Usually, I write about music here but recently I was talking to a friend about drawing. For whatever reason, aside from school projects and the occasional notebook doodle, I never got into drawing. At some point in my life I told myself that there were so many people better at it than me. Why should I clutter the world with my mediocre scribbles?

I always felt like to be really good at something you had to have this calling/ passion, or drive. I feel like I had that for music but not for drawing. 

Something my friend said helped me to realized that my attitude about both was a little misguided. 

She said, “The first thing you have to know is that drawing is about seeing. It’s about really looking at things and seeing what’s there and what’s not.” 

This completely shifted my mind. I was hung up on the end product before I’d even started. I thought people would have to like what I did instead of realizing that learning how to draw could be a way to learn how to be a better seer. And that seeing better would make me better at drawing.

It’s easy to make the comparison to music in that the better I become at listening, the better musician I become. Instead of feeling like I have to create something so amazing that it inspires people. All I really have to do is find a way to inspire myself.

Improving our looking and listening skills also has the bonus effect of improving our relationships. When I can discern all the light and shadow in a persons voice or body language I can make better choices about how to accommodate their needs and express mine.

Below is a playlist of songs that have resonated with me in the past month. I hope they bring more joy to your life. Thanks for listening, MMM

Included are songs by: Julia Jacklin, Mathias Koa, Toby Goodshank, Jeffrey Lewis, Labretta Suede & The Motel Six, Shay Hazan, Hailu Mergia, Walias, Sharon Van Etten, Geese, Living Hour, Jay Som, Gunn – Truscinski Duo, King Buffalo, Phil Manzanera, Surprise Chef, The Cramps

(Subscribe to get a new playlist every 1st Monday of the month. Click on my user link or search: Major Matt’s 1st Monday on Spotify to cruise past playlists and discover more music.)