We All Should Care

Accept the call for a deeper purpose.

If you look above you’ll see the one thing I wear on my body that I almost NEVER take off. I actually have two of them, one on each wrist.
I feel naked without them, honestly. I am proud to say that I am a Spencerian! Everywhere I go, anyone that talks to me for more than five minutes will, as a result, learn about Spencer Bell.
Just because I’m not writing about him, doesn’t mean that I’m not talking about him. You’d be hard pressed to find one day in which his name, his music, or his quotes aren’t passing my lips.
I love, more than anything, to read people’s stories about him, to know that as amazing as he is, he was/is just like each of us.
Flawed, yet beautiful.
There are days, I find myself in a situation, where I’m not sure what to do, so I ask myself. WWSD? Because I think, even as young as he was, he had it figured out. Hell, a lot better than I do at any rate. He knew to just grab life and enjoy the ride.
For some of us, that’s scary, right? To just let go and BE.

“…..I stomp down on the gas and go really, really fast…..” ~Spencer Bell

Sometimes, we need to throw caution to the wind, and just do what makes us happy, Spencer has taught me that, among so many other things.

I owe that man several beers.. one day, Spence .. me, you, and one hell of a hangover the next day.

There is only a handful of people that will die and literally bring me to my knees. When I heard that Adam Goldstein, known as DJ AM to the masses, had passed away at the too-young age of 36, I crumbled. I cried bawled and crawled under my covers, trying to make the world disappear, not wanting to believe the truth.

Adam was nothing personally to me; he was someone that I looked up to as a musician. He was someone I had exchanged a few MySpace messages with, but I did not have the good fortune of knowing him personally or even ever getting a chance to see him spin live.

My best friend and I had a bit of a joke when it came to DJ AM – Every time he heard I was coming to Vegas (where he spent his DJ residency) he ran. Most literally every time that I was in Las Vegas (all six times, thus far) he was not there.

Last year after hearing of Adam and Travis Barker’s near death plane crash, I counted my lucky stars that they both survived. Two of my favorite people, two people I admire, two outstanding musicians. I thought to myself, “what would happen if the world… if I… lost one of them?” I ended up putting that thought into the back of my mind, thinking I wouldn’t have to retrieve it any time soon. Unfortunately, I was wrong.

I’ve heard from many people that they didn’t know who DJ AM was, which is a shame. Unfortunately, people will cling to him now that he’s gone. Obsessing over how fanatic they were of him while he was here.

Those people don’t know Adam. They don’t know that he collected sneakers.

That he loved his cat with all his heart.

That Travis was not just his music collaborator, but his best friend.

That his favorite watch burned up in the plane crash last year.

That he was a genuinely a good-hearted person who had been through his fair share of near death experiences, hardships, loves, break ups and turmoil.

Dear Adam,

Rock on, man.

[[photos courtesy of myspace.com/djamone]]

This post was inspired not only by Spencer Bell, but also a very dear friend of mine, who shall remain nameless, yes he knows who he is.
Today, I was speaking to said friend, and he said to me that he was going to be forced to do grunt work for the rest of his days, instead of making a living creating music. Now, the entire time I have known him, I have always said that he could aspire to greatness. Potentially many of us could, if we just TRY. Stop settling for mediocre and luke warm.
Search out the passion, the heat, the FIRE and go for it.
I politely, but firmly reminded him that in the words of Spencer, there is NO Plan B. Read Spencer’s thoughts on it below:

My friend then asked me, if I thought there was still a chance he could do something with music.
I simply replied “As long as you’re breathing.”
Remember this…
Never give up.
Never give in.
Always, always push yourself harder than you think you are capable of, go further than you think you can. Then once you have climbed that mountain, and you look back down over the trail you have carved up the side of it, you will truly KNOW where you’ve been. By token it will also show you where you can go. Which is, anywhere you set your mind and your heart on.

In the words of Louise Driscoll:

I’ve always heard one of the million things that sets us apart from other mammals is our ability to dream, our ability to pursue those dreams. Do you want to let your dreams fade, and wonder what if?
Or do you want to be able to say “I gave it everything I had.”
I choose the latter of the two.
What ifs, maybes , could I? They will consume you, and eat you alive.
Don’t let that happen.
Remember, if you have a passion, there is NO Plan B.

If you wish to learn more about Spencer, please click his name above, he is amazing, a lighthouse in a tumultuous storm.

[[Image courtesy of google images, Spencer Bell words courtesy of spencerbellmemorial.ning.com]]

While most people might find it strange that I’m writing a “soap box” about water, anyone who knows me will not find this odd. I am a self-proclaimed huge fan of water. I very rarely drink soda ever – and if I do its club soda, which is basically just fizzy water, right? How some people make it through their lives never drinking water frustrates and confuses me. Water is the purest form of happiness to me. To drink a glass of [filtered] ice water is bliss.

Anyone else who is a fan of water has his or her preferences. I would rather die from thirst than to drink tap water. I loathe it. It makes me cringe. Someone once had the guts to tell me that you couldn’t tell the difference between bottled/filtered water and tap water. They are unfortunately no longer with us because I had to kill them from their stupidity. Anyone with a mouth can taste the difference between tap and bottled/filtered water.

I will go one up from there and say that there are even some brands of bottled water that I dislike. Dasani, being the main one. Now, if it’s 110 degrees and there’s nothing but a Coke machine around – I will drink Dasani if I HAVE to. (And I mean there better not be another place to get water within ten miles of me.) There’s just something about it that tastes bitter. It has a bit of a scent as well, it leaves a little something in your mouth and no matter how cold it is, it still doesn’t taste good. (Not to mention that it’s water made by a Coke company. That’s a whole other rant right there.)

There’s much to debate about bottled water vs a tap filter or a Brita pitcher. My entire childhood I was spoiled with a Brita pitcher. For “green” reasons, a Brita pitcher, tap filter attachment or the water that comes from your icemaker in your refrigerator is better. They’re all reusable and help the environment by not creating more unused plastic waste.

I personally still prefer bottled water. If you recycle it can’t be that bad. At least you’re doing your part after you have your delicious drink! My personal favorite bottled waters are almost all Nestlé. Pure Life, Arrowhead, Ozarka, Perrier… my only other favorite that isn’t a Nestlé brand is Figi. The reason why I love these waters (besides the fact that Perrier just fascinates me…) is because they are crisp, clean and taste like nothing. If I’m drinking water and it tastes like nothing, smells like nothing, then they got it right because that’s what water should taste like.

[[image courtesy google.com/images]]

Spencer Bell has left behind so many profound words. His lyrics are powerful, and the song “Dandelions” is no exception. In fact, it’s one of my favorites.
Don’t let life pass you by, enjoy it, take it with a grain of salt, none of us get out alive anyway, sit back, enjoy the ride. I’m sure we could all take away something different, and that is what I take away from it.
Spencer had a way of putting things, so that all of us could get it.
I love that. Blunt, straight forward and to the point.
“To all our friends who will meet us at the end.”
I don’t know what supremely awaits me after this life, we can’t know with certainty. Whatever it is, I hope Spencer is there on the other side with a cold beer and is ready to do some talking.
If you’d like to know more about Spencer, please visit his Legacy site by clicking on his name at the top of this post.
And if you’d like to donate to help fund adrenal cancer research, please click HERE. We can make a difference!

[[Image provided by and property of spencerbellmemorial.ning.com]]

I chose Spencer’s “It Wouldn’t Be So Bad”, poem for the inspiration for this post today,for several reasons.
You can see it in it’s entirety here: It Wouldn’t Be So Bad
A huge part of it, is that it touched someone very close to me, and I absolutely love that I was able to introduce her to Spencer.
Jode Platz ia a musician herself, and she loves music to the point of distraction, so she really relates to this piece in a personal way.
I think another part of it, is that I adore music myself, there have been times, when I wasn’t hiding in a book, I was hiding in music. (Strictly on a listening level, unless you’re referring to my ability to dance around the house, singing into my hairbrush, or singing loudly along with the radio).
So, I too, can relate on a smaller scale. I tend to also apply the mentality to my passions, if I were to slip away while writing or reading, perhaps that would be a smooth transition for me, because it is such a big part of who I am.
If you’d like to know more about Spencer, please visit here: Spencer Bell Memorial, and/or, if you’d like to make a donation to the Adrenal Cancer Research fund, please go here: DONATE! Every contribution is deeply appreciated.

[[image courtesy of google.com/images]]

I decided, that today, I am going to let SPENCER’S words speak for themselves:

There isn’t anything I can add to this,or say about it, without taking away from it and that is the last thing I would ever want.
Please go check out his other art at THE MUSIC LIVES ON or donate to research in his honor: ADRENAL CANCER RESEARCH Every donation is sincerely appreciated. Together, we can make a difference.

[[The original work is the creation of, copyrighted, and owned by Spencer Bell, courtesy of spencerbellmemorial.ning.com]]
[[Image courtesy of google.com/images]]

I have read Spencer’s words so many times, yet each time I do, I either happen upon a piece that I identify with, or that I finally just “get” if that makes sense.
The one I read today, that I want to post about is WHEN I PAINT (Click on the name to read it).
He talks about how he really doesn’t over think his pieces, but they make sense to HIM. I feel that way a lot, but also for me, when I’m writing, I tend to not think much at all. I let my soul do the writing, and basically what happens is a kind of beautiful magic.
Because the piece conceives and births itself.
After reading Spencer’s words, I get the odd sensation, that he felt the same way at times.
If you’d like to read more of his prose, please do! And tell a friend!
Go to THE MUSIC LIVES ON!
If you want to donate to help fund the research of the disease that took him away so young, please visit: ADRENAL CANCER RESEARCH. Any and all donations are appreciated.

[[Image courtesy of spencerbellmemorial.ning.com]]

The piece of SPENCER’S that I want to talk about today is: ADDICTIONS you can read it by clicking the name.
It’s basically talking about how he must be addicted to writing, and believe me, I know how that feels, all too well. It’s a walk that I take several times daily.
Without my words, who would I be?
Would I even exist?
Sometimes I wonder if I do exist on the same plane as everyone else,because it seems as if I can’t reach people even when it feels as if I’m shouting.
I often wonder if Spencer felt that way. Perhaps he did.
If you want to know more about Spencer, or familiarize yourself with more of his art, (and you should it’s awe inspiring) then please visit The Music Lives On, and if you can find it within your heart, and your pockets, to donate to the cause, to support the research of the disease that took his life, please go to: Adrenal Cancer Research Every donation is extremely appreciated.

When I saw this piece of art, I kind of clicked with it. Like I have said many times, I’m sure I don’t take away exactly what the artist has in mind, when I look at art, but I love to hear the varying interpretations of my work,so I can hope that others feel the same way.
Spencer Bell was an amazing artist, is a beautiful soul, and this piece was something that like so many other things I’ve seen of his, may stem from something so few of us learn that young in life.
The key to peace, to acceptance, to unconditional love, to ending racism, or bigotry of any kind,the key to tolerance, starts before birth, essentially. It lies with your parents, the creators of your PHYSICAL form. That is not to say, that if you’re raised around bigots, or fighting, that you can’t make the decision for yourself to be different, I did just that. However, parents are very influential,and some people can’t bring themselves to fight against narrow-minded mentality,even if it’s their own. Hell,most especially if it’s their own.
This world is made up of diversity, none of us are exactly alike, and I find that beautiful. I don’t care what religion you are, what color your skin is, whether you’re tall or short, chunky or thin, everyone has the potential to be beautiful. Beauty for me, is about peace,love,understanding,empathy,compassion,tolerance,knowledge,intelligence, so many things rolled into one.
When will we,as a HUMAN race, understand that the Key to Peace is within reach, it is within ourselves?

If you want to see more of Spencer’s Art, click on his name above,and if you’d like to contribute to research about Adrenal Cancer, the disease that took his life, please, go here: RESEARCH All donations are greatly appreciated.

[[Image courtesy of spencerbellmemorial.ning.com]]