Adagio

The idea of lumbering along has never appealed to me, at least in the negative connotation.

PHOTOS BY JEFFERY NOBLE

After-dinner celebrations following Henry Brockman’s Farm Dinner with Chef Josh Adams

Nothing can happen soon enough.

The tempo of progression can be so frustrating but it is very necessary.

I’m not sure how I had this intuition at a younger age but I’ve always said that when I turn 40 (I’ll be 37 in January 2022), that’s when I’d hit my stride.

Why? Because my life is one of Adagio.

My career has been a long strange road of on- and off-site, high and low value contributions to many places that have left a lasting impression on me. I’ve never felt the need to ‘jump the gun’ and open a place.

But my Adagio has been a journey of searching.

…continuous searching for teachers, for friends and allies, for a defining moment that would be a sort of North Star for me.

Slow isn’t always bad. It really ensures that you can climb the ladder of personal success without it leaning against the wrong wall.

Adagio For Strings by Samuel Barber

I’ve been listening to this piece of music non-stop for a month. To me, it embodies my journey. It reminds me of hesitancy and lack of confidence…but with continued attempts at achievement and many failures.

The theme of a rising melody, like walking up stairs, continues over and over, slowly.

Many times reaching what would seem to be…disappointment.

A slow journey but a progressing journey.

For a few minutes, the melody becomes more confident and intense with continued rise and fall.

Around the five-minute mark, something happens and this very slow journey deepens, and builds and builds till a climax hits at 6:33.

And continues until minute seven where all goes silent. This part is truly incredible. The journey, learning, successes and failures reach a part where some sort of self realization happens. What that looks like, I do not know…but often, it’s not what you’d expect.

The rest of the piece is peace.

A rest of sorts. A place of not striving for expectance, ego or success but peace.