In response to Matt’s “Salt & Pepper #1” about not caring what “they” think, a reader points to the lyrics of the hit 1972 song, “Garden Party,” by Rick Nelson.

The song is about Nelson getting booed during a concert at Madison Square Garden, because some of his fans didn’t like his new look and musical style.

In the chorus of the song, Nelson sings:

“But it’s all right now...  I learned my lesson well:  You can’t please everyone, so you’ve got to please yourself.”

Matt responds:

Thank you for sharing your insight and your memory of Ricky Nelson.

It’s a great example of the ways that supposedly small, inconsequential things like the way people behave at one rock concert, can shape who and what we are, not only in the short term but also in the long term.

It’s part of the destiny of who we are in this universe, that we are allowed to supposedly fail and succeed at the same time.  It’s all in the eyes and the perspective of the beholder.

We’re a stupid ass to one person but a shining beacon to somebody else.  It depends on who those people are, where they’re coming from, and what sphere they live in.

That is the spice, the serendipity, and the inconsistency of life.

We all want to make a difference.  We think we’re doing some great work in our chosen field, but the crowd may not jump up and yell, “We’re number one!” because of you...  They might be stomping their feet, telling you to get the hell off the stage!

But even if they do, you’ve gotten them in the right direction, which is to give a damn about something, whatever that something is.

I think your whole emphasis, with Rick Nelson changing his style and getting booed, is telling us that change is not going to be embraced and welcomed as a long-lost love.  Change is more than likely going to be looked on skeptically,as unacceptable, and not definable within the purview of the person looking at what you’re doing.

The real test is, how do we look on it?  What did we learn, and where are we going?

These questions are very pertinent to where our whole species is heading.

Thanks for the great reminder.

Matt