Giving Back (A Better Resolution)

In fairness, I wrote "Giving Back" eleven years ago, but this seemed like a great time to bring it back......

For those who remember the late, great George Harrison, their memory might be reserved to his time as a Beatle.? Of course, John was the “smart one”, Paul was the “cute one”, and Ringo was the “funny one”.? If we go by those descriptions then George, although called “the quiet one”, in reality must have been the “good one”.? By most any definition, he was a fine man.? He always looked to find the best in everyone, studied various religions from around the world and took something “good” from each one.? He then shared what he learned both in words and in his actions.

After his best friend, and my personal musical idol, Eric Clapton had an affair with his wife, he took her back forgivingly.? A few years later, when EC stole her away again and married her, the two men remained steadfast friends.? In fact, their friendship far outlasted their two marriages to Patti Boyd combined.?? That’s forgiveness by any definition.? The Concert for George, one year to the day after his death from lung cancer, was organized by Clapton.?

?He said that “forgiveness is love”, and when you consider that very simple statement, and see how he demonstrated forgiveness in such a formidable, public and visible manner, it’s obvious he believed what he said.? So, when he sang of peace on Earth, love for all, avoiding hate, sharing his gains in the material world, etc., it’s easy to believe that he honestly felt, or tried to feel that way in life.

?If you think of someone using his music philanthropically you pretty much have to begin the conversation with George Harrison.? The two shows he organized and performed in at Madison Square Garden in August of 1971, filmed and recorded as The Concert for Bangladesh was a touchstone.? The idea of bringing together a bunch of superstars, and that is no overstatement, to perform together free of charge to earn money for a cause that most knew nothing about, was incomprehensible. Who, besides a UNICEF employee had much knowledge of the starving refugees of the Bangladesh Liberation War??

?The performers sound like a Rock and Roll Encyclopedia, with Harrison bringing in Bob Dylan, Clapton, Leon Russell, Billy Preston, Ringo Starr, Klaus Voorman, Jim Keltner, and many others.? Today, whenever there’s a natural disaster or similar circumstance, many follow the lead that Harrison took when he decided to help out the cause of his friend Ravi Shankar.? (As an aside, and to perhaps modernize this for a younger audience, the 90 year-old Shankar happens to be the illegitimate father of singer Norah Jones.) Old guys rule.?

?That was far from the only charitable effort that George made in his career. George was a philanthropist throughout his career until his death.? His songs remained meaningful and thoughtful and described the way that we should live our lives.? Truly, they described the way he lived his life. He was no hypocrite.? Isn’t there a notable irony that Paul McCartney, “the cute one” is also the one with the title of Sir preceding his name? That was a rhetorical question.? No need to answer.

?One of my favorite Harrison songs, from the All Things Must Pass album was Isn’t It a Pity.? In that song, the critical line describing a pity was “forgetting to give back”.? That sounds so holier-than-thou to say, but the words are completely true.? In fact, as a young(er) man I probably didn’t completely buy into that vision, but things change, and I’ve tried to live by different rules as I get older.? Believe me when I say that the self-centeredness of youth changes as you age, and your perspectives change.

?As we begin a new, and I’m sure, better year, we should take those words to heart. Instead of making resolutions to lose weight, quit smoking, stop drinking, (like that’s going to happen), or some other self-improvement venture, just try to help someone else.? It can be in small ways, or if you are so inclined, perhaps in huge ways as well.? The most important thing is to not be selfish.?

?When I see all of the self-promoting, egotistical performers today, regardless of the genre, I always think how much better it would be if they would spend just a bit of that energy trying to do something to make the world better for others.? Speaking of himself, Harrison said, “I wanted to be successful, not famous”.? When you think about it, talent, like cream, rises to the top.? Whatever you do, if you do it well enough, you will be successful.? If you’re successful as a performer, that success will likely manifest itself in fame.? The self-promotion should be unnecessary if you measure success the right way.? Another great line that describes this very thing was, “when you’ve seen beyond yourself, then you may find, peace of mind is waiting there”.

?Of course, there are also many who have, at least to some degree followed suit.? There are still charitable concerts and events organized all the time and that, to me, is an awesome legacy.? It really is love for others that will make a difference, this year, or any year.? One last Harrison quote is so true, “with our love, we could save the world”.? It doesn’t have to be famous musicians, actors, or athletes that make the difference.? They aren’t the only ones that can save the world.? They can only be examples for us all.? So make that your resolution for the New Year.? George would be proud.