Considering Sunshine, Guitars, and Visionaries
Among the more than 1,000 of these Winners’ Wisdom weekly columns I have written, the one I receive the most notoriety, acclaim, and honors for was about the passing of George Harrison. George Harrison was a pop star and will always be remembered for his decade with the Beatles and solo career throughout the rest of his life.
George Harrison always shunned things he deemed to be profound in favor of simple messages delivered in a popular style. While you may not find his work in literary volumes or graduate courses, you will hear many of his creations in movie soundtracks, elevator background music, or played by marching bands. He shared a philosophy with one of my favorite authors, Louis L’Amour, who often stated, “I prefer to write the kind of books that everyday people like to read.”
When George Harrison was at a low point in his life and was disillusioned by his family, friends, and even his faith, he wrote the haunting classic, “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.” A year later, when he began to feel some relief and see a bit of light at the end of the tunnel, he wrote the impactful song, “Here Comes the Sun.” Both songs have been recognized as among the top pop or rock tunes of all time, and they will endure for generations. But at their core, these two songs represent George Harrison simply trying to share his feelings using the best communication vehicle he understood.
If a painter experiences great joy or grief, you are likely to learn of it through a piece of art. If a chef experiences these emotions, his feelings are likely to take the form of a culinary creation. During times of stress, we all express ourselves in the terms and in the form where we are most comfortable.
Frequent readers of these columns know that my mother recently passed away, and I memorialized that occasion and expressed my feelings by writing a column about it. The only expression where I feel more comfortable sharing my emotions is through poetry. While I may not be a great poet, the medium seems to lend itself to sharing my thoughts and feelings. The following is a poem I felt to be profound as it came to me through my grief, and I hope you will find it meaningful in your life.
Hold On
My dream came to me through a visionary.
But when the visionary passed from this world,
I was left lost and confused. But—
I hold onto my vision.
When all of my best plans seem to be shattered
And turned into a farce by the cruelty of realty,
I hold onto my vision.
When the people I depended on desert me,
And my prayers seem to be unheard,
I hold onto my vision.
When the resources I expected to receive,
And the milestones I expected to achieve
Never happen
I hold on to my vision.
When the road seems longer than when my journey began,
And the dim light at the end of the tunnel seems to fade
I hold onto my vision.
And finally, when the magic and miracles happen,
And my vision becomes reality,
I dream, plan, and find a new vision. And then—
I hold onto my vision.
As you go through your day today, express your thoughts and feelings in the language you know best.
Today’s the day!