My Gen X Playlist: Everything Zen – Bush

I’ve been fortunate to receive great advice from many people throughout my life. Some advice great for the moment, others lasting a lifetime. Advice can come from the most unexpected people.

When I returned home from Japan, I was interested in shaping my own bonsai trees. My uncle is an actual authentic Japanese gardener and who better to learn from. I gave him a call. He is a quiet man, never wanting the spot light or being the center of attention. Quiet and calm. I appreciated the time he offered to teaching me.

When I arrived at his house, he already picked out a few plants for us to shape. We sat at the table, bonsai clippers in hand, studying the plants before us. I watched him move his plant in a circular motion, studying every angle. Then suddenly, he went to town clipping and shaping. I sat there waiting for a little instruction. When I politely asked for a little help, he shook his head no and I’ll never forget his words.

You have to find your own way.

What the heck? What a time to become zen. He continued to clip and shape as I stared at the plant in front of me. Apprehensive at first, I held a branch and clipped a portion off. That wasn’t so bad. I clipped another, then another again and continued working entirely by feel. When we were done, we looked at our plants side by side. His was beautiful. The slope of the branches flowed gracefully. Mine? Well, let’s just say it was. . . mine. Not like my uncle’s, but not a complete failure, either. But, as he suggested, I found my own way. As a perfectionist, it was incredibly uncomfortable jumping in like that, without blueprints, going by feel. But this taught me not everything has to be perfect and with bonsai, there really isn’t any perfection at all. There’s just the state of being. I looked at my lopsided bonsai and I was OK with it. Lopsided – in a way, a reflection of that younger version of me, searching for balance. I left his house a little inspired. I was beginning to find my own way.

In honor of my “zen uncle”, today’s song is Bush’s Everything Zen. I never understood the lyrics. Even looking at them now, they appear a little difficult to decipher.

The lyrics of “Everything Zen” are famously cryptic, but the title itself gives us a hint as to what the song is really about. The word “zen” is often associated with calmness and balance, but the phrase “everything zen” suggests that this ideal state of being is unattainable.

…a theme that is present in “Everything Zen” is the idea that you need to find your own path in life.

– OldTimeMusic

Lead singer Gavin Rossdale and my uncle couldn’t be more different. They do, however, agree on one thing. You have to find your own way. If these two guys can agree on this, it must be a good piece of advice.

–

For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

There must be something we can eat
Maybe find another lover
Should I fly to Los Angeles
Find my asshole brother

Mickey Mouse has grown up a cow
Dave's on sale again
We kissy kiss in the rear view
We're so bored, you're to blame

Try to see it once my way
Everything zen, everything zen
I don't think so
Everything zen, everything zen
I don't think so

Raindogs howl for the century
A million dollars at stake
As you search for your demigod
And you fake with a saint

There's no sex in your violence
There's no sex in your violence
There's no sex in your violence
There's no sex in your violence

Try to see it once my way
Everything zen, everything zen
I don't think so
Everything zen, everything zen
I don't think so
Everything zen, everything zen

I don't believe that Elvis is dead
I don't believe that Elvis is dead
I don't believe that Elvis is dead
I don't believe that Elvis is, Elvis is

There's no sex in your violence
There's no sex in your violence
There's no sex in your violence
There's no sex in your violence

Try to see it once my way
Everything zen, everything zen
I don't think so
Try to see it once my way
Everything zen, everything zen
I don't think so

Zen, zen
I don't think so
I don't think so
I don't think so