When is one *officially* living "the life" ?

[m1469]

For example (but the topic question is a general question), if one wishes to be a concert pianist, when is a person actually *officially* living that life ?  At what point does one crossover from not living it, to living it ?


m1469

[lilypiano]

maybe when they start performing more and winning competitons they're livin the life

[gorbee natcase]

When one is dead and unable to reap the benefits/ thats when /sad but true

[Bob]

When you're supporting yourself doing that?

[Ruro]

Could one not analyse Biographies of Famous Concert Pianists? There may be a recurring trend. I don't particularly have the motivation for such a task, and doing so by someone will still bring light to this conversation, unless all just want to just speculate for a while longer.

Nothing like a few predictions huh?

I guess it's all about the person really that is becoming the Concert Pianist, but I can imagine people's views may play a part, or the whole part... or to some people, probably nothing, since it could be "All about the individual", guess it's whatever you believe in regarding that sorta area.

To me, da capo, I would say it's a combination of what the Pianist considers one's self, and what the audience percieves him/her as as-well.

[m1469]

Could one not analyse Biographies of Famous Concert Pianists?

Sure, but I only used being a "concert pianist"  as an example.  I am asking something more general, but brought in something I felt people could "relate" with on some level -- it could be anything.

[Ruro]

***, I'm an idiot, I said that three times at least at work today, it's so true, I know someone will agree

[johnny-boy]

"When is one *officially* living "the life" ?

As a composer - when one receives his/her first royalty check.

John

[lostinidlewonder]

You are living officially the life at this very moment. What occupation you have is irrelivant to living your life. What do you do in retirement? A lot of people where so tied up with their occupation that they forgot that there is a life to actually live. I have many age 50+ students who take up piano because they want to start to experience things in life they had no chance to do because of their work and family commitments. But is playing piano or mountain climbing living life? I don't think so. It is a part of our lives a tool, not something which makes our life.

Where we are in our life at this very moment is where we should be. We know when we want to change, there is an urge pushing us, if we don't react to that then it was supposed to be that way. If we react to it then we where supposed to. I guess it makes me think of theoretical situations we might get in life.

For example, is there a set amount of breaths that you will take in your life? If so if you start breathing faster does that mean you are moving towards your death faster? Or if you slow your breathing does that simply reduce the amount of breaths you will take in your life? We cannot answer that question because we cannot see into the future. But this same concept applies to our life. If we get off our butts to do something does it actually change anything in our lives any more than if we sat on our ass for the rest of our lives?

The thing is that we humans can generate our own future, there are things which are set in life, like death, love, tax, breathing these things happen predominatly without our help, but everything else we can control. If you are in an abusive relationship and your partner hits you, do you let it happen so the kids dont have to go through a divorce or do you make a change in your life? Cross roads always in our life, two paths to take, a lot of us are so afraid to take any path that we sit helplessly waiting, they think breathing slower will extend their life. You also even see creative people sitting on a wall waiting for genius to strike them which never comes.

You are living life this very moment, you have choices all around you. You could stand up this very moment walk down the road and throw yourself under a car, I know that is a pretty morbid idea, but that choice is always there. Why don't you do it? Because that would end your life, or at least hurt you a lot and take away experience you might have in life. I think everything in this world is as urgent as this example though. Everything we do is like deciding to throw ourselves under a car or not. It is when we do not see this life changing urgency in our decision making that we flounder about and do nothing, go with the flow instead of swimming through it.

To me you are offically living life if you make decisions in it every day to make your life better and others. Even if that meant you where in pain in a hospital bed but still could speak with your family and friends, read the good book and eat. What else do you need?

[Bob]

***, I'm an idiot, I said that three times at least at work today, it's so true, I know someone will agree

(Bob ponders)  But what is the exact point at which someone is actually living as an idiot as opposed to just experiencing a moment of idiocy?   When does that moment of transition occur?

[pianistimo]

bob, you are too funny!

i think lostinidle is correct about just living life positively.  i was listening to joel osteen today and he said that a man once came in to a psychologists office very very depressed.  the guy said let's take out a legal pad, divide it in half, and write the good things in your life on one side and bad things on the other.  the guy said, 'ok, but i won't have much on the good side.'  so the psych said, ' i understand that your wife is dead.'  the patient said, 'no, no, you've got the wrong guy.  i have a beautiful wife and she is very much alive.'  so then the psych says, 'your house burned down.'  'no,no, i have a nice house and it hasn't burned down.'  etc.  until the guy grabbed the legal pad and wrote twenty more good things down that suddenly came to him.

maybe we have to start distinguishing reality from fiction.  it's just not reality to get all your dreams in this life.  there's a lot of work, and unexpected diversions, and responsibilies.  ithink lostinidle is correct about the majority of people seeking a piano performance degree when their children are grown or when they are entering retirement.  it's very difficult to just focus on a career alone when you have a family.  or, if you don't have a family - you need financial backing.  it's hard to have that without a job- unless you are really connected to someone who wants to further your career.

imo, i should be content.  often we are discontent when we compare ourselves to someone else.  perhaps someone who doesn't have a family or outside interests constantly interfering with what we think could be practice time.  then, you have to get creative.  for me, for a while, i would go elsewhere (other than the house) to have my quiet time and space with no interruptions.  it worked really well until one o f the colleges nearby started locking the practice rooms.  so then, i started taking classes at a college further away and had access to the practice rooms.  now, with my youngest going into kindergarten  - i can practice for maybe an hour in the morning -b ut will still need to work as well.  it's a full day - and perhaps just as tiring for someone who is not a concert pianist (YET) as it would be to practice all day and prepare for concert after concert (and the stress of it all).  it's a different type of stress - but stress nontheless.

maybe, the secret is just to be content.  as the bible says 'don't worry about tommorrow, it will have it's own share of problems...'  and 'don't be anxious...'  also, there are many psalms that speak of being content with the small things in life (which may actually be the big things).  having a peaceful family life (that only comes when you're around to make it happen - believe me - i've experienced both sides and you really have to stay on top of children and what they are doing and get involved as m uch as possible or they feel neglected), enough to eat, enough money to pay the bills. that is really all we need - besides our great God to help us think positively instead of negatively and getting depressed.

this is all from my perspective as a woman, wife, parent, and attempted concert pianist for many years.  started piano at 8 and i am slowly making my way up the stairs of whatever it takes to either accompany at a higher level or make it as a full blown concert artist.  there's a lot of 'going up' 'sliding back' in terms of technical accomplishment.  seems that you have to challenge yourself to think about your goals everyday.  otherwise they just slide into oblivion.  for me, my mind won't let me let go of piano.  it's like an addiction.  but a good one, i think.  my goals are small steps at a time but want them to lead to the final goal of finishing a master's degree and teaching and playing at a higher level than i'm at right now.

[gruffalo]

i dont know about you, but i am living the life when i am able to just do music. example, i will be living the life this summer when i will be doing music and only music instead of physics and maths. i would like to become a concert proffesional, but i enjoy music whatever level. From June onwards i am living the life how i want to, just doing piano, singing and composing. and yes, going out here and there.