Author: Family Friendly Daddy Blog

Leave a comment Posted on songwriter, songwriting

Songs I Wrote in 2023: “Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs” – 9th of 13

I am of the small minority of the people who have ever lived in the entire history of the world to actually reach the top of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs pyramid. Not to mention, I got here despite not being extremely wealthy or famous.

Therefore, it is difficult for others to relate to me in my existential crisis that I have been working through for the past several years.

Writing this song helped me at least to better understand what I have been feeling:

Halfway through my life is when I realized I did everything I wanted to do – But I am still alive – I still have so much time and clarity – Roaming the halls – I feel like I am lost in a maze – Somebody help me down from here – So I won’t be so lonely at the top of the pyramid – Like if Super Mario jumped over the flagpole and the game went on without any goals – No real obstacles – Nothing to run from – Nothing to run towards – Can I transcend myself? – Is that the next step? Do I move beyond self-actualization? Who can I teach from this? Who has a crisis where I can be of service?

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Songs I Wrote in 2023: “Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow!” – 8th of 13

Randomly enough, I was inspired to write this song while binge watching Barry on HBO; as  characters on the show referenced William Shakespeare’s Macbeth.

I majored in English in college and one of my upper level classes was studying Shakespeare. I found it fascinating that the same thoughts going through my head where already penned hundreds of years ago.

So I added a few opening lines on my end, easily making a song from the concept:

I keep bumping my head on the ceiling as I’ve outgrown this place – I’ve seen what’s behind the curtain – Things will never be the same – Tomorrow creeps in this petty pace from day to day – I strut and fret my hour upon the stage – Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow – Life is but a walking shadow – Out, out, brief candle – And all of our yesterdays have lighted the way for fools – To dusty death and then is heard no more again – It is a tale told by an idiot like me – Full of sound and fury, signifying nothing

Leave a comment Posted on Enneagram, songwriting, Storytelling, Uncategorized

Songs I Wrote in 2023: “I Feel Like I Used to Be a Good Person” – 7th of 13

As 2023 progressed, the process of writing my Enneagram book continued to help me reveal more about my perception of life. Like with the previous song, “St. Doubting Thomas”, I was in the deconstruction stage of ego death.

Perhaps that is what prompted me to mention the final stages of grief, at the end of the song:

I feel like I used to be a good person – Twenty years ago, I saw the world as beautiful – I felt so alive – That was me there at the dress rehearsal – I was the golden child – Life was wonderful – The future was so bright – I never died as a hero – I lived long enough to get old – I see myself now as a villain – Will this story have a happy ending? What does that even mean to me anymore? Looking back to when I was a good person – That was before I had a chance to crash and burn and was forced to learn – I feel like I used to be a good person – But what the world needs now is the current version – The one who can get the job done – I’m here to audition for the part of the tortured artist – What’s the best we can hope for in this life if we’re being honest? We find ways to cope – It gives us hope or at least distracts us – This is my denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and finally acceptance

Leave a comment Posted on fatherhood, parenting, People, Storytelling, Uncategorized

Dear Jack: So… Maybe Take a Break from Losing So Many Teeth?

13 years old.

Dear Jack,

Exactly three weeks ago on your 13th birthday, you randomly announced as it was nearly time to walk out the door to go to school:

“I think I can pull this tooth.”

Within a couple of minutes, it was out.

For each week that has followed since, the same thing happened; as if it were a scheduled weekly occurrence.

For the record, you have now lost three teeth in a span of two weeks.

A few nights ago at dinner, you mentioned how it is now a bit difficult to eat, due to your lack of teeth these days.

So yeah, maybe take a break from losing any more teeth for now?

 

Love,

Daddy

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Dear Holly: Rockin’ Around Our New White Christmas Tree

7 years, 7 months.

Dear Holly,

My entire life, I had always wanted a white Christmas tree. It seemed that it would simply add to the Christmas magic.

I had totally forgotten, but last year after Christmas, Mommy ordered a new Christmas tree for our home- and the decision in our family was unanimous in choosing a white tree! So this past weekend, we set up the new white Christmas tree as a family, for the first time.

I insisted we take a family photo in front of it before we left to go to church on Sunday morning. Fortunately, Mommy shouted out, “Now let’s do a silly one!”

 

Love,

Daddy