Weddings and Parties: "Keep On Keeping On"

Here we are last September, at the Coyote Creek Golf Course, entertaining at the Citti Family Annual Golf Invitational’s cocktail party.  One of those nice hot days when we get to play in shirtsleeves.  It was a grand afternoon, and toward the end my friend, DJ and photographer, Jordan Sofris (Jordan River Productions) caught me off guard.  You rascal, Jordan!

Someone or something ever catch you off guard?  Of course!  No matter how much we prepare, it happens to all of us all the time.  Whether you receive a nice surprise or something else, the crucial point in the long run is not what happens, but how you respond.

Dozens of cliches come to mind, like “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade, “Every cloud has a silver lining”, and “Play the cards you’re dealt” .  They all mean about the same.  What’s your favorite expression?

I find a few of these persistently hopeful expressions particularly memorable.  For example, in 1941, after the Blitz, Winston Churchill made a speech to rally the nation, and he included the words, “Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never — in nothing, great or small, large or petty — never give in, except to convictions of honour and good sense.“

Master salesman Tom Hopkins taught me another.  “The number of times I succeed is in direct proportion to the number of times I can fail and keep trying.”

This is the theme of one of my favorite songs, “Pick Yourself Up”.

Nothing’s impossible, I have found.
For when my chin is on the ground,
I pick myself up, dust myself off,
Start all over again.

Don’t lose your confidence if you slip.
Be grateful for a pleasant trip,
And pick yourself up; dust yourself off;
Start all over again.

Work like a soul inspired
‘Til the battle of the day is won.
You may be sick and tired,
But you’ll be a man, my son.

Will you remember the famous men
Who had to fall to rise again.
So take a deep breath;
Pick yourself up;
Dust yourself off;
Start all over again.

For people who pay attention to these things, this was sung (and danced to) by Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire in the 1936 movie “Swing Time.”  Music by Jerome Kern (“Showboat”) and lyrics by Dorothy Fields (“On the Sunny Side of the Street”).

Here’s where I’m going with this.  When times are tough, people seem to forget that persistence usually pays off.  Sounds right to me, and throughout recorded history, this notion has been expressed many times, many ways.  Why?  Is it so hard to grasp, we couldn’t get it the first time?  Apparently.

Part of my Theory of Life resembles a butterfly’s, who is born as a worm, eats constantly to grow and store energy, and then emerges from a cocoon transformed into a beautiful butterfly.  Similarly (with some significant differences), we’re born helpless, work tirelessly for decades storing wisdom and wealth (as though it’s our life’s purpose), and then “retire” (or are we “reborn”) to fulfill our destiny.  Hmmm … maybe this vision appeals to me because I’ll approach that ultimate stage one day, and it sounds attractive.  Nevertheless to reach our goal, the enduring message has to be “Keep on keeping on”.

Until we retire, we continually learn from people who’ve “been there, done that”.  I always listen for the voice of experience, and I always expect to learn something new.   That’s why I look forward to playing at next Tuesday’s “Baby Boomer/Senior Lifestyle Expo” (details on our website).

One way or another, the band still entertains somewhere nearly every day.  I’m always seeking our next opportunity, and if we can help you, please call us at 408-245-9120.  Visit MagnoliaJazz.com for our schedule, and catch us at a public event soon.

Thanks for reading my blog.  Please take a moment to share this post, subscribe, and send me a comment.  I’ll reply right away.

Related posts:

1. The Endless Search for Weddings and Parties
2. Back to Basics for Weddings and Parties
3. Curious About Parties and Weddings?
4. High Hopes for Weddings and Parties
5. On Jambalaya, Weddings and Parties

Tagged as: Coyote Creek Golf Course, Jordan Sofris, Senior Lifestyle Expo, Tom Hopkins

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