Photo courtesy of Michael Violago (http://michael.violago.net)
As much as we set specific goals for ourselves as a band, it’s really been all about the journey, and not an absolute destination, that has defined us as artists, as musicians, as a group.
Throughout the years that we have been together as Chapter 2, we’ve faced different sorts of challenges, ever-changing flavors of issues that have tested our resolve, our commitment to stick to pre-defined principles. And as the group evolved, so did the nature of challenges we had to face. Past solutions quickly became obsolete as the paradigm seemed to shift endlessly. And truth be told, the more the friendship between the band members deepened, the more difficult it became to maintain objectivity in dealing with such issues.
The fact that we’re all friends made the process of resolving problems a whole lot more cumbersome. The thin line between professionalism and friendship was constantly blurred. It would have been so much easier to merely look at a situation objectively, and be able to draw upon a set list of LOGICAL solutions without having to take into account people’s feelings or how they would react.
With friendship there are just too many grey areas, where the approach varies case by case: sometimes it’s a lengthy process of simply talking it out; at other times a “tough love” approach is warranted. With personalities as complicated and as fickle as the movement of the tides, an approach that had worked before doesn’t necessarily guarantee that it’ll work again given the same set of circumstances.
And we’re only talking about internal issues here. Factor in challenges brought about by external forces, and you have quite a convoluted situation potentially brewing at every corner.
All these have forced Chapter 2 to continually evolve with the ever-changing face of adversity. And throughout this “evolution” we had discovered a constant that had helped us weather through a lot of major storms – and that was a genuine respect for each other’s point of views, a willingness to set aside one’s ego, and to make sacrifices for the good of the group. It’s an acceptance that things are never going to be perfect, but that we could still appreciate the journey together as a family, adjusting along the way as we throw away the playbook and simply live day to day, dealing with whatever life brings. How ironic is it that we find ourselves coping with evolution by remaining true to ourselves.
I admit there are days when I wish there was an “easier” way to deal with all the issues that confront Chapter 2. But at the end of the day, when all is said and done, I’m guessing it’d be better to be valued for your friendship than all the musical accolades and recognition you may have managed to achieve in your lifetime. Still, everyday’s a struggle.
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