All of Me
I heard this one on my office IPOD the other day. It isn’t the point of the song, but it occurred to me the title reflected how I think we ought to go at things. It sure is that way in medicine. You give it your all, and in the end you’re still gonna lose. Sometimes I think we start with cadaver to make sure we get the point.
Art is the same way. Over the years I’ve played with hundreds of musicians. Many of them are excellent at their art and will never be recognized by any worldly reward. For 99.9% of us, all we’ll see at the end of the rainbow is the satisfaction of reaching deep down inside to find our best.
Writing sure is that way. Tim Stafford is at work on a book about Tony Rice. He told me a book project was a longer journey than a CD. After fifteen years with Blue Highway and multiple successful recording projects, he knows. In many ways writing a book is a microcosm of life. It is full of hopes, dreams and rejection. In spite of it all, you are still compelled to keep on in the hope you will fine tune your craft to the point others will get inside your head and contemplate your take on things.
It has its risks. You toss your heart out to the world and see what happens. Sometimes you get stomped on, but you go see the cardiologist, patch it up, and go back and try again. When it’s all over I want folks to say old Dr. B gave it his best in both medicine and art.
I know a lot of people find artists to be a little kooky, but I’m gonna give all me the whole way and let the chips fall where they may.
Dr. B
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Dr. Tom Bibey: Stories of the Bluegrass Music Road 
November 14, 2009 at 10:54 am
My grandma always said to give it 100% no matter what it was. If you are hired for a job, do that job to the best of your ability. I think that is how it is with all undertakings….
I know when I screw up, I screw up pretty darn good. I can only hope the jobs I do are that good and more.
November 14, 2009 at 11:09 am
Cindy,
I think you grandma was right on target.
The only Perfect One died on the Cross. The rest of us just have to do the best we can.
Dr. B
November 14, 2009 at 2:18 pm
all or nothing 🙂 i’m with ya!
November 14, 2009 at 2:28 pm
jessie,
Exactly right kid! I always tell my wife I ain’t all that much but I’m gonna give her the best I can be.
Dr. B
November 14, 2009 at 4:33 pm
We ‘artists’ are a determined bunch of dreamers. One day we will succeed in our endeavors.
Dear Hubby keeps cheering me on to write all those books that are in my head.
November 14, 2009 at 5:06 pm
doggonned,
You are right. Artists have to do what they do because it is in them. Those of us who have spouses who are supportive are fortunate.
Appreciate you checking in. Hope you’ll come back. Keep on writing!
Dr. B
November 14, 2009 at 5:11 pm
I’ve put you on my blogroll…in the not so famous but often imitated words of a certain musician…I’ll be Bach
November 14, 2009 at 5:34 pm
doggone,
Cool! I’ll add you to mine also. You’ll be the first mystery writer on my blogroll. In bluegrass we say all roads lead to Bach. My friend Wayne Benson of III Tyme Out has been studying classical lately.
Dr. B
November 15, 2009 at 10:03 am
Speaking of books, don’t fail to read Ralph Stanley’s Man of Constant Sorrow, (with Eddie Dean). No better way to get at the roots of bluegrass than Stanley’s life in the Clinch Mountains, the sorrow, murder, divorce, drinking, primitive Baptist religion and the songs that capture it. I believe his brother, Carter, wrote the Fields Have Turned Brown, don’t know if it’s evolved over time. But it is the story of everyman on earth. When you go back to your place of childhood after 30 or 40 years you will find brown fields. You will recognize few people, be surprised they are suspicious of you. Even the landscapes will be different as in Paridise. So you could be a Chinese peasant returning to a remote area after life in a big city for years, it would be the same. Unlikely today where Ralph grew up in a family that his father left would you see a small group praying and singing at a grave site and someone falls in the grave. They pulled her out, went right on crying, wailing, and singing.
November 15, 2009 at 10:09 am
Dan,
By all accounts this is an excellent book. I haven’t read it yet, but I will for sure.
Dr. B
November 15, 2009 at 10:10 pm
Dr B
Whether the passion is for music, art or writing, I don’t think we have a choice but to give it all. Anything less feels artificial and underdeveloped. Persistence is the key to personal success.
November 15, 2009 at 10:24 pm
Sharon,
It is the only way to go at it for me too. I am the ultimate tortise but I keep rolling along and never give up.
Your blog reflects the fact you have passion for your work.
Dr. B
November 15, 2009 at 11:47 pm
Ah, Dr. B… Do you know that you truly inspire me? If someone like you, who’s already lived such a full life and is far from being done with it yet, can admit that you should give what you do your all… Well, it makes me think that even young as I am, I should take on the same philosophy and just know that even if things fall out wrong, it doesn’t mean that’s the end – I just need to dust myself off and start again.
November 16, 2009 at 6:42 am
msslightly,
One time I knew a fellow who was a high school football star. There is nothing wrong with that, but after he graduated he got a job and came home every night, turned on the T.V. and started to drink beer. He said his best days were over after he graduated. I find that sad.
I’ve been a doc 25 years but still wake up every day to search for the next adventure. I guess it isn’t rational, but I feel like I’m just getting started.
I’ve quoted this one before but it bears repeating. An eldery lady checked into the nursing home and the social worker asked her her childhood was.
She replied “so far so good.”
That woman is my hero.
You study hard, kid, and have fun too. Much of my book is about roadblocks, overcoming adversity, second chances and redemption.
Dr. B