I watch the ripples change their size
But never leave the stream
Of warm impermanence and
So the days float through my eyes
Monday morning jolted us with yet another reminder of our own short tenure here. David Bowie uses the word “Impermanence” in his song “Changes” but many expressed the very permanence of his music and personality in their lives this week with the shocking realisation he was no longer there. Indeed one personality took to Twitter to say: “ I had always assumed he was immortal”.
So he leaves us and leaves a huge gap in the field of culture and music. Something that is irreplaceable. I’m not going to make tenuous links to my usual themes of Leadership and Self-Development but I did consider the man, his numerous career roles and the attributes I heard many speak about this week and thought there is something we can all reflect on and learn from:
Roles: Change Agent, Innovator, Risk Taker, Chameleon, Game Changer, Rule Breaker, Role Model, Musician, Lyricist, Producer, Actor, Trend Setter, Instigator, Influencer, Recording Artist, Figurehead, Fashion icon, Showman, Businessman, Entrepreneur, Writer, Artist, Band Leader, Explorer, Singer, Non-Conformist, Technologist, Humanitarian, Performer, Communicator, Leader.
Characteristics: Integrity, Humility, Discipline, Work Ethic, Serious, Practiced, Fearless, Self-Confident, Adaptable, Intuitive, Humorous, Charismatic, Thoughtful, Interested, Focused, Diverse, Opinionated, Challenging, Restless, Engaging, Informed, Creative, Authentic.
I still don’t know what I was waiting for
And my time was running wild
A million dead-end streets
And every time I thought I’d got it made
It seemed the taste was not so sweet
So I turned myself to face me
But I’ve never caught a glimpse
Of how the others must see the faker
I’m much too fast to take that test
Thank you for the music and everything else David Bowie. You moved fast, did so much but you were never a “faker”.