Bob Dylan | Wellness Secrets of a SuperAger

I am resending this on the blog as my Christmas present to you. My girlfriend gave me a Yoda hoodie for Christmas with the quote – “Try not. Do, or do not. There is no try.”

Those were Yoda’s words to Luke Skywalker in The Empire Strikes Back when Luke was stuck, unsuccessful and becoming frustrated with his failure. Luke precipitated that fabulous quote when he said, “Okay, I’ll give it a try.”

I always liked Yoda’s words. There seemed to be a deep meaning to them. How can you do something without trying? I never quite got what it was, but I always sensed there was a profound meaning in there some place. I don’t know how many years ago I heard that quote. It was in a movie theater when that particular installment of the Star Wars Trilogy was showing. Surely more than 10 years have gone by, maybe 20. Anyway, I finally got it.

I was riding my bicycle yesterday afternoon and just kind of playing with the idea of trying. What does it mean to try? That happens a lot when I am riding. I have told people that riding is my meditation. It just happens to burn calories. I don’t ride the bike for that, though. I do it because I love riding. Everything else is just gravy.

That’s how I finally got Yoda’s message.
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I got into Bob Dylan in the mid-60’s which seems fortuitous as he was writing what I consider his best stuff then. It’s hard to believe this stripling of a kid could pen Blowin’ in the Wind and The Times They Are A-Changin’ while still in his 20’s.

My first wife was due to give birth to our son at that time. She loved listening to Dylan, so I bought her a couple of his albums to enjoy while home doing newborn duties. Over the course of that year Mr. Tambourine man sang many songs to me. His raspy voice spilling out vivid words and images introduced me to this incredible poet/troubadour and I became a fan, too. (Yet another example of doing something for someone else and gaining from it yourself. See the kindness tags at right.)

The is the cover of Dylan’s 1964 album The Times They Are A-Changin’

For some reason on a recent bike ride some of his words popped into my head and decided not to leave. As I pedaled along the lakefront He not busy being born is busy dying ran through my mind, over and over. The lyrics are from the 1965 hit It’s Alright, Ma, I’m Only Bleeding. President Jimmy Carter liked that “Being born…” line so much he used it in his Inauguration speech. Global warming guru Al Gore said it was his most favorite quotation.
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