(On Growing Old and Dying Gracefully)
Isa ka ba sa mga taong makikitid ang pag-iisip upang ipilit na ang lahat ng mahilig sa Rock music at lalo na ang mga miyembro ng isang Rock band ay merong bisyo? Naniniwala ka ba na bago maging ganap na musikero ang isang tao e dapat e matuto muna siyang uminom,mag-yosi, at mag-droga?
I’m turning 42 this January 2013. I may still feel very youthful as ever but I admit that I could already feel the literal pains of adult age. I no longer jump the stairs nor run very fast like a child just for the heck of it, because I knew that one crazy twist or fall may result in a broken bone or at the least a sprain that will never heal easily just like when I was still a child.
But I’m conscious that one reason I have reached this age still with a considerable functional body and mind is because, ever since, I never smoked, drank, nor dabbled with drugs—despite the fact that I was an active character in the Philippine Alternative Rock music scene. I never believed that Rock music should be accompanied with the so-called drugs and vices. And I know damn well that this has helped my body age gracefully.
The only true prerequisites in becoming a Rockstar are creativity, musical skills, and the passion for music—that’s all—not drugs nor smoking nor drinking nor assuming that macho and careless character.
In the annals of Rock music, often elevated to iconic status were the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Kurt Cobain, Keith Moon, Brian Jones, Sid Vicious, and whole lot more who didn’t even reach their prime age.
Sorry but I don’t regard these Rockstars as my idols. While I love the music that their bands created, I never admired their lifestyles. Besides, there are much more admirable music icons whose tickets to proficiency and prolificity are their pure creativity and talents and not an irresponsible lifestyle—artists who become old to be able to realize their fruits of passion and labor.
Not to disrespect the memory of these artists, but may their lifestyles and early deaths serve as lessons to fellow artists and musicians, especially those who are younger than I am.
There is so much more that lies ahead of our future. Let’s just think of our children or your future children and families. We should live for them and we will inevitably be their first role models.
To die at a very young age because of illnesses and diseases secondary to the use and abuse of drugs and other vices is a sad way to meet one’s death. But I don’t consider this tragic.
Why?
Simply because this is preventable. While you’re still young or your body is still able to recover, may you stop dabbling in vices that do nothing but overwork and wear your body organs.
Yes, all humans die anyway, but everyone can choose to grow old and die gracefully.
I know that many of my fellow artists and musicians will raise their brows for this post of mine, but the heck!
I’m just bursting the delusional bubbles of those who think that they are invulnerable and their bodies powerful to withstand the ill effects of drugs and all the other vices.
Sa Madaling Salita
Ang tangi mong kailangan upang maging isang ganap na musikero o artista sa anumang larangan ay pagkamalikhain, imahinasyón, kakayanan, hilig, at tiyaga na matutunan pang maige ang pasikut-sikot ng napiling sining—hindi ang pagkalulong sa masasamang bisyo na pulos katarantaduhan lamang na ang karaniwang resulta lamang ay sakit at maagang pagkamatay o pagkasira ng ulo.
Or, in Simple Words
The requirements in becoming a musician or artist are creativity, imagination, skills, passion, and willingness to learn more the aspects of the art one has chosen—not engaging in all these body-deteriorating and mind-destroying vices whose likely results are illnesses or early death.
