Structure or Cage?

I can't understand why people are frightened of new ideas. I'm frightened of the old ones. – John Cage

Since I retired last May, I have played with a form of poetry Mesostics introduced to me in the work of John Cage.  My poetic efforts have been using the term Structure on most days.  Several Mesostics arising on many days.  Why the obsession with Structure?  Many recently retired people I spoke with before I retired told me this was the most difficult part of retirement for them.  How to structure their day.  A part of me was not overly concerned as I have certain practices, pursuits, and activities in place not dependent on my professional life.  Actually they inform and guide my life; the profession was to pay the bills.  Still in leading up to retirement I thought about how I would structure my days when the confines of business life were no more.  Now I have experimented and continue to develop and explore this structure of refining my life.

Isn't structure a type of cage?  Delineated boundaries; keeping one focused within a certain area for whatever the reasons - music, life, art, business, and on and on.  What's happening at the edge of the cage?  What happens within the limited view I have from within the cage?  What happens to the caged?

My habits form a cage.  My thinking.  My knowledge and perhaps more importantly my lack of knowledge.  How will I approach understanding my cage?  That of another?  Why does the notion of being caged put me off balance?

Time for a walk.

Photo by Paul's Lab.

Structuring the Music of Life

Structure was the frequently word used by recent retirees I talked with in the past 2 years as I contemplated this decision for myself.  There were other words and notions, but this one both attracted and concerned me.  After all I was used to structuring my professional day and to optimize my free time to devote to music, family, & friends.  But what happens when the entire week is mine to do with as I wish?

The first six month period has passed with great fun with family, learning about music, poetry, the Alexander Technique, performance and life itself.  More time developing my meditation practice, our Qi Gong practice and long walks.  Major family obligations & vacations met and more to follow.  But now what does the next six month period hold?

The foundation practices of meditation & Qi Gong frame my day, weeks, and life. Reading, learning, and experiences will continue to inform and develop. Going back to a family discussion we had on New Years Eve, I did hear myself answer a 'what's next' query with time to record again. When, how and with whom to undertake this remains to be determined but now I have stated my intention to  proceed.  Now I can structure my musical practices to address the level of execution to effectively record the pieces to be chosen.  I will remain open to compositional opportunities as they arise.  Mornings are my most productive times so these will be given to music practice within the already established framework that sustains and nourishes my life.

The Structure of Practice

                                                   pauSe
                                                        Tune
                                                    waRm
                                                        Up
                                                        Connnect
                                                 direcT
                                                         Up
                                                      foRward
                                                    widE


Photo by Steve Jurvestan