Contagious!

My name is Art Wild. (not to be confused with my Dad, Art Wild, retired news editor) I'm 53 years old, but my soul feels a lot younger. 53 years young, but my body feels older! (Time to get back on the health wagon) I am single, but have many friends.

The most common threads that run through my life are music and education. I am currently Music Director at Arcadia Congregational Church, UCC and work for the Los Angeles County Office of Education, as a Special Education teacher. I have written many songs, which have been used onstage in clubs, at churches, schools and in college band performances and auditions. I have yet to try to expand to the music world at large, but this year I plan on seeing how far I can go.

I kind of feel like equal parts "redneck" and "intellectual," because my Mom's side of the family is from Texas, Oklahoma and such, and many were/are farmers, ranchers and the like. (Many were also teachers.) My Dad's side is from back East and many were professors, ministers, writers and the like. It's funny, when something needs fixing around the house, my Mom is the one to do it, and when it is time to warmly entertain, chat and make people feel comfortable, my Dad is the one to do it! (but he was also an excellent boxer and athlete and by no means a "sissy.")

I have many "conservative" relatives and many "liberal" relatives. I am in no camp/side--or I am on the side of understanding and thinking for ones' self.

I am proud of my family, despite all its quirks--they helped give me a sense that it is important for people to think for themselves and to find their own way--and not to worry if they don't fit any "mold" that has been prepared for one by any person, institution or force of society.

I feel very lucky to have played in bands and orchestras (keyboards, bass, guitar and french horn) styles ranging from classical to jazz, country, rock, soul, punk, hip hop, folk, Latin, etc.

Being around such a wide group of musicians and people has really enhanced my passion and pain concerning human relations. I see so many different examples of beauty, intelligence, strength, compassion--wonderfullness--in each of us. Yet I see such misunderstanding between groups of people. It feels like being in a family you love, that is always fighting.

So, I feel a "call" to use my writing to help us see and, hopefully, (in the truest sense of the word "hope" a purposeful looking for and expecting the best) try to empathetically experience each other, so we can all better KNOW and enjoy each other. We deserve it!

My "catchphrase" is "Everything is Contagious," meaning every action we take, every word we say and every thought we have influences all around us. We always influence each other, most easily noticeable when we are in a really good or really bad mood--but we also influence with little things, including an attitude, expectation or suspicion  which, though unspoken, is still experienced by others. I think it is of ultimate importance to realize we CHOOSE our attitudes, thoughts, actions and words, and to choose them with the express purpose of blessing, healing and uplifting each other. The "uplifting" is the fun part--cause I think that there are so many ways to uplift each other, from enlightening with words of wisdom, reminding and challenging each other, in a respectful and loving way, cracking jokes, making each other laugh and cry, just enjoying good conversation, etc.

Again, my motto, which I hope I live up to here, is: "Choose only words which do one of these three things: bless, heal or uplift." I strongly believe this is key, if I am to be my best and to encourage all around me to be their best. "A good word is as easily spoken as a bad one." (I don't remember who said that)

Another of my favorite quotes: "Life is too important to be taken seriously." ~ Oscar Wilde

As the reader can tell, I love to write, I am driven to ponder and express, and can be very verbose. I need to work on being more concise, and I hope the practice I get here on Hubpages serves me well.

Well, that is all for now. If you come back and this section is shorter, you'll know my editing skills are being put to use. If it is the same length, it is probably because I haven't found the time yet to edit it!

Cheers! I look forward to reading a lot here, as well as thinking, being challenged, laughing, crying and just enjoying this great opportunity for connection and growth!

Art