Aspirations for Life

Expectations reduce joy. Aspirations attract it.

Sometimes the pain of observing the news, or anxieties as our situations worsen, or just the heaviness of knowing the wider suffering to come, can stifle our ability to feel joy and aspire to what’s wonderful. That isn’t always the case, as collapse acceptance can be very liberating. But even people who have fully integrated their conclusions into their lives, becoming ‘doomsters’, can feel low at times. I think there are some similarities in our romantic lives. Understandably, hurt can close us down, rather than open us up. As the new year beckons, with time off, so the change in the calendar can become a moment for us to reflect on how we might aspire to live. We don’t need to cling to any aspirations, and we don’t need to turn them into expectations. But we can decide that we don’t want to shelter ourselves from potential disappointments. Instead, we can aspire to an equanimity where we can allow excitement and aspiration to flow, unattached to outcome, and undaunted by the certainty that everything we love will disappear one day. I write these lines to remind me of this truth, as much as to share with you.

All of that as prelude to letting you know that my new single is out… the 3rd from my new group, the Barefoot Stars. You can find ASPIRATIONS, on all platforms, going direct via this link. The lyrics and tabs follow below. Big thanks to Vasudev, Adam and Mia for helping me produce the track. Subscribe to this blog for more music to come.

Aspirations

Music and lyrics by Jem Bendell. Lead and backing vocals Jem Bendell, backing vocals Mia Warner, guitar and mandolin Vasudev, piano and percussion, Adam Aldyrus. Co-produced by Jem Bendell and Adam Aldyrus.

Capo on 3

(Am Em)

Aspirations, just let them come

But expectations, help them come undone

(Am Em)

Why do I feel such emotion, having just met you

Now living my life in slow motion, clearly there’s healing to do

The pain of past hesitations, has nothing to do with you 

Under this face that I put on, clearly there’s healing to do 

Healing to do, yeah there’s healing to do.

(Dm F C Em)

Don’t you worry, anymore 

There’s no one path, that was yours 

There’s no best way, always flaws 

Yeah there’s always flaws, always flaws

(Am Em)

Why do I feel such emotion, having just met you

Now living my life in slow motion, clearly there’s healing to do

Do I imagine a podium, which my life must reach

Judging my life of devotion, so somehow it feels like defeat

But there’s no defeat, yeah there’s no defeat

(Dm F C Em)

Your past mistakes, all just were

You don’t even know, the regrets you escaped

You don’t even know, if it’s wisdom that hesitates, hesitates, yeah, hesitates

(Am Em)

Aspirations, just let them come

But expectations, help them come undone.

Like the song? It costs money to produce and release. So if you feel like it, please make a gift to our awesome organic farm school, so I don’t need to subsidise it so much.

Or… just share the song on your social media, with this message:

“This song arose from personal reflection on romantic pain, but speaks to the broader issue of healing from hurt and reviving aspiration in a time of global disruption.” @JemBendell #Aspirations #BarefootStars https://barefootstars.hearnow.com/aspirations