Why I want a drumkit.
I've always wanted a drum kit, even though I'm not a drummer or have ever been able to play drums.
For the record, I'm possibly the worst drummer in the history of ever. The first caveman to beat a log with a stick was better than me and I'm ok with this. I still want some drums.
I've realised I have a personality trait where I become obsessed with being good at things. It doesn't matter what I'm doing I need to understand it completely and this takes time. I don't have so much time of these days.
So I want some drums. Not to play them well but to play them badly. Because I feel so much pressure to be good at all the things, in some way, having resigned myself to being a mediocre drummer I can just play them without feeling I'm letting myself down in some way.
I think we all need our drumkit.
We all have to be good at our jobs. Running the businesses. Reading the contracts, checking the relevant laws.
We have to be good husbands and wives, fathers and mothers. Cooking the dinner, helping with homework. The pressure to be amazing is all-consuming.
Even hitting the gym is an exercise in competition. Working the personal improvement programme, trying to be better.
When was the last time you took a walk without walking the dog? Read a book completely unrelated to personal improvement? We've lost the knack of unstructured play - of doing without purpose and I don't think it's healthy.
Some employers in Sweden are trialling 6 hour workdays which sounds like a step in the right direction. Maintaining the work/life balance is hard and we almost need to be forced into doing nothing.
That's why I want some drums. Just to let me be average and bang the drums for a bit.