How well do you know people on social media? If you engage with them enough, interact through text-conversation, videos and images, over time I think most get to a point where they feel quite familiar and would say, yeah I know them. But how well do we really?
Last night someone I've interacted with quite a lot sent me a message telling me her real name and asking me to call her by it instead of her hive username. I thought it was a nice, friendly thing to do and it actually felt like we'd just met for the first time despite all of our interactions.
It made me think about all the things I've not made mention of or shared here on the blockchain...And prompted me to open up a little more.
I've not made any secret of what you'll read below and if you go back over the 35,500+ comments I've made you'll find references to it and I think I may have mentioned it in a post or two here and there, but I thought I'd formalise it.
Most know me as an outdoorsman, someone who is into hunting, firearms, wilderness survival, off-roading, kayaking and hiking...Yes, that's me. But I'm more than just those things. I'm a suit-wearing company executive, a former sportsman, motorcyclist, husband of thirty three years to a lovely wife called Faith, an uncle, a funny guy, serious also, intolerant to idiots, loyal and generous...So many things including...A musician! That's right. I'm a musician.
When I was four and a half years old my parents sat me down at a piano and I started to play. I began having lessons at five years old, and for years afterwards, reaching a very high level of competency. I would practice daily, except when I refused to (and go smacked for it) and was entered into many competitions, against my will. I'm not one to like the spotlight really, preferring to fade into the background. But there I was, performing in front of hundreds of people from the age of about seven. I hated it, but loved playing music.
We grew up with music in the house, classical mainly, which is partly why it means so much to me now. I listen to so many different genres though from country, heavy metal, classical, jazz, rock and so on; It's very difficult to label me as liking one over the other - This is all due to the fact my parents instilled some culture in us through music.
My family was very musical; My grandfather and his brothers, on my mum's side, were quite famous in their time back in the 1920's and my own father was pretty good too, although he had no formal training. It made sense that it would filter down.
I'd not say I was a music-geek as I played a lot of sport also and my life took me in many directions, but I could quite often be found at my piano playing something, or trying to. Scales, hundreds and hundreds of hours of scales and keyboard drills.
I went to a music high-school; That is, a school that specialises in music. They do the other stuff but the school was a feed-in to the Conservatorium of Music, university, which is where I was headed. But life has a way of changing directions and it's not where I ended up. There I delved into music history and the more in-depth theory aspect including composing.
Whilst at high school I started playing the trumpet and as I got better ended up as part of the school jazz band which performed at school events, entered inter-school, State and National, competitions and concerts and did some private stuff also. It was kind of cool to be honest, a taste of rock star life...Well sort of. This lead me into picking up the bass guitar and I learned to play that also...To a passable, but not great, level.
I'm fifty years old now and can still play the piano at a high level, although I'll admit I don't play a great deal anymore. I could probably still get a decent sound out of my bass guitar...And my trumpet...Well lets just say you probably don't want to be around when I attempt to get some noise out of my trumpet.
Like I said, I don't play the piano much although I have one. Every now and then I learn and practice a piece of music and play it for Faith as a gift. I'm learning the Bruno Mars song just the way you are right now, for just that purpose. This link will play it for you if you're not familiar.
I am a shy sort of character mostly and don't like to play in front of people so mostly it's just me and Faith. She likes it when I learn something for her though and it's nice to make her smile, although I still get nervous playing for her, and shy.
I'm not the best musician in the world, I'm good but not great, but I love the fact I have that element as part of my make up. Most people never expect it from me and I don't go advertising it in my real life; It's just a part of me that I hold back mostly, reserve for myself and Faith. It's unlikely you'll ever see me play, although I'll never say never.
So...How well do you know me? Well right now, if you read the text, you know me better than you did before. I think it's your turn now...What have you held in reserve about yourself on social media, the blockchain or any other? What skills or attributes do you have but keep to yourself online or in the real world?
Design and create your ideal life, don't live it by default - Tomorrow isn't promised.
Be well
Discord: galenkp#9209
To my mind musical talent is a gift and you are blessed, both by the music and the parents who steered you in that direction initially. But what comes through more clearly (in many of your posts) is your love for Faith... and it gives me gooseflesh the obvious genuine feelings you have for her. There you are TRULY BLESSED... although I suspect that your character has been instrumental in forging such a strong bond.
I only know what you put out here... but I sense you are an exceptional human being.
Stay well and stay safe ... and stay out of aerobatic aircrafts {grin}
Thank you kind sir, not just for this nice comment, but for reading between the lines of my posts. There is a lot of me in my posts here, if people care to look, which you seem to have done.
I love my wife very much and whilst I'm unworthy of someone like her I've done something to make her feel the same way. You mention my character and I guess in that respect I like to think I am a man of good character, kind, generous, courteous and all plus one who is willing and able to protect those who cannot protect themselves. In that regard I can do great harm I suppose, to those who deserve it...I'm a little of everything I guess and Faith responded to that early in our lives. We met when she was almost 16 and I was 17.5 and since then have been inseparable...I'm a couple months off 51 now...And here we are, still in love, still passionate, loyal and fun-loving. I think we are blessed and could I wish one single thing for others it would be that they find the same.
Thank you again mate, your reply here is one of the nicest I have received in a long time, *and I get some good ones! *
!ENGAGE 50
If those 3% of idiots on this planet spent 50% of their energy on working towards what you and Faith have ... instead of their own agendas of intolerance and cancel culture et al ..... the world ..and they .... would be a far better place. {sigh} ... this should have been on the rant community {grin}
Stay safe and stay well
I have to agree with you for sure. But one can only lead a horse to water and can't make it drink...Come to think of it even leading people is difficult these days. So Faith and I just do out own thing and if someone sees us as an example to follow then great...If not well, we're living and loving live (and each other) so all good.
Have a great Sunday! :)
ENGAGEtokens.Well I still find it hard to say when am been asked about myself, I have this fear that I have not traveled far in the journey or life or made so many great an achievements even at the age of 28.
Maybe someday I may get to answer the question with pride.
Its really good to see you doing well in so many ways, I love music too and would love to have a tutor around here, I have this tiny voice that people think I sing the moment I say a word.
I hope that day is soon as you should feel pride in yourself regardless if you have made great achievements or not. Just being the best version of yourself is an achievement you know.
Many people don't like to divulge too much about themselves and sometimes I wonder if it's from a need to try and remain anonymous (which none of us truly are) or that they just don't think they have anything to say? Who knows? I don't say everything there is to know about me here and I never will, but I think it's good to show some personality, let people know I'm a real person with faults and failings and some good positive things to add also.
Thanks for your comment.
!ENGAGE 25
ENGAGEtokens.WOW! How do you manage all of what you do? Seems just not enough hours in a day to attend to office, all your hobbies, the music and all the work you put into HIVE. You ever take a rest? {LOL}
Now the word is out: I like to hear you play a piece of music on your piano! We have 3Speak to upload your recording. If you like to control the video a bit more, ie take it offline at some point, you could always use YT. But since the word is out: I challenge you to play and record a piece! ;)
It's a very good point you make. Through social media, we may get the feeling we know someone, but we may not have shared everything in our lives. Not that it is necessary to share everything of our past (or present), but indeed, when being friends we generally share all the important things in our lives (past and present).
Something that I never talked about in my 4 years in this community, is my love for skiing. Am not at all a sports guy, but skiing is something I truly love. Back in the late 70s my parents took my brother and I to Switzerland and there it all began. At least two to three weeks a year, for at least three decades you could find me skiing. For a kinda unknown reason, I stopped ski vacations (its at least a 1000km drive from where I live to some decent mountain in either Switzerland, Austria or France). Maybe because my time I spend on the musical side of things (festivals and all) didn't leave enough vacation days for ski trips anymore. Maybe because most of my friends from today, don't like the cold weather. Who knows. I just know I like to go back on the slopes, but I also know I'm totally out of shape and I may be a bit scared to break my bones and all. I like to go fast, but my today's body is becoming too fragile to go racing down the hills. Hmmm, may that is the reason I don't go ski anymore?
Great post and call2action by the way. Was great fun to think about something to share :)
I'll sleep when I'm dead. (Maybe)
You'll not be seeing any video of my playing the piano anytime soon. As I said in my post, I'll not be sharing any video of me playing, it's something I reserve for myself and don't feel inclined to share, the same with other aspect s of my life I choose not to disclose online.
I've never been skiing but wouldn't have minded trying it. The opportunity never really came as living in Australia there's only a few places one can do it and only for short periods of time...So, I've not done it. These days, like you, my age sort of prevents it as I'm not keep to bust myself up - A by-product of getting older I guess.
It sounds like you had some great times on the slopes though and I can see why a person would love it - There must be a certain feeling of freedom to be hurtling down the slopes.
🤣🤣🤣 you are funny, man!
Was just trying, but I respect your wishes and actions in this respect {grin}
Yea, really love it. When the snowboards got invented, tried that a few times, but that's not my cup of tea, so to speak. Also the new type of skies, I don't like too much. Seems everybody is able to make decent curves with these so calles 'carve' skis. Its like the differency between making super photographs with an analogue camera, versus the todays digital camera's. The art of the activity becomes lesser an art. But whatever, now more people can enjoy the slopes :)
Someone in Melbourne told me it is just a two or three hour drive to some ski place. I know you are a little more to the west, so maybe a little longer travel. That said, in a country with all the great nature, beaches and warm weather, it makes good sense the focus was not really on snow and all :)
Falls Creek ski field is just under 400km from Melbourne but due to the roads it's a fairly ling drive of about 4 hours or so. I'm in Adelaide so it's about 955km, just under 11 hours drive. Mt Buller, also in Victoria, is a bit closer to Melbourne, about 3 hours. There's other places with a little snow in the winter but it's never been a thing for me; It's just not worked out. Like your friends say, snow is not something most people are focused on. I'm more likely to go to the ski fields in the non-ski season and do camping and four wheel driving, hiking and fishing etc.
I know nothing about skiing at all, other than the fact it happens on snow, and skis are required. Two of my brothers both snow board though. (Finland.)
Owww, thats about as far as I have to go. And Finland, is slightly longer away from Adelaide 🙃
I guess, camping, hiking and all is a good replacement {LOL} I shall visit the places I skied at in summer; Am telling myself that for a long time, but didn't spend too much time in doing so. I shall move this up to list of todo when the spring 🌞 gets out in a few months.
I had no idea that you had so many different layers. As for me I don't know if I have any hidden talents. I enjoy the things I create. I am proud of my pieces. But I share them so it is not a secret...
But you don't know that in the past I tried to learn and sing Sinatra's Strangers In The Night. I sang for myself and I never sang it in public but I hoped to do it in the right place and time. That will definitely never happen on the chain. One time my dog heard me singing and run to the other room. And I don't want to torture anyone.
A hidden singing talent is a hidden talent you know. 😀
Singing is not something I'm very good at although I'm happy to sing along in the car when I'm by myself. Are you still working on your singing or have yo decided not to share it with the world?
Like I said I was preparing for a specific occasion. It didn't happen so I no longer have any need for singing.
Yeah, I read that, I guess I was wondering if you found it interesting and enjoyable enough to do it anyway.
I read thoroughly your post again, as it deserves many readings. I am starting from the end 😁
I can not say that I had many experience with social media platforms, so my opinion is maybe not an expert one, but it is mine :-). There was one parenting forum, about 15 years ago where I was active and Facebook was reserved for family and friends from real life. Nothing more, apart from messaging applications. Facebook went to history for me when I discovered the value of this platform. I barely publish on youtube, just when need to, and I have an account at lbry for videos, but there is no such interactions.
So, that thing of being incognito should be a general aspect of social media platforms? I suppose that people are braver to say something covered by a username. Some other reality is supposed to be presented, a superior side. Of course, a kind of security is needed as well as you don't know who are you talking to at the other side. But if you want to be genuine (I will use here your word), just the real opinions and feelings can reach other people. It can not be faked.
Slowly, through interaction, one feels more comfortable and has more trust. So more things can be revealed in a natural way. Your identity is opening, I don't mean just a name. What one shares has to be genuine! Well presented, clearly, but true statements, to the point of revelation that one feels that is ok.
Probably many things are behind each of us, and it is coming up, in the pace that the intensity of the interaction dictates. There were people who searched for my identity and found out my name, origin but I was not panicking. I felt, it's ok, I have nothing actually to hide. But yes, we can choose what we want to share with everyone and what with just the ones who deserve it.
I hope you can just appreciate that thing, as for sure being able to play an instrument, in a professional or amateur way is amazing. It can bring you happy moments, as now while you are preparing the song of Bruno Mars.
The piano from your photo is so beautiful, Stainway & Sons 😍
I am almost late now for my dentist appointment, I have to cut my short response 😂 Thank you this post!!!!!
There's so much over-sharing on the interwebs and sometimes I wonder why people are so willing to air their dirty laundry, most private moments or personal lives with complete strangers and lose control of their information. On the flipside it makes me laugh when people try to be so secretive and hide behind a username...It's often done by those who want to be abusive of course, like you say, they feel they are free to act in any way they see fit because they are operating behind a username. The reality is that anyone is locatable if one knows the way to do it, the right people. There's little privacy in our world these days.
When I think about the money my parents spent on music lessons and the thousands of hours I've spent practicing I feel a bit sad that I don't play a lot these days but I can play and that's what's important.
The reason I choose not to play for many people is that I'm shy, and also a residual effect of the fact I was often rolled out to play for people like a performing monkey when I was a kid. I didn't like it at the time, being forced to do so, and as I got older I rebelled against it until I eventually refused. I was living away from home, and never went back, from the age of seventeen and a half so from that point the time I spent piano playing declined. Later, when I had worked hard and established myself I purchased my own piano and I resumed. I enjoy it, but for me now it's a very private thing. You probably won't understand.
I hope you made it to the dentist, but am respectful that you made yourself late to respond to me. 😆
Have a nice day Gabriella.
I like this phrase. Lose control of information, good one.
You shouldn't be sad because you don't play so much. Maybe one day you will play again more and than the hours of scale practicing will pay off 😜
I think you should just concentrate to the fact that you can play and enjoy your time with the piano.
I DO understand that playing piano is just a personal thing now for you. Not just because you were forced to go to competitions and did performances against your will. Yes, it can be a residual effect as you say. But making music is sharing ideas and emotions...and at the moment you will share it only with the people you trust, so in your case with Faith. That is normal. It is ok!
I made it to the dentist, yes 🙈 although it would be better just to stay at home and continue talking 😂
No one likes the dentist, but if one finds a good one then it's less hated I guess. I'm lucky to have found one. I had a crown done the week before Christmas, my first. Wasn't pleasant, but wasn't as bad as I had expected.
I remember the crown post 👑 It was a funny story 😅
I actually forgot that post altogether! I reclla now I stuck a crown on my head in the image! Lol.
Yes, you had a crown and the text started in a funny way, so just somewhere in the middle of the post one could read that it was about a dentist . And the yachts that can buy the dentist in the comment section... 😂
Hi galenkp,
Visit curiehive.com or join the Curie Discord community to learn more.
Thank you for noticing and your kind curation.
I need my morning coffee to be able to write without many mistakes, I will come bach, I mean back.
🤩
Lol, Bach. Clever.
I dig the way you guys say mum.
Thanks for sharing, I'm a big fan of music too. I wish I could play instruments like that. I got into DJ'ing as a teenager and from turntables added mixing boards and synths and drum pads, computers, microphones etc. All the elcontronic stuff and was/am really into drum n bass—170-180 BPM stuff.
I got into sampling there for awhile, too, so much fun. One of my favorite samples to this day was a hip hop beat I built on top of that song, Baracuda, by Heart (wish I still had it!!). I had a Korg Karma back in the day I'd use as a synth and music work station but barely taught myself a-g on it—that thing was so nice!
Very cool read dude, thanks. Gave me an idea to write about (again). 👍🏿
Haha yeah that's a by-product of being a British colony originally...Bloody poms made us talk funny!
The DJ thing is pretty cool, something I didn't get into really, but I have a mate that was right into it and did loads of paid gigs at some fairly large events. The way I understand it there's all these different styles and things within the DJ thing right?
My oldest brother (next eldest to me) has a mixing studio in his home which he plays around with. He did a piece for my dad's funeral six months ago...He says to me, I'm going to do a musical tribute for dad, is that ok? I'm like fuck me, here we go...I had visions of him dinging a triangle and tapping on a xylophone or blowing a kazoo or some shit...As it turns out it was a classical piece and quite good indeed. The funeral home asked if they could keep the file and use it. I said yes.
Anyway, I'm glad you picked up a post-idea, I'll look out for it.
You're good at giving me ideas.
Yeah, there's so many styles of electronic music. I really don't know, 20 would be my guess. How many brother do you have? I think you told me before. No sisters?
I have three brothers and the youngest sibling is my sister, so five of us all up. All spread out across the world...Well, the hemispheres at least. Three here in Australia and two in Scandinavia. Only the two in the Northern Hemisphere live close by, us three here are thousands of kilometres away from each other.
Very cool. My mother had four siblings too. I trip out on everyone's normal sometimes. Parents, siblings, all that. And then the next guy has none of the above. Gotta love this life. 👍🏿 The poor people who have miserable parents, etc. lotsa variables. gotta love it.
Families are a complex thing mostly, although I guess they don't have to be...It's a choice.
So unique too aren't they? From the in laws to buddies, co workers. Is it just me or does it seem as we evolve we also tend to watch one here and there that we've known forever completely fall apart and lose their mind? Seems to be happening a little more regularly recently too.
You always surprise me G. Congratulations, I have heard that learning piano is hard. You are a man of many skills. Music included.
!ENGAGE 20
It pays to be a little multi-faceted and to engage with life. Sitting around like a lump of bone-filled flesh isn't my idea of living. Very few people really know me, even in real life, and I think if I was to open up some more a few people would be interested, surprised or shocked...Depending on who they were I guess. I've lived a pretty full life Mary, never shied away from new things and have tried, failed and succeeded at many things. That's what life is about. I feel sorry for those who don't do so, but it's a choice I guess.
Maybe it's not a bad thing that you didn't waste all of your energy trying to reveal 110% of who you are. Slowly opening up is more relaxing and wise because you can get to filter the right people before exposing too much. Anyway, no matter how good you are there will always be people who will not be impressed. So I think that having more skills and being yourself is the only way to go, no matter how many can see the real you
I have to slowly introduce the elements of me or the world won't be able to handle them all at once! 😆
Hahaha there are so many surprises about you that you couldn't do it any other way G.!
Trickle-feed myself to the world at large so as not to overwhelm them with my diverse and varied awesome elements...😂
😂😂
ENGAGEtokens.Cool thing about social media is you could record yourself playing and then post that and then you could be performing without actually performing XD
It's so cute that you play stuff for Faith, bet she loves being seranaded :D
That thing about being in the spotlight though XD My sibling was saying I'd be utterly hopeless if my project did actually take off and become popular because watching me attempt to cope with it would probably be hilarious.
That's true, but I'd watch it back and hate it so probably just delete it before it went live. There's reason's why I don't like playing in front of people, back a long time ago I wrote about it in a post, I think in my fist six months...It's not a pleasant story, and so these days I play if and when I feel like it and only one or two people ever hear me play.
I'm not sure if Faith would like me serenading her, my singing voice is...Well, let's just say it's good-challenged. She likes me playing for her, especially when I learn something specific. She says she's the luckiest person on the planet to have me; I wouldn't go that far, but am glad for the sentiment.
Being in the spotlight, as you say, is not always the easiest to accept. I don't like it. I hate walking across a room after a shooting event to take my prize, or having people make a fuss over me, sing happy birthday, give me gifts, call me out at a work function for productivity or making budget or whatever...I'd rather just be in the background. Seems you're the same so good luck for when you get famous! 😄