We are what we eat

A couple of months ago, I was driving around with a musician friend of mine who I greatly admire and look up to. We get to play together quite often and he was [kindly] critiquing me. This is what he told me:"Tommy, you're a pretty good singer and piano player. What are you listening to right now? [Thinking he meant literally right at that moment, I turned up the Coldplay CD in my car, we both sat and listened for a bit. PS: "Fix You" may be the best pop track I've ever heard.]

That doesn't at all surprise me. What else are you listening to? [I listed off a few artists: Sufjan Stevens, Jon Foreman, Radiohead, Josh Garrels, Feist, etc.] When you sing and play, Tommy, I can hear all of those musicians. I want to hear you. You got to stop pretending you're anything like those artists, because they're already around and you can try as much as you want to sound like them, but in the end you're only going to be a second rate version. We don't need another Coldplay or another Jon Foreman, we need a new Tommy. When you sit down at the piano to play and sing, before you make a single sound you need to be in the mindset that the only person you're going to sing and play like is yourself. Then, when you're playing as Tommy, those influences you have are going to come out more authentically and help you. But, if you try and imitate them, you'll just sound second rate.

My friend is right, we need you to be you, not something else. But, on the other hand, when you're genuinely creating something unique to you, your influence will shine through and compliment you're creation, instead of poor imitations of theres. So, as a human being, this is one of the truths I live by. "You are what you eat."What we take in defines us. As a writer and musician, the authors I read and the artists I listen to greatly define my own style [as both a writer and musician]. So, seeing as how we're coming into the last half of 2009 I've decided I want to end the decade consuming things that will enhance MY style. So, as a writer, musician, eater, and person here are things I want to consume. [The reason, I'm making is a list is so that I can be intentional about what I take in. If we don't pay attention to what we take in we're more succeptable to taking in crap, because it's easier to consume crap then to consume something of value. So, I'm creating a check list that I can, well check.]

My Consumption List:
BOOKS:
- Fiction -
[ ] "Good Omens" by Terry Pratchet and Neil Gaiman {have a copy}
[ ] "Farenheit 451" by Ray Bradbury {already own}
[ ] "Of Mice and Men" by John Steinbeck {already own}
[ ] "On The Road" by Jack Kerouac {clearly a library thing}

- Non-Fiction -
[ ] "STORY: Substance, Structure, Style, and the Principles of Screen Writing" by Robert McKee {don't own or have a copy, unsure of library status}
[ ] "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius" by Dave Eggers [I recently started it, but had to put it down. I want to try and finish before the year is up.] {library}
[ ] "The Elements of Style" by William Strunk and E.B. White {don't own or have a copy, unsure of library status}
[ ] The New E-book at ZenHabits.net {totally free, and can read on my computer, why not learn how to become a better blogger?}

MUSIC:
[ ] Noble Beast by Andrew Bird {don't own}
[ ] Anything Goes by Brad Mehldau {don't own, can borrow}
[ ] Jaydiohead {available for free on-line}

FOOD:
[ ] French bread, good cheese [Brie?], and Red Wine {birthday date with Stephanie?}
[ ] No more fast food [not that I actually eat much of it anyways], less processed food, less red meat {might as well try}

ENTERTAINMENT:[ ] Less time on TV and Facebook
[ ] Where The Wild Things Are {movie}[ ] Fantastic Mr. Fox {movie}
[ ] Seth Godin's blog {Daily blog on marketing}
[ ] The Art Of Nonconformity {blog on unconventional life styles and traveling}

I, of course, want to consume these things, but, I'll for sure consume more.Now, its your turn.What do you take in? Do you think about that? What do you watch on TV? Is it crap [Probably.]? What music do you listen to? Is it crap [Probably.]? Think about these things, and other things. Do you read? Whats your favorite food? How do you want to spend your time? What experience do you wanna take in? Seriously, your list can be anything.If I've tagged you make a list and tag me in it. It can be a list on anything you want to take in. Be intentional, be honest. Now, go and make the list... then start checking stuff off!

All My Love, Tommy