Thanks all...

While we are on the topic of 'contentment', let me ask you something.

SHOULD a musician be 'content'?

Few of the great ones ever seemed to be. There's something about the drive to keep getting better, to innovate, to create, that somehow seems to interfere with this nirvana.

In many ways, I DO consider myself a discontented person. I am discontented with my arranger (it never does EVERYTHING I want it to do!), I am discontented with my playing (it sure could be better!), I am discontented with everything I have recorded (ditto!), I am discontented with my audiences (why can't they give Jimmy Buffett a rest, from time to time! )...

It kind of makes me sound like a grouch, doesn't it?

But it drives me. It drives me to work harder at controlling what I DO play, it drives me to practice every day, to reach for new ideas as much as I can, to try to grow and learn from everybody I work with, to try and make every performance, every session just a BIT better than the last one. And, of course, I am discontent because THAT doesn't always happen!

But strangely, I am a very happy person, and consider myself the luckiest guy I know! At least on MY terms, I consider myself successful beyond my wildest dreams...

So I am happy, and successful (in my eyes), but NOT 'content'.

Doctor, is there something wrong with me...?