The Glen Campbell Brain Worm

Ugh, I did it. Yesterday's post, filled with lofty and noble visions of kindness, could have fueled me through the rest of the day filled with love for mankind. Instead all it did was fill my head with Glen Campbell's Try A Little Kindness. It's still there this morning. It's a brain worm.

For those of you too young to remember, Glen Campbell was a superstar in the 1970's. He made the crossover from country music to popular music and movies even before Dolly Parton did. He played the part in True Grit that Matt Damon plays in the current remake of that classic. Along with Try A Little Kindness, he had hits with Rhinestone Cowboy, Galveston, Wichita Lineman and a host of others. For several years he had a weekly music/variety show on TV called The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour. I was an avid viewer. Yes, it was a little hokey, particularly the obligatory comedy sketches that this type of show featured. But, in the pre-MTV days, it was one of the few ways fans had a chance to see musical stars performing their hits. Each week Glen had guest stars perform on the show; it was one of the highlights of my week.

Glen wasn't alone in this type of show. Of course Ed Sullivan was the prototype, but Johnny Cash, Sonny and Cher, Flip Wilson, Judy Garland, Dean Martin and many others hosted their own weekly programs at one time or another. Check out YouTube sometime for some pretty incredible songs performed on these shows, captured in the moment, never repeated. Like Judy Garland performing duets with Barbra Streisand, Bobby Darrin and others. Incredible.

But back to Glen ("just shine your light for everyone to see..." running in my head.) One week his guest was Bobby Sherman. THE BOBBY SHERMAN. The one who I adored, whose photos from Tiger Beat Magazine were plastered all over the walls of my room. He sang Julie, Do You Love Me, dancing around in a gorgeous suit with a wide lavender tie. I must tell you that we had a black and white TV, so the fact that I saw the tie in lavender tells you just how powerful this image is for me. All because of Glen Campbell.

So thank you, Glen. Because my memories of The Goodtime Hour are so wonderful, I choose to overlook the fairly recent episode when you were arrested for intoxication and your police photo was plastered over the internet, and I try not to remember any details of your tumultuous and violent relationship with Tanya Tucker years ago. I will try a little kindness. Oh shoot, there it goes again.

Try A Little Kindness

So here I am, day two of my adventure, writing about whatever is on my mind in hopes that this exercise brings new ideas. Thanks so much to those of you who sent encouraging comments on my first post; you are fueling my fire. 

"And now let us welcome the new year, full of things that have never been." Rainer Maria Rilke

I, too, love New Year's Day, because it sets a tone, if only for one day, of hopefulness and a positive outlook for the days ahead. This year I sat and pondered about 2011, trying to set achievable goals for myself, ones that would improve my quality of life. Yes, losing weight and regular exercise are always there, but this year I am also thinking about my state of mind. Did you know that the ability to think about what you are thinking is one of the characteristics that separates man from animals? But, let's not go there. 

My yoga instructor, Lisa, would be so happy to know that I actually listen to what she says and that these things stay with me for days and weeks afterward. She tells us to be kind to ourselves; not to be critical when we can't do a pose "right" or to its full extent, which makes me think about kindness in general. What has happened to kindness? Where did it go and when did it become a sign of weakness? Our society is bitter, critical and mean-spirited; kindness is in hiding and underrated. Just think about the last time someone said or did something for you that was kind. I would be willing to bet that you not only felt good but also a little surprised to be treated so well. The fact that an act of kindness is a surprise is a sad commentary.

If I have any resolution for this new year, it will be to try to surprise people with kindness as often as I can. I received a “Happy New Year” email from a friend last week which ended with this thought, “Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.” So I have decided that, even though I may have to bite my tongue in half and my inner voice may be shouting a perfect, sarcastic, witty comeback, I am going to strive to be kinder than necessary. And sometimes the kindest thing we can say or do is nothing; those who know me will know that is the hardest battle of all.