapting to all the ch-ch-ch-changes.
I will be sharing some highlights from my Leading with Creativity presentation, and will touch on a few tips that you can use to re-imagine your business in the midst of this global pandemic:
EMBRACE change
IMAGINE the possibilities
CREATE a new vision
WRITE your plan
COMMIT to excellence
HOW? Be creative!
I will share examples of brilliant businesses that have embraced change and integrated exciting new creative approaches to their operations. We will show you how smart operators have hired leagues of artists to help TRANSFORM their operations and create HYPE in the media.
Do you have any creative new approaches to surviving and thriving in the pandemic? Hit me up!
Would you like to join us? Registration is free, and you can sign up here.
It’s time to let your light shine!
I hope these blog posts provide a flicker of inspiration, connection and a desire to tap into your own creative force.
With gratitude, always,
Kerri
Changes, David Bowie
Oh, yeah Mmm
Still don't know what I was waitin' for And my time was runnin' wild A million dead end streets and Every time I thought I'd got it made It seemed the taste was not so sweet So I turned myself to face me But I've never caught a glimpse How the others must see the faker I'm much too fast to take that test
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes Turn and face the strange Ch-ch-changes Don't want to be a richer man Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes Turn and face the strange Ch-ch-changes There's gonna have to be a different man Time may change me But I can't trace time
Mmm, yeah
I watch the ripples change their size But never leave the stream Of warm impermanence And so the days float through my eyes But still the days seem the same And these children that you spit on As they try to change their worlds Are immune to your consultations They're quite aware of what they're goin' through
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes Turn and face the strange Ch-ch-changes Don't tell them to grow up and out of it Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes Turn and face the strange Ch-ch-changes Where's your shame? You've left us up to our necks in it Time may change me But you can't trace time
Strange fascinations fascinate me Ah, changes are taking The pace I'm goin' through
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes Turn and face the strange Ch-ch-changes Ooh, look out, you rock 'n' rollers Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes Turn and face the strange Ch-ch-changes Pretty soon now you're gonna get older Time may change me But I can't trace time I said that time may change me But I can't trace time
