Approach life with a drummer's grip.

You don't hold the sticks too tightly. You don't grip and clench. You leverage gravity and air instead.

When a drummer strikes the snare, they aren’t in complete control of every degree of the drumstick’s movement—not in the traditional sense. There's a small gap in their hands, a loose grip, that lets the stick fall naturally with the motion of their arm.

They maintain control by trusting gravity and understanding the forces beyond themselves. They recognize that their power lies in their ability to work with these forces, not against them.

This technical approach has applications far beyond drumming. Speaking for myself: whenever I try to hold on to something too tightly in an effort to control it—whether it’s a relationship, a job, or the pursuit of a goal—I find myself met with strain and uneasiness. The harder I grip, the harder things become.

When I hold things more loosely, when I flow with forces outside my control, I notice things falling into place more gracefully. Allowing life to unfold brings ease.

Sometimes this means viewing roadblocks as blessings. Other times, it means adjusting your approach—or even changing your goal altogether.

Gripping tightly gives us the illusion of control, but the drummer's grip reminds us that holding on loosely actually allows for greater control, skillfulness, and harmony in life.