Filed under: A Bit Of Inspiration, Attitude & Aptitude, Culture, Death, RIP, Stubborness
So as we all know Bowie died this week.
Given few people knew he was ill, the news of his death – especially given the release of his latest album and birthday – was particularly shocking.
I loved Bowie.
Not, believe it or not, because he once sang a duet with my favourite band … but because in addition to his music, I loved his commitment to reinvention.
Whereas people like Madonna seem to flock towards whatever trend can help them appear relevant, Bowie did it because he was interested in the unknown.
He never did it in the quest for sales, he did it because he was interested in it … stubborn in his resolve to always do what intrigued him, what he believed in.
Sometimes that incurred the wrath or the laughter of critics – people judging him by their standards, not his – but he didn’t care, because he believed life was about experiences, experimentation and exploration and if people didn’t understand what or why he was doing things, he didn’t really care.
Some may argue you can act that when you are rich, but the fact is he always lived that way.
He never felt he had to convince others of his choices.
He never chased others approval.
In essence, he was the embodiment of ‘his own person’ which is why whatever he did always felt authentic and – to a certain extent – effortless.
Lots of people have written lots of amazing things about him and the response he has received from society – especially in his hometown of Brixton – has been amazing, however if anything highlights how he embraced the future, especially the unknown, the untapped, the unexplored … it’s this comment he made about the music industry back in 2002.
When I look at the ambiguous twaddle so many ‘futurists’ spout, Bowie is articulate, clear and very focused.
You sense that his beliefs were born from serious consideration – never a quest to exercise his ego – which is why he was a refreshing counterpoint to the statements made by so many modern artists today.
Mr Bowie, you have left the World a less interesting place than it was before but we would be in a far worse position had you not been here at all.
The ultimate legacy.
I recently read a letter in the Sunday Times from a man that wanted the right to die.
Death – as I have written about many times – is an incredibly complex issue but ‘death by choice’ is one, in the right circumstances, I wholeheartedly agree with.
What are the right circumstances?
Well, there are many … but for me, it revolves around the individuals ability to live a life of fulfilment and contentment.
Of course ‘fulfilment and contentment’ are very subjective things which is why I believe conversations must be had prior to any decision being made to ensure the person is fully aware of the alternatives and implications … however, if they believe the life they are going to live going forward robs them of all the joys they value in their life, then they should be allowed to let go.
I totally understand how hard this is for the family, but these are the moments you have to understand your feelings have to come second to the person going through it all, which is why as heartbroken as I still am about my Mum’s passing, I know she would have hated to endure the slow pain and constant complications that would have happened had she not attempted to have the operation.
That doesn’t make losing her any easier, but it means she was able to maintain her dignity and that to her was everything.
Anyway, read this letter, it gentle, beautiful and sad but with a message at the end that provides food for thought.
Filed under: RIP
