Milt’s Mindful Moment #9

Part 2 of 2!

It’s the beginning of a new year and a new quarter or semester. We’re refreshed from a much-needed break and we’re either excited or fearing what comes next. Course, it’s probably a little of both. When we left off, we were looking a bit deeper at Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy”. So, instead of waxing something philosophical about the holidays and going back into the rehearsal room, let’s just dive right back in and pick up where we left off, because now’s the chance to reboot and give yourself a gift (OOPS, I did make that holiday reference). We’d just finished talking about the chorus.

“Come on now, who do you, who do you, who do you think you are?”

That mocking question echoes the illusion of control we think we have, the belief that perfect planning or relentless effort can offset systemic dysfunction. Yet, no matter how skilled or devoted we may be, forces like poverty, trauma, and policy shifts remain beyond our reach. The laughter in that lyric isn’t just derision; it’s recognition. We’re not in control and that’s both terrifying and freeing.

“My heroes had the heart to lose their lives out on a limb…”

This lyric captures the nobility and tragedy of music education. The best of us gives ourselves completely and we constantly risk emotional exhaustion to connect, to inspire, to make a difference. But the line carries a warning: the heart that gives everything can also break. Without self-care, reflection, and support, “heart” becomes a liability rather than a gift. Quick reminder of that great quote attributed to Henry Ford: “Givers have to set limits because takers rarely do.”

In the end, “Crazy” doesn’t resolve its tension. It leaves us wondering if “crazy” is a confession or a badge of honor. For us, maybe it’s both. Maybe “crazy” is loving your students enough to keep showing up, even when you’re stretched thin. Maybe it’s daring to care in a world that often doesn’t care back. The lesson of “Crazy” is not about losing your mind: it’s about reclaiming it. It’s a reminder that passion without preservation leads to burnout, but awareness and authenticity lead to balance. In the end, it’s not crazy to care deeply. What’s crazy is thinking you can do it alone.

Have a great, new beginning. Make music. Change lives.