Here’s what I’ve been thinking about lately. In regards to the wine trade, the wine world, the wine profession and wine enthusiasm in general. What I have been witnessing, in real time, perplexes me, just a little. And more because of my reaction than anything I’ve observed from others. Let’s jump right in, shall we?
Ok, here’s my starting point. When we are working, many of us are all in. I was. Totally. And my life had a rhythm. I see that “rhythm” now more as a pattern than a journey. And I say that because, I thought my life had meaning, a purpose. I usually paraphrased it as something like this: “Well, what I am doing had little or nothing to do with war. It’s wine. It helps people ease into the good life, with good times and hopefully a corner of peace, if only for a meal, or a moment.” Yeah, I had convinced myself that I had found my right livelihood.
And to a large degree, it was right. It was competitive. But there was a world community. I had “friends” all over the world, as we had all banded together to make the world a better place. And that place usually had plenty of wine flowing.
Fast forward to today. And while I don’t want to pick on any one person, I’ve grabbed some random examples from folks still out there in the trenches, working it. I am attempting to find a way to see how folks, here and now, are approaching their day-to-day work in the wine trade. And how it manifests as they tell their stories about their journey.
Several professionals have been traveling around to the various wine shows in Italy, France and Germany. In between, they’ve met winemakers in those countries, at their wineries. Long, elaborate tastings and even longer lunches and dinners. All displayed on social media platforms, for all to see.
It’s a moment-by-moment recounting of their lives at work and how it interfaces with their sometimes-private lives. Maybe a fancy hotel or business class airplane seat. Maybe a quick shopping jaunt, or an artistic diversion into a church or a museum. Maybe a shot at something beautiful, a vineyard, an incredible lunch array, a natural scene, maybe a mountain or a stream. In other words, The Truman Show. But pretty joyful, even if it seems kind of ego-centric.
And many of us are doing it. Nonstop. Or as George Harrison lyricized it so beautifully:
All through the day
I me mine, I me mine, I me mine
All through the night
I me mine, I me mine, I me mine
Now they're frightened of leaving it
Everyone's reading it
Comin' on strong all the time
That comin’ on strong part? That’s the part that trips me up.
Look, my career was, in large part, over, before The Age of Social Mediatook over our private and professional lives. We went to work, we came home, we made dinner for our kids, read them a book or two, put them to bed, maybe watched a little TV, maybe worked a little, maybe read a book, and went to bed. And did it again, “all through the day,” as Mr. Harrison wrote.
I’m bemused by the times we peer into someone’s life. Sometimes it’s a mirror. Sometimes it’s a movie. It seems odd to have that window into so many people’s “journey.” I mean, do we really need all that input? How does it make one feel? Kindred? Jealous? Befuddled? Amused? Influenced? Desensitized? Validated?
If it were me, and I were in a position of authority, I’d probably not show the whole world that much of the “Living My Best Life” parts. For one, the HR department could probably be watching. Or any other number of hackers, peering eyes or miscreants who might know where I live, and knowing that I am out of town for a month or so, might want to peer a little less virtually and a little more actually into my concrete life. Like breaking into my home(s). or stealing my car. Or hacking my work computer.
Here's the deal. It might look like one is simply letting the world know what a great time they are having. And yay, for that! After all, the last two years have been brutal to all of us. But the opportunity for those who want to keep the ball rolling, in regards to making our lives miserable, by causing havoc, is only made easier when we leave all these little breadcrumbs on that yellow brick road we call our journey.
Oh sure, there’s some ego involved. And for some, a good measure of narcissism is part of their daily dose of living. I mean, who doesn’t want to let the world know that you’ve won, you’ve overcome all the odds, you’ve succeeded. I get that.
In the past, we might have been advised to get a photo album and fill it up. Or maybe make a memory book. Or a journal.
Oh yeah, not now. Not today. We’re in that darn ‘ol age of social media. Yeah, I forget some things sometimes.
Oh, there’s another solution! Stop.
Stop looking at what others are doing and reclaim your life. Walk away from the computer. Put the phone in your pocket, your purse, a drawer, anywhere. Away. And get back to your journey. I mean, are these people influencing you in any way? Oh, I know, it’s good to stay in touch with your “friends.” Yeah, all 2,525 of the ones you “made” on Facebook? Or all 7,035 of those you “follow” on Twitter or Instagram? Yeah, those “friends.”
Hey, I’m not trying to be cynical. I am really trying to work this out for myself, and I’m whiteboarding in front of all y’all. How so very “age of social Media” of me, n’est-ce pas?
But if this is something some of you have been musing over, maybe this rumination of mine might have some import for others as well. I don’t know that. But here I am, ruminating away at over 1,000 words.
Look, I really don’t care if you had vitello tonnato (for the umpteenth time) in your newest “favorite” trattoria in the Langhe. Or if that old bottle of Krug Champagne goes fabulously well with the wonderful oysters just brought in from the coast of France. Or that you actually got to taste a vertical of Romanée Conti, again! This does nothing to enhance my journey. But if it makes you feel better, have at it, cowboy.
As George Harrison says:
All I can hear
I me mine, I me mine, I me mine
Even those tears
I me mine, I me mine, I me mine
No one's frightened of playing it
Everyone's saying it
Flowing more freely than wine
Did someone say wine?
