Event Manager on Live Music Industry, Venues’ and Artists’ Community Situation
Jeremy Hurt, Event Manager and WordPress Blogger wrote on May 23rd, 2020: “One thing that I do know for certain, we HAVE to work together to solve this metaphorical Rubik’s Cube that has been placed upon our industry.
We are a community and a family first regardless of how well we may know each other or any past disagreements and we must work together as one in order to prevail. The future may be completely unknown, but one advantage that it gives us is the ability to write it as we see fit. We can break away from the norms and not be questioned. Anything is and will be possible. So through the tear-blurred vision, I ask of you to join arms with your fellow entertainer, producer, or venue owner and make this future something the world will talk about. I love you all and pray that we overcome this.”
Raising Awareness of Narcolepsy and Cataplexy, a Rare Neurological Disorder
I first met Lisa at a local grocery store. I noticed her friendly demeaner right away as I commented about how discovering Teddy Grahams excited me and brought me back to when my kids were younger. It was easy to quickly become friends with our instant rapport.
A week later, Lisa and I met up at Starbucks and before we met, she explained to me that she had Narcolepsy and Cataplexy. I had no idea what it was and had never heard of it before. She went on to break down what exactly she was dealing with on a daily basis.
She told me that Narcolepsy is a condition in which she suffers a lack of hours of sleep and deep sleep at night, then falls asleep for short periods of time during the day at random and unpredictable/inconvenient times. Her condition includes “cataplexy”, which results in sudden loss of muscle control when experiencing everyday emotions like laughter or surprise.
The consequence of this condition is decreased concentration and focus, memory and chronic fatigue. People with Narcolepsy and Cataplexy have to navigate today’s life through these very serious and difficult challenges.
To raise awareness, help with resources, educate people and help connect those who are affected, “Lisa’s Wake-Up Call” fb page was launched.
I experienced her condition first hand on that day at Starbucks. She had been dropped off by a friend so she wouldn’t have to drive. I didn’t know what to expect and we just started talking like friends usually would, we got quite excited about possibly writing about her disorder and all of a sudden, her eyes shut and she seemed unconscious. “Help,” was my first reaction, what is happening?, How long will she sleep? Is she okay? How often does this happen and various other questions raced through my mind.
Several minutes passed by as she came back. This happens several times a day and was not a full description of Narcolepsi and Cataplexy. It’s basically a neurological disorder that disrupts ones natural cycles of sleeping and waking and is characterized by excessive sleepiness during the day and cataplexy interfers with muscle control and causes partial paralysis when feeling certain strong emotions. Considered a rare disease, Narcolepsy with or without cataplexy affects 2-5 out of 10,000 people.
Lisa is an exceptionally strong woman. When faced with obstacles, she does not falter, instead, she finds new ways to overcome personal hardships. Lisa is very creative by nature and she is the queen of making gorgeous flower arrangements and is a very talented photographer as well.
From Lisa’s post: LISAS WAKE UP CALL- Narcolepsy and Cataplexy · August 21, 2019 · This stands for me very strongly… I struggle with this just even simple things that have to get done because I can’t stop sleeping all day. But when I do have good days and I get out and get things done ✅ boy I sure do pay later that day and the next day. Everyday I try my Best! ~ Lisa
Check out this article about a 2019 movie “Ode To Joy,” a romantic comedy that portrays a man living with Narcolepsy with Cataplexy while navigating a romantic relationship: https://aasm.org/movie-narcolepsy-cataplexy-sleep-doctors
So, a lot of times I hear people talking about right brain/left brain topics, but what I don’t understand is how ones right brain is always right, how do you know when it’s wrong, and why is the left brain left? Where was it left?! I don’t think I left it anywhere, as far as I know, it’s still there – I think🤔anyway! And also, which left is the left brain, from my right side, or my left?!
Well, I think I can conclude that I might have left the left, but my right brain is right where I left it!!!
Generally, it is considered that writing has emerged independently in three different locations: Egypt, Mesopotania and Harappa between 3,500 BC and 3,100 BC. Since then however, it has been found that the Vinca script and culture (c. 5,500 -3,500 BC) can be traced back as early as Palaeolithic times. This has been discovered from examining 150 prehistoric caves in France. The Palaeolithic geometric symbols are suspected to represent a proto-script from which all other scripts can trace ancestry.
In essence, the concept of writing is the transference of thought or language into a re-readable form.
Examples of Geometric signs in Palaeolithic art.
“Researchers report from findings of 270 fragments of shell in the Western Cape that the same symbols are used over and over again, and the team say there are signs that the symbols evolved over 5,000 years. This long-term repetition is a hallmark of symbolic communication and a sign of modern human thinking, say the team. [Another researcher is quoted:] ‘Judging from what we know about the evolution of art all over the world, there may have been many [written language] traditions that were born, lasted for some time, and then vanished.”
There are classes in which they work with gongs, Himalayan singing bowls, crystal bowls, drum and therapeutic percussion as well as guided self-reflection and mindfulness. In addition, they offer classes that incorporate Gongbaths & soundbaths and others to learn how to harness the power of the voice. Students can also learn how to provide Sound Arts or Voice Arts workshops which are dynamic, creative, fun and a boost for health & wellbeing.
Music has always played an important role in the history of humans as a need and desire in our world. The natural world itself produces a wide array of sounds, tones and rhythms.
Through the development of the first instrument, the flute, which was made from the bones of a giant vulture 35,000 years ago, humans were able to maintain social networks and promote expansion.
Scientists confirmed patterns that emerged such as a universal use of octaves and similarities of various scales between cultures.
Music is a lived experience and an ever-changing expression that mirrors our own social and cultural changes. By learning about ourselves in another perspective, people who participate in the production of music send us messages of social and cultural consciousness.
Music can soften barriers of inequality as it acts as a universal language to connect us all.
When we assess what we do everyday by how much of it “does good,” perhaps tomorrow will be our second chance. Since life is but a passing flame, why not choose today? At the end of each day, write down some things you did that you did well/good (contribute to the common good), things you can do better and some things you need to work on. This will prepare you for the next day in a more aware and in-tuned way.
When we’re more “in-tuned” with ourselves, we’ll create better thoughts, be able to organize our lives more efficiently and make better decisions. These are the decisions that create positive results so that we can become amazing role models for others. To do this, one must have an open mind and most importantly faith. If we keep our focus on what connects us, believing in ourselves has to come from a belief in God first, because faith is authentic when it comes from our core. With faith coming from within, we will never be without.
I recently heard of a couple who witnessed something out of the norm at a wedding, The couple witnessed a pastor changing his approach to the Wedding ceremony. As so often the bride and groom are gazing into each others eyes with love and admiration, the pastor asked them to look at their hands. He said that a marriage is not about what you see in each other, what you see is not what you get, because it’s what you DO in the years ahead that determines what you see in each others eyes.
Make a clear mental image of your best self, then use this self to guide your decisions in life. it’s easy to get caught up in the daily routine, deviate from your path and forget what truly drives you.
Be aware of your purpose, create your own mission and make sure it’s reflected in all you do in your daily life. This activates passion, hope and optimism.
Imagine your best self 10 years from now. What are you doing? Who is around you? What do your relationships look like?
Capture the most important elements from that image. Describe, draw, write and discuss it with a friend.
Analyze what you gathered. What does your ideal self reveal about you? What’s most important to you? Do you live your values or just talk about them?
We all have the potential to become our best selves. What you see is how you live, and what you think is how you live. How could you change your thinking to benefit others? Once you start changing your perspective, everything turns to gold.
“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.” ~ Lao Tzu
Photo by Uwe Schleier
The Art of Patience
It is so easy to get distracted in todays world, so often we can get caught up in doing extra things that weren’t on our agenda for the day. Although these are also things that need to get done and the world around us wouldn’t be as organized, however, sometimes we need to let those things go to someone else and learn to perfect the Art of Delegation! This is just as important for a manager and/or leader of a company as it is for a mother or group leader. Since I have so many plans for this blogsite, perhaps I can find someone that could work with me on it.
Creativity grants us the first verb of the bible: “In the beginning, God created…” It’s time to Begin to Create!
Are you creative? Well, it turns out that all of us have the potential to a great imagination. Take it from the anthropologist Agustin Fuentes who said: ” People pigeonhole creativity as belonging to a single individual or a group of geniuses. They don’t realize that each and every human has this incredible capacity to imagine and to change things. Auto mechanics can be amazingly creative – so can people trying to stretch a paycheck to the end of a month.”
In addition to helping people learn about what they might enjoy creating with art, my next step with Evanalife is to begin interviewing artists, musicians and writers to learn more about how they got into doing what they love doing. What happened to spark their interest? How old were they when they first discovered their passion for the art and how do they market their masterpieces so that they can continue to practice what they love? These are just some of the questions I will be asking.
Would you like to learn from other artists? Most creative people are even more inspired when working alongside another artist and Evanalife is here to make sure that creatives can learn and hear from each other. If you or someone you know would like to be featured in my new Evanalife Artists/Authors and Musicians Spotlight, feel free to e-mail me at evanalife@gmail.com.
Last year, I have been away for a long time it seems. I went ill before and after our family vaca, then got sick once again after that! In the end, I was told that I had tested positive for the e-coli bacteria. After three antibiotics, some great sons, friends and furry things, I am finally, finally on the mend.
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