Meditation for April 24th, 2016
You Don’t Have To Have Anything to Say
Prince died. Bernie said this. One of the Koch brothers pretty much endorsed Hillary. Beyoncé has released a visual album and maybe Jay Z cheated on her. Game of Thrones is back and there is no book to lord over non-readers heads about who dies next.
And then there is just the news.
Everyone feels like they need to say something publicly about what each of these things mean. Will we all have PR firms giving statements about what we think about celebrity divorces in the near future? Everyone has to say something about each huge celebrity death, drama or output of material.
Guess what? You don’t have to. Just like you don’t have to write long essays in Yelp about your experience at a new restaurant starting with the word, “Well…”
You don’t have to watch Game of Thrones. You don’t have to read the books.
You don’t have to have an opinion about Beyoncé.
You don’t have to pretend to think Prince was great.
You don’t have to have a strong opinion about the Presidential campaign.
Even if you do, you don’t have to say anything. You don’t have to feel like you have a civic duty to state your opinion on all things cultural just to be a part of society. No one cares about what other people think unless it is a clear opposite of what they believe. Then it needs to be stated.
All I read is a desperate attempt to be relevant. The stating of criticism of current events is a cry for attention and a fumbling hand to find some kind of human connection that just can’t be achieved through Internet communication.
You don’t have to react to anything.
Prayer
The Cowboy of Hollywood,
I must be immediately knowledgeable of your current releases and trends,
Or I will seem out of touch,
And I will seem obsolete.
I need to have a word or two to say about every movie, album and other cultural publishable consumed items.
I need to be out spoken on what artists are struggling with in their relationships, work and beliefs.
I need to mourn their death.
I have to love all things loved,
And hate all things hated.
I must have an opinion on everything.
I will post videos,
Change my profile picture to the dead celebrity so that all will know I know of this celebrity and appreciated the work this celebrity has done.
I will tell a story of the first time this celebrity changed my life
Hopefully it’s years before your story.
It is hard to know that this celebrity will have an impact on human kind for years to come and I will be forgotten.
My statement changes nothing.
It is only heard from other fans.
Others will shrug their shoulders at the most and keep scrolling.
Even in all-caps, I am not really heard.
Please let me have a say on everything that needs a say about.
Amen.
Craft
Grief Mask
What you will need is some clay, pens and items that will help make the mask look like who you are grieving for.
For a better texture, cover the clay with an animal skin. Pig works the best.
You will create a mask with the clay to loom like the person you are grieving. Try to get the symmetry of the face right.
Bake the clay in a kiln.
Add the items that will make the face more realistic. For example, a little scruff on the cheeks and upper lip and some purple eyeliner to be Prince.
Spend 30 days being that person. Wear similar clothes, learn body language and speech pathology.
Don’t drop character for even a second. Even if you are Alex to explain yourself. You are now that person, not an impersonator.
You will be cured of grief at the end of 30 days.
Goal
You just don’t have to say anything. If it helps you, go right ahead, but if you just feel like you have to, don’t.