Preface

This is part of a series called Succinct Shots. It’s based on a practice of stream-of-consciousness writing. But it’s my own variation to use a focal point, instead of rambling aimlessly without intent.

These morning pages are highly personal. I was trying to jump start my positivity and creativity. They are meant to trigger clarity for the writer, listener and/or reader.

Purpose is an obligation.

It is both an obligation to yourself to find your best self; and it is an obligation to use your best self for the benefit of others.

This twofold intent is a necessity. It allows you to overcome the anxiety of self-interest, the soulless pursuit of only financial gain and leads you on a path greater than your dreams.

The loss of purpose is a debilitating disease that eats away at your core self and your core beliefs to leave an empty shell, along with the empty feelings.

Your purpose can change at different stages of life, but it has to be big enough to sustain significant portions of your life.

It cannot be flimsy or flap in the wind.

There is no conviction without a rock solid foundation of purpose.

Obligation to one’s self is a necessary role to further your progress on a path to a productive future. If your intent wanes, you’ll veer off the main road into hazardous areas.

You might be taken for a ride on alternative paths that lead to nowhere.

Avoid the alternatives if you do not see that the map gets you back to your main purpose.

Later in life or at different transitional periods your purpose will be altered or change altogether. These transitional times are very critical and are very vulnerable too.

The next purpose may not be as visible as the earlier ones. A lifetime of knowledge and experience play havoc with your search for new meaning.

The negative forces of the world seem to bear greater weight on your decision-making. It is hard to see past the fallacies to envision the path forward.

That’s why your obligation to community, local or global, becomes more significant.

The atrocities of past decades wears heavy on the mind to cloud your judgment and vision. A strong sense of obligation to carry on and take on the new fight ensures that you will not be deterred.

All of your vulnerabilities are exposed and open for criticism. All of your past knowledge comes into question.

When this happens you need to seek out the wisdom of youth. Younger generations are exploring new ideas, new pathways and brandishing new resolve.

This energetic force is a powerful supply to tap in to. They help to reconstruct the narrative, to recall the vigor and to re-illustrate the purpose with a strong spirit.

Your own renewal can come from these youthful ventures and examples.

Purpose beyond your basic needs beckons you to become more alive to live a life full of fight.

Find your true purpose, recognize your twofold obligations and pursue an exciting pathway.

[Original date: December 25, 2019]

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This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scobi.substack.com

Preface

This is part of a series called Succinct Shots. It’s based on a practice of stream-of-consciousness writing. But it’s my own variation to use a focal point, instead of rambling aimlessly without intent.

These morning pages are highly personal. I was trying to jump start my positivity and creativity. They are meant to trigger clarity for the writer, listener and/or reader.

Why is the start of the day so critical to the rest of it? Why is it so easy to put off a productive beginning?

Why does it feel so good to get going early with exercise or projects? Why is it so hard to sustain a habit that makes the day seem solid?

A lot of questions for what should be an easier answer.

Do we need pressure to perform? Do we always fall back to what is easiest to do? It is laziness or a lack of motivation that perpetuates the problem?

Many hard things in life are binary. Either you do it or you don’t: eating healthy, exercising, doing work projects first.

Is it the binary choice that makes it easy to choose the pleasure over the pain? Is it too simple to be lazy? The either/or decision seems to be out of balance regarding its benefits to recreation ratio.

How to choose a better option out of the two? It should be a simple dilemma to solve.

Maybe the lack of fear, hunger or doom creates a soft zone in our brain. Why not go with the easy flow instead of the hard work. This sounds like a lot of evolutionary excess.

The modern day person has it too easy.

The quick and constant access to videos, podcasts and viewing content is a pre-decider. It is available at a moment’s drop, even when in productive intent. It makes us forget about decision-making in just a click or tap of the finger. It is addictive. It is always there.

There is no chase, no hunt, no brainstorming. There are no down times, no loss of resources, no droughts. We just plug in and freefall.

We only act on our own again when the overbalance becomes a problem. We feel ourselves out of alignment with the environment. Only then do we see a need to self correct.

We only see the reality when one option is gone. We realize that this constant sensory source is not a necessity. We free ourselves from the electronic tether and release ourselves back into the wild.

The wild is not a soft zone, it is a challenge zone, a creative zone and a place to build back your foundation. It is a constant source of stimulation, pain, pleasure and sweat.

It jars your body and mind to shake off the passivity of plug-in desires. It makes you feel alive because you are firing on all cylinders.

Take back your time in the wild.

[Original date: October 20, 2019]

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If you like the songs and/or essays, please help me distribute them by sharing and following me on Twitter and Substack. I appreciate your time and support in this endeavor.

Listen to more Succinct Shots here and check out my original songs.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scobi.substack.com

Preface

This is part of a series called Succinct Shots. It’s based on a practice of stream-of-consciousness writing. But it’s my own variation to use a focal point, instead of rambling aimlessly without intent.

These morning pages are highly personal. I was trying to jump start my positivity and creativity. They are meant to trigger clarity for the writer, listener and/or reader.

Starting fresh to make a commitment is a tough road. All the motivational videos and habit tips cannot really do the trick. It takes more than willpower to power through the problem.

Something has to click deep down in your soul. Something has to trigger your deepest desires.

Even with a hearty self-esteem and self awareness, there is something missing to gain action. That trigger must release your inner drive and focus.

All the externalities must be set aside. Without a purpose there is no effort. But the purpose alone cannot sustain your practice. The end result must be in sight, the end vision must be seen.

The reality of your potential must be a reality. The negatives of bad habits and excuses always get in the way. The ulterior motives of money and success also play a detrimental role if the true self is not a priority.

There is no success without the implementation of your true talents and beliefs.

The need to make money to pay the bills is a reality that can forsake your destiny. There needs to be a path that can sustain both your livelihood and self-fulfillment.

Without addressing the root cause of your soul, it is a long painful journey to stagnation of your self. If you are able to see the end result and believe it is real, then the pathway is clearer. The barriers are removed.

The actions should be consistent to work towards that vision. That ‘click moment’ or realization is your secret weapon. It empowers your progress.

Your true self expression is a result of your confidence and self-esteem. It is not braggadocio; it is your real core being.

That foundation allows the vision to formulate, it allows the end result to appear, and it allows you to believe in the future picture. There is nothing more powerful and productive than to believe in yourself.

If you are young, this purpose and vision must be achieved in some way to prove it to yourself. When you are older, you have a lifetime of examples to show for.

Sometimes the vision wanes in the hubbub of life.

That’s why that ‘click moment’ is necessary to set you back onto the path of your true self.

[Original date: November 1, 2019; 18 minutes]

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If you like the songs and/or essays, please help me distribute them by sharing and following me on Twitter, Substack and Instagram. I appreciate your time and support in this endeavor.

Listen to more Succinct Shots here and check out my original songs.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scobi.substack.com

Preface

This is part of a series called Succinct Shots. It’s based on a practice of stream-of-consciousness writing. But it’s my own variation to use a focal point, instead of rambling aimlessly without intent.

It’s meant to trigger clarity for the writer, listener and/or reader.

This is my opening farewell to the life I’ve left behind.

With the music of Jackson Browne’s beautiful song in my head, I start my morning pages.

It seems like an exercise reminiscent of Peter Elbow’s ‘freewriting’ method that I tried out a long time ago. And I never felt it gave me any insights or clarity.

I’ll give this morning pages a try due to two things:

* the sincerity of Julia Cameron (The Artist’s Way)

* the need for clearing my mind

If the purpose of this exercise is to clear the mind of petty garbage and dust off the cobwebs, then it’s worth the effort.

For a mind that dreams too much at night and feels over-cluttered, then the morning may be the best time to dump the debris excess.

Meditation helps to perform the task, but I do not make it a regular practice. Clearing the mind within the first hour of waking up is said to be more effective.

The disrupted patterns of sleep are killing my energy and productivity for the day. It makes me tired and unwilling to tackle the day with gusto.

It is draining in my mind, body and spirit. It is an unacceptable way to start and live each day. It is like watching my body and soul deteriorate into old age inabilities.

It is not who I am. And this concerns me very much.

I know who I am, not who I was. I am still current, relevant and creative. I have no loss of belief in my core self.

I am just in an aimless period that makes me meander through the forest on a journey to nowhere. This must change to get myself back on track.

I feel my time slipping away as the world engages with each other. I am observing too much. I have lost how to be a participant.

But I know that I have much to offer. My path has been varied and interesting.

My thoughts need to be shared with others to assist in their belief, to aid their doubts and to help them realize the beauty of the world.

[Original date: September 15, 2019; 17 minutes]

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If you like the songs and/or essays, please help me distribute them by sharing and following me on Twitter, Substack and Instagram. I appreciate your time, support and aid in this endeavor.

Listen to more Succinct Shots here and check out my original songs.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scobi.substack.com

This is part of a series called Succinct Shots. It’s based on a practice of stream-of-consciousness writing. But it’s my own variation to use a focal point, instead of rambling aimlessly without intent.

It’s meant to trigger clarity for the writer, listener and/or reader.

The powers that be are formidable.

How does the average person decipher the reality from the real power. It is a dilemma that we encounter each day. The money controls the messaging and the attack is constant.

There is no rest for the powerful, who want to maintain the advantage, the leverage and the keys to economic riches.

Opposition to the status quo is stamped out like a virus invading the body.

All of the resources of the powerful are quick to attack any and all uprisings against the money machine. It creates a dynamic that alters the balance of power and leaves most people to be swayed by special interests.

Sustaining a fight against the goliaths of the elites is a true struggle. It requires a combative attitude. It also requires compassion over comfort.

There are moments in history when the masses can no longer endure the misery. They no longer believe in the system. They no longer see themselves included in the gains of the society.

But is it possible to battle against giants, against mountains of money, against the comfortable class of business titans?

Or is it easier to ease into the digital world of all-day access to videos and fantasy games? Is it better to control a digital world than to be engaged in the real one?

The powers that be are counting on your disengagement. They know that desires to be like a celebrity and worship at the altar of entertainment supercede the time needed to participate in a movement.

Real problems disappear in the digital landscape. Fantasy problems are easier to deal with. There is a reset button. There is a controller.

It seems especially egregious how elites are controlling the narrative and the distribution of money. Everything from politicians to major news networks thwart the rise of any struggle intruding into the establishment norm.

This is really the same as before, but nowadays there is a slight difference.

There are independent voices that can be heard on public platforms like podcasts, Twitter, YouTube, Callin and Rumble. There is social media to connect like-minded people across the globe.

These empowered excursions are scattered throughout the internet medium. Corporate power still dominates, but these independent uprisings cause concern.

They are changing the narrative and counteracting the mainstream messages that manipulate the masses.

They are shifting the balance, they are gaining ears and eyeballs.

Thanks for listening to Succinct Shots. This post is public so feel free to share it.

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If you like the songs and/or essays, please help me distribute them by sharing and following me on Twitter and Substack. I also use Instagram to document the work and offer songwriting insights.

I appreciate your time, support and aid in this endeavor.

Except in special cases, my original songs are free to the public. Please be mindful that alterations for racist intent is not permitted. Be critical, not hateful.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scobi.substack.com

[Read the entire article here]

Narration: Rick Scobi

There are three videos to watch in the written version of the article that help set the stage and tone of Woodstock. The audio includes alerts that cue up each video in the following order:

* Video #1 — Woodstock song sung by CSN&Y

* Video #2 — Country Joe & The Fish song

* Video #3 — Woodstock Festival highlights

Video #1

Video #2

Video #3

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If you like the songs and/or essays, please help me distribute them by sharing and following me on Twitter and Substack. I also use Instagram to offer more insights into songwriting techniques.

I appreciate your time, support and aid in this endeavor.

Except in special cases, my original songs are free to the public. Please be mindful that alterations for racist intent is not permitted. Be critical, not hateful.

Thanks for listening to Scobiphonic. This post is public so feel free to share it.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scobi.substack.com

This is part of a series called Succinct Shots. It’s based on a practice of stream-of-consciousness writing. But it’s my own variation to use a focal point, instead of rambling aimlessly without intent. It’s meant to trigger clarity for the writer and reader.

[FYI: I wrote these short essays before the advent of Covid-19.]

The world can be a downer. If you start to let all the bad news sink in, then the downward spiral makes you sick.

It doesn’t stop. It only gets worse. It can affect your psyche to be stuck in the doldrums, in a malaise of inaction.

Is it important to be aware of the atrocities? Is it depleting your reserve of faith in humankind? Is it possible to let the world go and move on?

I don’t think so. But self-absorption may be a good escape. If you focus on a job or hobby, it may help you avoid the hot mess. But how do you block out humanity?

After traveling the globe and living on three continents, I can’t ignore it. I try to make sense of it all. I try to put it in context. I try to find a path that lets me use it for good purpose.

But each day is difficult. Each day the b******t stirs and smells. Each day the hope fades.

This is the way negativity pounds you into submission, to freeze up and feel useless. Only a fighting attitude or a small success can thaw you out. You have to find the little victories that keep the struggle from defeat.

In the short-term, and even in the immediate-term, it all sucks.

That’s why a long-term view is the only solution. It fights off the daily beat down. It instills a sliver of hope to remain in your core being. It is the only practical tool left in the fairness toolbox.

Maybe it is Pinkeresque, but it is better than the other options of ignorance, avoidance and self-absorption.

Isn’t it better to deal with the struggles to prove your own moxy, your self-respect, your desire to fight and your belief in a more equitable world.

How disgusting would it be to stop resistance and let the elites win even easier. I can’t imagine being satisfied to let the b******s believe in superiority and rightful ownership of their place.

There is nothing in my DNA that drives me to be part of the elite class. There is nothing in my soul that wants to be in that group. There is nothing but contempt for a smug class that is artificially elevated.

Equality is not the end goal, that is a fantasy. Respect is worth fighting for, it is worth the daily pain. Fight for the long-term.

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This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scobi.substack.com

Narration: Rick Scobi

Text Published: 2 October 2022 (Read Here)

This is my first attempt to narrate an article outside of Succinct Shots. I want to inject a bit more attitude to liven up the story and message beyond just the written words.

Enjoy the experiment.

Thanks for listening! To receive new posts, original songs and support my work, become a free or paid subscriber.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scobi.substack.com

This is part of a series called Succinct Shots. It’s based on a practice of stream-of-consciousness writing. But it’s my own variation to use a focal point, instead of rambling aimlessly without intent. It’s meant to trigger clarity for the writer and reader.

[FYI: I wrote these short essays before the advent of Covid-19.]

Switching the mind is a powerful and productive change.

Being able to transform negative thoughts into positive action is a psychological victory. The switch needs a trigger to be activated. But once the flip is made, it makes all the difference.

Finding the right message to build inertia to flip the switch is the hard part.

There is a prolonged time when the switch is stuck in position. Attempts to try to get the switch to move only changes it for a short instant. It takes more than motivation to make a complete change.

The flip is also triggered easily. But to prevent flip-backs it requires a deeper, more personal commitment. The cause or reason that determines the switch has to resonate deep within your spirit and reflect who you really are.

Each of us has a past and present that helps guide us to the future. Without resolution of either one, the switch will not occur.

Life is a series of overcoming obstacles, so you need to understand your own past to lead you into the future. The present is somewhat temporary. It is a state of well being that does not fully aid the potential of the future.

A switch is usually necessary to reconnect the past to trigger your potential future. It turns the present upside-down to shake your current state into a new one.

Without bold change there is no getting past the comfort zone that keeps us safe from a formidable future full of failures, fears and personal growth again.

The present is a purgatory, a stagnant place of safe practices that feeds off past trials and satisfies past efforts. It is not where you can be at your best.

It is a safe place of comfort that sucks out your soul. A soul requires more nourishment, more fire and more desire. It is unhappy and unfulfilled in the comfort zone.

The soul is made for combat. It is meant to be a fighter. It has to flourish under adversity.

And it will soar to higher levels under duress. Only by making a switch will your soul be called into action to make you who you are.

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Thanks for listening to Succinct Shots. This post is public so feel free to share it.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scobi.substack.com

This is part of a series called Succinct Shots. It’s based on a practice of stream-of-consciousness writing.

But it’s my own variation to use a focal point, instead of rambling aimlessly without intent. It’s meant to trigger clarity for the writer, listener and/or reader.

Creativity is a habit, not a gift. This notion seems to be on target because the real magic appears from the output, the daily grind.

We all have some creative type of license to use at our disposal. It takes a belief sometimes to put it to use, but in reality the belief is not even necessary.

Creativity requires building up your talent or expressing it time after time. It must be a habit that can consume you because of your desire to do it.

It should not be a chore. It should not be stagnant or stale. It only flourishes with repeated practice and effort.

It is not dependent on good or bad, nor worthy or not. It may not make money. It is in and of itself a freedom to be expressive to let your inner self flow and flower.

If the first goal is monetary, it may either be an incentive or produce failure. If the first goal is to create, to express, then your chances of personal success rise. The act of expression is a reward too.

But if the doubts linger or the critical reviews go negative, then that thwarts the drive. Do not let others define your creative outlet and expression. It is for you first of all.

The habit formation is a vital cog in the creative machine. Without a steady means to produce, the machinery gums up and is stuck. The gears need lubrication to move and make the creative process turn into beautiful things.

A haphazard approach only brings out a slow drip that cannot flow into a creative state.

Your desire to create should be at the forefront of your efforts. It should not be laborious. It should not be dull. It should exude who you are. It should pour out of your soul.

If creativity suffers or gets tired, then its time to check your reasons.

Maybe the lack of knowing what to do with the outputs confuses the process. Maybe the monetization muddles the picture.

There are so many outlets to choose from and the dilemma can be stifling. Pick a pathway that keeps your creative juices fresh. Find a sweet spot to come back to. The end results will take care of themselves.

The creative results require your presence, daily. The task is to be habitual, not financial. The money and the opportunities will arrive later.

But today the aim is to create and fulfil your mission.

Thanks for listening Succinct Shots. This post is public so feel free to share it.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scobi.substack.com