The Bobby Rock Newsletter #13 (6-2-2021) - The Silence is Deafening
The Bobby Rock Newsletter #13 (6-2-2021) - The Silence is Deafening
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Hey everybody -
Thanks once again for being here. Let’s dive right in:
In this Issue:
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Whenever I repeat the age-old mantra, There is nothing more important than your health, I’m usually referring to the importance of a sound diet and exercise program. But actually, I believe the mind is our most important asset because, among many other things, it is the engine that keeps you on track with your diet and exercise! Let the mind soften—to constantly give in to distraction or the lure of immediate gratification—and watch body and spirit follow suit as we disintegrate into a shadow of our potential selves. It’s a daily struggle, and I’m constantly on the lookout for various lifestyle practices and distinctions that might keep the mind vital and sharp.
Which leads me to today’s stream-of-consciousness rant…
The Silence is Deafening Just last month I took a weekend sabbatical near Santa Ynez, CA. I stayed at an Airbnb farmhouse that sat remotely atop a grassy hill, framed in gravelly stone walkways and jaggedy cactus. The nearest neighbor was down the hill about five football fields away, so there were really no humans to be seen unless you went into town. And yet the beautiful population of inhabitants around this place was a treat to observe all weekend, including: rabbits and lizards, frolicking about the backyard all day; blue jays and other birds dropping by to hang in commune; a big-ass tarantula passing through in the grass near the lap pool; and a slithering king snake, making his way across the back patio. Majestic, one and all.  The backyard view... And to simply say it was quiet around there would not do it justice. Outdoors, you could hear a bit of wind rustling through the endless rows of rosemary, and a sparse chorus of bird and insect calls… but not much else. Indoors, it was eerily devoid of any kind of sound, except for the occasional low drone cycling of a refrigerator hum. You could only hear the ringing in your ears. And that’s when it hit me... not only how deafeningly quiet it was there, but how noisy it tends to be in everyday life. It was then I began to ponder how all of that daily, minute-to-minute “data”—that raw information of sound—might encumber our minds and affect our ability to optimally contemplate, reason, and create. On the one hand, I’m sure us city-dwellers have normalized a mental filtering process and are probably no longer even aware of when the fridge cycles or a car drives by. We are too busy noticing the helicopters, racing engines, and the occasional gunshot. (Especially in LA!) But on the other hand, I think it’s worth evaluating how our mind/body wellness might be compromised without regular reprieves into those stretches of silent space. All I can tell you is, this bombardment of silence over an entire weekend was quantifiable. I felt like I was thinking more expansively about things. And I hadn’t crashed so deeply—and for so long at one time—in quite awhile. It seemed as though my mind was better prepared to fall out, let go, and slide into those enviably deep delta waves of restful sleep.  Bring on the delta waves! Which brings us to this week’s contemplative question: How often are you in a space so utterly quiet that you can only hear your ears ring? For me, it is indeed rare. About the only place I can regularly experience this kind of quiet is in an iso-booth-turned-meditation-chamber I have in my practice room space. But still, it’s not the same. It’s kind of like putting in earplugs. I am artificially disconnecting from the chaotic metropolis that surrounds me, as opposed to actually being in a space that is legitimately rooted in the gentle quiet of pure nature. It’s a different experience, energetically. And maybe that’s the bigger point I’m trying to unpack here: how often do we submerge ourselves in an environment that is truly primal, with minimal connection to the bustling norm of city life? In fairness, I feel like I’ve always been pretty mindful about “stopping to smell the roses” in any situation where I can engage a bit of primal wonder… if only for a few minutes. I am generally aware of those jaw-dropping pockets of beauty and nature in my life and travels. But I guess this trip had me longing for a living environment where that was more the rule than the occasional exception. Could this be an age thing? Or is it the inevitable fall-out from thirty-six years of living in one of the world’s largest cities? As always… thanks for listening. _______________
On the Road
After more scheduling starts and stops over these past fourteen months than I care to remember, it looks like we have lift-off for real. I will be playing with Lita Ford—in our first show back, post-pandemic—in Sunbury, PA this weekend. We’ve played this cool venue a couple times before, but this time, it’s a full-on festival experience:  Will give you guys the full rundown next week. Scope the BR News Feed in the interim for pics and updates. _______________
Down & Dirty!
I recently launched my very own custom-blend superfood powder called Dragon Dirt. In this section, we offer tips and insights for our kick-ass new DD community. Our Ingredient Spotlight provides info into the why, what, and how much of our ingredients in the Dirt. Superior Protein Galore!  The biggest, strongest animals on the planet get their protein from plants, and science tells us that humans can thrive by doing the same! We anchor our 23-gram, 4-ingredient protein blend with Yellow Pea, a nutritional juggernaut that weighs in at over 80% pure protein. Excellent for exercise recovery or building muscle, our North America-sourced pea protein is easily digested, hypo-allergenic, and low in sodium (unlike most other forms in the market). It’s also high in heart-healthy arginine, which supports optimal blood flow. _______________
Thanks, everyone! I really appreciate you guys scoping out this Newsletter. Until next time, BR PS. For Your Quick Reference:
My main website at www.bobbyrock.com is constantly being updated with cool new stuff. Here's a quick reference guide for finding a few different things: Tour Dates: Bunch of dates coming in! If you are signed up to the site (upper right-hand corner of any page), you will receive an automatic email notification anytime I'm playing within 150 miles of your crib. Newsletter Archives: Scope all the back issues here. Tons of content! There is even a Table of Contents reference so you grab an "at-a-glance" view of what's in each issue. News Feed: Stay in touch! Think of this as Facebook and Instagram rolled into one location, plus extra posts exclusive to the site. The Bobby Rock Store: Books, Music, BR drumsticks (stage-played and brand new), T-shirts, Signed 8x10s, Dragon Dirt and more... Dragon Dirt: My brand new custom superfood powder. Scope the site for tons of info! |