Like A Rock

Why is it that a piece of music, a poem, a scene from a movie has the power to grab us the viewer and wring emotion from us? Is there a common theme? Indeed, there are many, but one common thread never fails to affect me. Someone who stands by his principles and doesn't let them die. Legions of Louis L'amour fans kept buying his books long after he died (myself included). Throughout his stories, the hero, though human, refused to stand by and watch evil reign and conquer. Facing insurmountable odds, he charged in and faced his fears, and his foes, with a cool glare and a hot six shooter.


Why then do we finish reading an adventure like that, our hearts soaring, brimming with principles, and return to our soul sucking jobs the next day? What has happened to us, to our principles, to our ambitions? I was talking to a retired welder the other day who criticized my decision to forsake the trades. He berated me, speaking with a heavy accent, how he went to work every day hating his job, hating the places he worked, constantly being burnt by the slag, burnt on his hands, his eyes, his face, but he went there for what? And he patted his wallet, like a favorite pet. I think that man has wasted his entire life, becoming the bitter, used-up carcass I saw before me that day. But I wondered how he got there - surely nobody sets out to slay his enthusiasm and ambitions?

Donald Trump, speaking with Larry King, said that to be successful, it is critical to love what you are doing. Otherwise, you will not put in the effort necessary to achieve greatness. That is true - study some of the great people of history, and see if this holds up. Mother Teresa; Fred Astaire; Youssef Karsh; Arnold Newman; Picasso; all examples of people who have followed their dreams; stayed true to their principles; have been written down in history for doing so.

And what about music? In 1986, Bob Seger sang "Like A Rock" to chart-topping success because of the powerful message behind the lyrics. Chevrolet used it to demonstrate the strength behind their trucks. People relate to the music because of the theme of standing behind principles, even though it may not be popular at the time. It is the kind of song that makes people dream about what they would do, if only they could stand by their principles instead of feeding them to their wallets. I can't listen to that song without my mind drifting off to distant planes, where I am strong, proud, and standing by my principles.

How does that translate to real life? I believe that we can live that way, if we choose. We can choose to pursue what we love to do, be it photography, painting, carpentry or concrete. I meet people every day who love what they do, in all walks of life. There is a light in their eyes that shines, even when exhaustion threatens to close their eyes. There is a passion in what they do, what they speak about, how they act. Not all passions lead us to the poorhouse; that is the lie that uninspired people tell us to keep us doing what is "reasonable." Every step spent in pursuit of our passions seems like a leap compared to a step spent pursuing that which we don't want. And that is the truth we must embrace, to live a life worth living.

The wakeboarder is Justin Milsted, enjoying life on Mara Lake, BC.