Sitting at the kitchen table. This is not only where meals are shared. It is where minds meet. Where plans are made and days are dreamt of.

In the room adjacent the kitchen, and this is a big kitchen, lives the studio. Some of the guys are working in there. It’s pretty much a revolving door. One in, laying down ideas, moving out so another can step in and take the torch.

Dinner that I made sits on the stove uneaten. It’s a big pot of veggie curry. It seems like a waste in hindsight. I hope it is enjoyed. In a home with many live many ravenous appetites, so I’m sure it will be eaten.

I sit at this kitchen table, head phones on. Some kind of deprivation. Some attempt at silence in a busy house. I sleep on the couch between the hours of 5am and 9am, that is while the rest of the house sleeps.

It’s not the best spot for sleeping but this three night sojourn into an artists music making haven was not intended for great sleep. That is fine with me.

People pass by as I write. A man, let’s call him Tee, walks into the kitchen and begins emptying the dishwasher. That is great, to share space with people who take responsibility for the cleanliness of the space. No one told him he had to do so, but knowing how things work, people contribute.

I appreciate Tee. He is the kind of person I like to work with. He is willing to help the project. He’s got big ideas. I like to think I’ve got big ideas too.

I wonder sometimes where I fit into this creative house. I am certainly not a producer like these men are. I do love to play and sing music, but there is something distinctly different about the way that I play.

And so I’m here as a bit of a tourist. I watch them work. Sometimes I dip a toe in, throw out an idea, but it is not often. To be honest, they are doing a great job without me, and I like to think I’m aware enough to realize where and where I’m not needed.

So then, where am I needed? Need, what a strong word.

I think I have an enthusiasm that can be infectious. I can inspire people to take their own pursuits more seriously. And those pursuits have nothing to do with me. So it is a bit of a thankless task. But so is the job of Tee who dries those dishes when no one is looking. Willing to do work that people will not credit you for, because it is the work that needs to be done. Because that is what the world needs. The world needs the work more than I need the recognition. But that is not entirely true. I do get recognition, and that feels nice, especially when I can comfortably receive it.

Below us live two lovely ladies. I spoke with them earlier in the day while the sun was still high. They said that they are pretending it is a concert for three days. They spoke softly, beautifully, mindfully. It was a treat for me.

This is a good group, the people that gather in this house. There is love present.

When I first arrived I was struck with massive insecurity, which happens with me sometimes in large groups, especially when they are all very talented. Maybe that’s why I wash dishes and sweep floors. I’m trying to find out where I fit in, or what I can do to help the machine function.

Now a guitar player hops on. He lays beautiful tones and textures. He has his niche. Each has their own.

That is a discovery worth making in life – finding where you fit in.

I think my role is to give love. To listen well. To not be destroyed by the fact that I am not the best at everything. To acknowledge that there is something beautiful within me that does not need proving. Helping people smile. Helping people laugh. Helping people live lighter lives – by example.

Sitting at the kitchen table. The dishes are now put away and the dirty ones take their place. The food remains uneaten.

I keep the door to the patio closed when others forget so the smell of smoke doesn’t get into the house. It’s a good practice to treat others the way you want to be treated. Tonight I’m here to close doors, thank people for thankless work, write honestly about my feelings, and enjoy warm tea, good music, and friendly faces.

What are you in for?