Still No Thing

Day two. (It’s more like day 365(6) + 30(8.1) but… who’s counting) Still no thing. This answer has not come easy. Compounded with some of the questions that were presented the last time we spoke with the Abbot and I’m forced to do quite a bit of deep digging. I was hoping to be closer to these kinds of answers by now but age isn’t always the best measuring stick. When you use a more accurate tool - say something like PT (practice time) then it makes more sense to be coming face to face with these questions.

I always have to remind myself that while I may have been dreaming about this for most all my life, I’ve been practicing for much less. If we’re being completely honest it’s only been a year this July, which in terms of a lifetime is nothing. To get the kinds of answers I’m looking for takes active focus. Dedicated time to thinking about these questions. That’s ok. We’ll be better off for sticking it out through the confusion. I’m hoping that period of active focus will make it easier to then live in that pursuit and be more comfortable. Hypothetically, that comfortability will allow me to communicate more effectively. In turn, that more effective communication will help establish stronger relationships. Stronger relationships would be fruitful for both sides and quality of life would hypothetically increase.

And what’s the goal if we’re not working together? What’s the point, if not to aspire to the highest quality of life?

-J.P.

The Thing Has to Happen

Think of your favorite movie. Think about what you like about it. Tell me what happens.

More likely than not, something significant happens. Something that you could explain to me in one single sentence. A character goes on a journey, a battle takes place, people play a game… something happens. That’s because a movie generally needs a device to propel the story. They can be character driven, and I tend to enjoy a character driven film, but even in those cases, there usually is something that helps push those characters forward, or an incident that forces those characters to make decisions.

That’s the thing that I’m currently lacking. I’m missing the thing. Time passes in my story, and that’s relatable I guess, but it doesn’t feel like enough. I’m searching for the right thing. I’ll keep you updated.

-J.P.

Labor Day

As a business owner, do you work on holidays or, as a person, do you ever think about how maybe this is, as far as I know, the only time I’ll ever experience the phenomenon of being alive, and since that time is limited, I’m gonna enjoy this one day and not work? Like, sure, if I feel compelled to, then maybe I go do something because I can’t help myself and I love doing what I do. I can still do that. But otherwise I’m gonna take the day easy. Even doing this right now feels a little burdensome. In other news, the plants in my room are doing pretty well.

-J.P.

Deep Thinking

We spoke with some mentors and friends over the weekend about some of the changes Understanding and I have been considering and before I could get into the details some new perspective was offered that requires some pause.

I’m still searching for answers. It’s starting to feel like a bit of a “chicken or the egg” situation, but I think we’ll come out of this better than we went in.

Let’s all wish for some speedy clarity now. I’m still thinking.

-J.P.

Potion

Today is the first day of September and it’s also the first release day of September, as The New Hippies drop “Potion”. It’s a funky jam about getting lost in love. I quite like it, and I hope you do too. It’s another one of Zane’s instrumentals that sat for years because we got so busy with the tv show, but we came back around to it and I’m happy it’s out in the world. It has one of my more favorite verses from Understanding too.

We still have a lot more music to release this year, and in the interest of transparency, our reach is decreasing with each song that comes out. I’m more than a little concerned about that, but considering we’re already thinking about how we’re going to adjust for 2024, which includes a pretty big reorganization, I’m hesitant to spend extra money to push these songs in the meantime. I like to look at it like planting seeds. I can’t predict how they’ll grow or if one of them will blossom into a fruitful tree, but I’m doing what’s in my control by keeping to. my schedule, and I’m proving our ability to follow through on a plan that we set for ourselves at the beginning of the year. I’m hoping it proves to be better to have stayed in the practice than to retreat mid-journey.

Hope you have a nice Friday, and dance a little bit to our new song.

-J.P.

Swept Away

Some days you sit down to drink your coffee (read “write your daily blog post”) and you just get distracted by all the things you have to. do that day and the next day when you sit down to make your next coffee (read “write your next daily blog post) you find your old coffee sitting in front of you, cold and untouched, waiting to be finished.

That’s what happened yesterday. My bad.

-J.P.

A Second Draft, and Second Thoughts

I finished my first round of revisions to the script I’ve been working on. I think it’s a little more concise, a little more cohesive, and hopefully a little more effective. The main thing I’m worried about now is if there’s actually anything worth watching.

The idea for the project is kind of cerebral, I guess. I don’t like saying that because I consider myself an idiot, and so how would I have any idea what’s cerebral? There are many, many smarter people than me. I think I really just mean that there’s not much action. It’s a lot of conversations. Conversations I think are important, and conversations that help provide some context to the music. I also think it’s filled with pretty relatable feelings, but now I’m worried if it’s compelling. This might be a hot take, but I think it’s important for a movie to be something you want to watch.

I’ve been watching a lot of movies I like for inspiration and to try to hold myself up to certain standard, and I’m not sure I’m there yet - the standard is pretty high, which if you’ve been keeping up with me all year probably isn’t so surprising - but it’s coming along. I’ll start watching some other films that feel more similar in style to see if I’m really lacking, and I’ll give it to some people to read after the next draft and after we’ve finished the songs.

What I’m going to try very hard not to do is get in my own way. I’m not going to let doubt deter me from completing this project, which is a relatively new feeling, and honestly a very good one.

-J.P.

I Always Read the Comments

You know the one thing that really blows my mind? People commenting on things on the internet. It’s so bizarre. People are really out here commenting. Who asked? It’s a level of conviction I’m not sure I’ll ever know. Millions of people, probably billions, all over the world, just sitting at home feeling like their opinion needs to be heard. I mean I guess I’m doing a similar thing here, but like, it’s different. I’m not arguing in a comment section on social media. I’m definitely not telling anybody who’s right or wrong or how to feel. It’s so strange to me to comment negatively. It’s not educational, it’s not entertaining, it’s just to start a fight I guess? So weird.

I can’t say it’s not entertaining actually, because I find myself reading comment sections often, sometimes for the drama, mostly for some funny jokes that people put in there. I might scroll through an argument but it leaves me feeling pretty nasty. Just kinda sad that people are having digital thumb wars from what I assume are dark musty corners of their homes. What a waste of valuable time.

That being said, I’ve been thinking about adding a comment section to this page, but I’m not sure nearly enough people read it to be worthwhile. You can email me if you want me to turn comments on. If I get enough of those I’ll think about doing it. But I think come next year, this page is going to go through a pretty massive overhaul so again, I’m not sure it’s worth it at all. The email is at the bottom of the page.

-J.P.

Did You Blog?

Title by Bryana. Sometimes she asks me at night if I blogged that day. I appreciate that. She’s keeping me on the path.

I don’t have many interesting thoughts right now. Running is coming along nicely. Running is our last project of the year. The New Hippies’ next single comes out on Friday. Roe’s Garden a week after that and The Corner Store the week following. We have about fifteen more songs to finish this year. We’re pretty good.

-J.P.