Creativity

My show this Wednesday is some of my original music, and this has me thinking about creativity. My life has been filled with creative spurts that wax and wane. Sometimes this has manifested in songs and sometimes in art or photography. Sometimes it has just been creative thought with ideas and musings. I also consider it creative when I take a deep dive into details of how to make my life better through tools and ways of organizing. Anything that involves that internal drive to make is creative in my world. Throughout everything I have felt compelled to create and be in the flow of making something fine and worthwhile. In my life I have assumed it is part of the human condition to always be curious and spurred to be a bubbling well of giving and enriching this world. I’m not sure this is true for everyone though. I’m not judging here, just noticing that some folks say they don’t feel compelled to create. I think it is so engaging to look at every little thing in this life as an opportunity to thrill in the inter-workings and to learn to understand and weave them into my life. When it comes to music it has come in little and large leaps throughout my life. I have gone through whole decades when I couldn’t write a new song - only coming up with a verse and chorus or a nice melody or chord progression. Sometimes the floodgates have opened and I couldn’t stop the songs pouring out of me. I think in those slow writing times I found creativity in lots of other things that I wrote about above. I think it’s possible to live your whole life in a state of wonder and creativity if you just stop to absorb the moment and the amazing things that are happening. I think if we all lived our lives this way there wouldn’t be nearly the strife and pain we all feel with the greed and hate around us. It’s just a thought and a different way to look at life.

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What have I been up to?

I had 11 senior facilities last week, and I enjoyed them all. We did lots of different themes - from old cowboy songs to humor and everything in between. I love playing for these folks and taking them on little journeys of the mind.

My Wednesday online show was songs from the Grateful Dead and Bob Weir with a couple Jerry Garcia tunes thrown in as well. It was way more fun than anyone anticipated, and I turned some folks into Dead Heads by the end of the night. There is good music all around us.

My Sunday online show was favorites and requests, and there were some great ones including a couple new songs for the group and one new one written by my friend Kelvin that I contributed a melody and chord progression to. It was so much fun!

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What am I up to this week?

I have 7 senior facilities this week including one this Saturday that I haven’t played for in more than a year. That will be a special show of cabin songs. It should be a great week. These folks deserve it.

My Wednesday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be my original songs as I wrote above. I do have a couple surprises up my sleeve including a new one I hope to finish by then. The creativity keeps flowing. Come on out!

My Sunday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be favorites and requests, and I have a couple new songs to play for requests there as well. It never ends, and I love these folks who come out to support each other and enjoy the music so much. Tune in if you can!

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That’s it for this week. I know there is a lot of angst in the world right now, and I keep trying to put good energy into the ether as much as I can. I know it makes a difference even though sometimes I just want to scream. I’ll keep on keepin’ on.

Best always,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of my original songs

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Wednesday, January 28, 7-8:45 pm mountain time

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of favorites and requests 

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Sunday, February 1, 7-8:45 pm mountain time 

Give and Take

I’m doing a tribute to the Grateful Dead on Wednesday to honor the passing of Bob Weir, one of the founding members of the band who played with them as recently as last August. As I’ve been reading interviews and watching videos about the band and Bob Weir, I’ve been once again reminded of how much bands depend on the synergy that happens between band members - especially in performance. The give and take with dynamics, chord choices, licks, syncopation, and overall feel is apparent in the great bands and players. Sometimes it happens naturally, and sometimes it happens as the result of a lot of playing together. Many of the greatest bands like the Beatles and the Grateful Dead were not only great on recordings, they were also great live. That’s where the real genius is born out. Both of these bands came by it through not only the mystical 10,000-hour rule - playing together for that many hours, but they also were truly dedicated to finding the minute variances in their playing that made everything gel in a sum-is-greater-than-the-parts way. I’ve been in a few bands where we achieved something like this. It’s so rewarding when you can feel it happening - giving and taking with all the elements. It comes from staying out of each other’s way and also complementing each other without stepping on each other. It’s so much fun when it all comes together. You can truly feel the music together in a subconscious way that leads to the ability to improvise changes at the drop of a hat. Giving and taking - what a concept.

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What have I been up to?

I had 11 senior facilities last week, and I did hopeful songs for most of them. One of them even wanted to hear old cowboy songs which was a hoot. I love playing for these folks and providing encouragement.

My Wednesday online show was doing hopeful songs for a second week, and it was a good one. Sometimes I think I should just try to do hopeful and supportive songs all the time. It’s so worthwhile when you know you’re making a difference in other people’s lives.

My Sunday online show was favorites and requests as always, and it was a sweet night of new faces and old with some fine favorites and requests. I love these Sunday nights so much. 

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What am I up to this week?

I have 12 senior facilities this week, and I think I’ll try to do some of the Grateful Dead songs I’m doing for my Wednesday online show when they are appropriate. I like expanding the list sometimes if I think it will benefit folks to hear the music.

My Wednesday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be Grateful Dead and Bob Weir songs. I’ve been working hard to learn some new-to-me songs as well as old favorites. Bob had some interesting songs he did solo that I think folks will really enjoy, and everybody knows those key Grateful Dead songs like “Truckin’” and “Friend of the Devil”. Come on out if you like their music or would like to hear why I like them so much.

My Sunday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be favorites and requests as always, and I’m always working on new requests for folks. Sometimes I think my brain will explode with all the new music I’m pumping into it all the time. Come on out!

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That’s it for this week. Best to you as you navigate this ever-changing world. Try to do it with a little give and take.

Best,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of Grateful Dead and Bob Weir songs

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Wednesday, January 21, 7-8:45 pm mountain time

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of favorites and requests 

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Sunday, January 25, 7-8:45 pm mountain time 

Reacting

I’m writing today in reaction to how people reacted to the news in the past week and how I have reacted throughout my life. It has taken years for me to learn how to respond to my feelings about things that have happened to me and around me over my life. I’m not going to comment on the news that happened except to say that I never think it’s good to react immediately to the perception of events - partially because it’s not good to judge on first sight, and partially because I see how often people try to manipulate a particular opinion. Life is just seldom what it appears on first glance, and over my life I have let myself react so quickly to things that have happened to me. When I was a kid I could see ulterior motives in everything. Someone was always out to cheat me or “get my goat” somehow. Maybe this is the logical reaction when we are young and don’t have any wisdom yet, but it can lead to so many misunderstandings and so much avoidable pain. At some point I started looking for the good in situations instead of the hidden forces I thought were out to get me. I know it can be a fine line, but it’s so hard to live life in fear of others. The truth is more often that they are involved in their own lives and aren’t really considering what I’m thinking. That’s unfortunate too, but at least they aren’t out to get me for the most part. At times I’m sure I am naive to dangers around me, but I also believe that good things are drawn to those who do good and have good thoughts. This is a little woo-woo, but it has been true in my life. Either way it’s the right thing to do. At least it lets me live my life with peace and joy at the heart of life instead of fear and suspicion. To me that’s worthwhile.

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What have I been up to?

Last week I had 9 senior facilities to play for. We had a pretty good snowstorm that made me reschedule my 2 Friday facilities which were both in the path of a lot of snow and an hour drive away. I’ll pick those up on this coming Saturday. I enjoyed playing a lot of hopeful songs for folks to start the new year right.

My Wednesday online show was also playing hopeful songs, and there were some really good ones. Everyone seemed to enjoy it, and I had a lot of good requests. I love my audience.

My Sunday online show was favorites and requests, and I tried a couple new songs that were requested. I don’t like going out on the edge, and these were difficult songs, but I think they came out okay if a little rough. It’s funny how I sometimes I can pull off a song from accumulated experience and sometimes they almost fall apart. Oh well, it’s part of getting older!

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What am I up to this week?

I have 11 senior facilities this week including the 2 I rescheduled from last Friday. I’m looking forward to seeing the folks and giving them some good tunes and encouragement.

My Wednesday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be hopeful songs again since there are so many more great tunes I still haven’t gotten to. It will be a sweet night, and I’d love to have you in the audience if this sounds like a show you’d enjoy.

My Sunday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be favorites and requests as always. I really do have some nice moments with good folks at these shows, and you’re always welcome.

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That’s it for this week. I hope you like my musings on life, and I always welcome comments and friendly responses. We’re all in this together.

Best,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of hopeful songs

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Wednesday, January 14, 7-8:45 pm mountain time

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of favorites and requests 

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Sunday, January 18, 7-8:45 pm mountain time 

Starting the New Year

We’ve put up the new calendars and started new file folders for the new year. Hopefully I’ll remember to put 2026 on my invoices and correspondences sooner than later. I haven’t made any new year’s resolutions although I am keeping a positive horizon in my mind. The new year always represents hope to me. I tend to be pretty idealistic in my general attitude. I’m not sure I could function from day to day if I had the pessimistic view that so many folks carry into their lives every day. It’s just too easy to choose to not see the potential and beauty in our world. I’ve written these kinds of thoughts before. I see the world as a wondrous place that we are so fortunate to be a part of. I cherish every opportunity I get to interact with people and also to spend time in nature. Even when things aren’t going so good I take pleasure in the small things of life. I just know that every day is a gift and that every moment is something to savor. As I get older I see this even more although I definitely see the diminishing returns as my body can’t quite manage what I used to be able to do. It’s all good though. Life is so intricately intertwined in so many fantastic ways. I hope that this kind of thought can bring you hope too if you need it.

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What have I been up to?

I had 8 senior facilities scheduled last week, but 2 had to be cancelled due to illness. I wish those folks well and am hoping that they will be better soon. The rest of the facilities saw some fun shows with lots of enthusiasm for the new year. I even played electric guitar for a few of them.

My Wednesday online show was party songs for New Year’s Eve as we counted down and celebrated the midnight hour a few hours early so folks could get to bed at an earlier hour. It was so much fun and so full of energy.

My Sunday online show was favorites and requests as always and …

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What am I up to this week?

I have 9 senior facilities week, and I’m hoping that more don’t have illness as it has been going around quite a bit between flu and Covid. I’ll be playing hopeful songs for them just as I am playing hopeful songs for my Wednesday night online show.

My Wednesday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be hopeful songs as I just mentioned. I like to start the new year with hopeful songs so that folks feel encouraged to dive into the year with abandon. No matter where life finds us we should always be able to have hope and joy. Come on out if you could use a dose of hope to start the new year.

My Sunday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be favorites and requests once again, and this night is always such a fulfilling evening of friends and tunes. It’s always surprising and so much fun. Tune in if you’re free.

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That’s it for this week. I find myself once again saying that I hope you’re healthy and happy. 

Best for a great new year,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of hopeful songs

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Wednesday, January 7, 7-8:45 pm mountain time

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of favorites and requests 

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Sunday, January 11, 7-8:45 pm mountain time