Fridays with Mac: "Vibrations"

Your knucklehead scribe has always admired folks who throw caution to the wind and just “Go for it.” You can go back to adventurers like Christopher Columbus, and others throughout history, who courageously step into the great unknown. Impressive.

Philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson’s once said: “Trust thyself. Every heart vibrates to that iron string within. Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind. A person should learn to detect and watch that gleam of light which flashes across the mind.” Amen dude.

John Rassman’s (above) a recent example. Born in a small Pennsylvania town near the Keystone State’s border with Ohio, the friendly fella grew up an outdoorsman. After graduating from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh in the early 80’s Rassman and wife, Amy, headed west to Colorado and began a successful graphics design company. We met one another through workouts at a Cherry Creek gym, Kinetics Fitness Studio. Rassman Design was instrumental in the “look” of A Stronger Cord’s website and promotional brochures. John and Amy are wonderful humans, devoted parents and creative souls.

Like many, once the Covid pandemic barreled into our world a few years ago, Rassman had to shift from the bustle of corporate work. He felt the tug of the “Iron string within” and began to paint. A lot. Those early childhood experiences in woods and fields inspired a middle-aged man to express himself and were a rough template that continues to be defined by the open country of Colorado and the Rocky Mountain West. As Rassman continued to create, he wondered, “Would anyone buy this stuff?”

That question was answered in resounding fashion recently when the tall and rugged gent paid for a spot in the annual Cheeseman Park Arts Festival. It was such a blessing to walk up to his tent on the morning of the event’s first day just as he was making the first sale! It ended up being a tremendous experience and has boosted Rassman’s confidence to continue what Emerson called, “Watching that gleam of light which flashes across the mind.”

This ol’ washed up television sportscaster had a similar experience in the early 80’s. In my early 20’s and living in the Mile High City, mired in a dead-end sales job and wondering what the heck the future held things changed a Sunday afternoon in December 1983. I was sprawled on my apartment couch watching iconic Denver sports anchor Ron Zappolo performing a live shot from the Broncos locker room after a come-from-behind win over the Baltimore Colts. It was Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway’s rookie season. Watching Zappolo’s enthusiastic description of the exciting game vibrated the iron string within a guy who was really searching for purpose and meaning to life after injuries waylaid plans for a professional baseball career. That gleam of light flashed through my mind, “I wanna be a sportscaster like Ron Zappolo.”

I immediately applied to the University of Missouri’s School of Journalism, somehow was accepted despite average undergrad grades and earned a master’s degree over the next two years. That kicked off an incredibly gratifying professional career which included being embedded inside the University of Colorado football program as the “Buff Guy” for, lo and behold, KCNC-TV in Denver, where Zappolo was employed.

Where might the iron string within you be vibrating heavily right now? Please don’t ignore it. To watch John Rassman, jrassmanfineart.com, work the crowd of art enthusiasts who gathered around his tent was so cool. He later shared, “I don’t know why it took so long to dive into painting and trust others might enjoy it.” Buddy, give yourself a break. Life and its unexpected detours and responsibilities often can have us pondering, “How in the heck did I end up here?” This roller coaster coined life rarely goes as we plan, right?

However, it’s NEVER too late to respond to the vibrations of the iron string within. Who cares whether others respond affirmatively? The key is, as Emerson’s emphasizes, “Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind.”

Vibrations. The emergence of our unique gifts and talents. Honor and express them!