The Narrower Path

February 7, 2008

I’ve said before that I’d describe my growth as becoming smaller, in a way. I don’t know if “small” is the right word — lean and focused, is more like it.

Today I had a major “clearing of view” experience regarding my day job. I saw a clear path, where my needs and interest match up with the demand of the organization I work for. With web stuff, I’ve always been a jack of all trades — I know little bits of a lot of stuff. But I knew that the current time demanded more of specialists, and I had a hard time fitting in. Today I found a path that really puts all of that into focus, however. There’s one area of web development that’s highly in demand, and if I were to focus my next few months of professional development into that direction, not only will I increase demand for myself but I will find it more satisfying.

Very cool. I’m excited.

Similarly, with music, I had my interests get wider in the last few years. I could and did everything — classical music, film music, R&B, country, folk/acoustic — and I can do all that and I enjoy them, to some extent.

But none of them are really me.

There was a time when I considered myself 50/50 split between acoustic and electric guitars. These days, I hold my acoustic guitar and find that I have nothing to say on that instrument. I am an electric guitar player. That is my instrument.

As a creator of music, my passion clearly focuses on heavy, sophisticated and melodic music. Bands like Dream Theater, In Flames, System of a Down, Alice in Chains and Porcupine Tree are traveling down that road. This is the style of music that allows me to say what I need to say. It contains the heaviness, big and dramatic gestures, and passion that are well-matched for the topics I want to tackle. There are other kinds of music I want to create, but they are not as important as this, at least right now.

I’ve spent years and years shedding, and I’m down to my core. I feel light and strong. It’s finally time to start creating.

The preparation is over.

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