It’s hard to know when to stop. But as one of my favorite quotes says, the world will ask who you are, and if you don’t know, it will tell you.
That time may be near for Paul Simon. The Simon of Simon and Garfunkel. The Simon behind so many solo hits.
The thrill of large crowds singing along to Kodachrome and our old friend darkness—that kind of joy does not fade easy. When you have lived at such great heights, I imagine it is tough to come back to earth with the rest of us. Retirement for someone like Simon is not just a career decision. It is an identity shift.
He already stepped away once. Came back. And now? The road is pushing back. Chronic back pain forced him to cancel two shows in Philadelphia.
I admire those who keep showing up. I admire those who know when to sit it out. But the real art might be in knowing which one you are, and when.
So, how do you know? When do you push through, and when do you put it down?
Let me know in the comments, and check out more at jamesabrown dot net.
On that note, I’m James A. Brown, and as always, be well.
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