On Play: Jazz, Basketball, and Writing

There are many Ways to play.  All Ways share a common practice – exploring the Limits of Self. 

Through countless hours of practice the musician makes their instrument an extension of themselves, so they no longer require awareness of the instrument itself, and instead can focus on what they are trying to express through their music.  In an ensemble, the musicians are also focused on the score: what they are trying to express in harmony with the other musicians.    

In basketball the instruments are the players themselves, and the play is completely dynamic – there is no "score" to focus on.    In basketball, the players are focused on the play itself, and in doing so on being so aware of themselves that they are no longer self-conscious.  On being so aware of their team mates that they "lose" their minds - to become Mind.  So that each player moves as effortlessly in Formation as each would move their own limbs.  Five fingers of One Hand.  They lose themselves in the Now so they can find Themselves.  They let go of the score so they can Score. 

When I write, I play.   And the writing instrument is an extension of myself that allows me to focus more on what I am trying to say and less on how I am trying to say it.  So that I can communicate the why.   So that I can be that communication.  So we can commune.