The Year of the Octopus
Taking Full Ownership of All my Desires in 2025
Welcome to the first issue of Where Pianos Roam in 2025!
It looks a bit different around here with a new logo and some updated colors. I wanted to freshen everything up a bit. Yellow has always been my favorite color, and because I literally live inside a forest here in Middle Tennessee, the color green seems to embody the spirit and timbre of my life right now. With this new look, I will continue to provide all the thoughtful writing, art, and music you have come to expect.
From now on, paid subscribers will have access to my full archive of newsletter issues. All new issues will get cycled into a paywall after a month. Paid subscribers will also get an extra issue on the first day of every month (starting in February) with full details on upcoming releases and a free download of something new. (I have a lot that I am cooking up this year.)
Please consider becoming a paid subscriber this year. Annual subscriptions are available for $30, and monthly subscriptions are $5/month. (These are the lowest amounts that Substack will allow.) All proceeds go toward producing my music, films, and art. Every cent helps if you have some to spare.
So now, on with the show . . .
Perspective. This is something I am always trying to find. There is a part of my brain that is constantly questioning how I am doing and if I am using the unknowable amount of time I have left in my life wisely and thoughtfully.
At this moment, I think I might be an octopus, but I should probably clarify this. (I seem to be enamored of all kinds of creatures though, such as ferociously cuddly cats, dragons, dinosaurs, Snorlax, Godzilla, one-eyed monsters . . . )
Recently, I came across a Substack article by writer and entrepreneur Dave Kang that explains the ideas behind living what he calls the "Octopus Life." This perspective immediately struck an unusual chord with me (minor and dissonant, just how I like it).
As a wee little Filipino boy, I was always asked "What do you want to do when you grow up?" This question implied that I needed to choose only one occupation to pursue as an adult. In college, I had to declare a major and take multiple classes that fell within that specific area of study. In my case, that was video and film production. All arrows pointed to specialization.
I have read books that touted spending 10,000 hours to get good at one thing. At social gatherings, people often ask what I do for a living. If I was a proctologist for example, that occupation would simplify and largely explain what they needed to know about me (mostly poop). There is this prevailing notion that we each must become experts at one skill and then be defined by it. I would like to poopoo all of that.
My reality is more layered, nuanced, and complex than simply choosing one occupation to which all would be devoted. Long-time readers here at WPR know I am an active musician, performer, singer, and songwriter. I am also learning how to play the ukulele. In college, I studied to become a film director which is an occupation that oversees the script, casting, locations, cinematography, dialogue, audio, music score and soundtrack, costuming, special effects, editing, and the overall vision. I also love to draw and design visual art—on top of being a gardener, photographer, web designer, video editor, avid reader, cat daddy, proud weirdo, and writer.
I have a multitude of long-term interests that inform and inspire each other.
Here are some of the relevant qualities of an octopus that Kang outlined in his article:
Have the highest brain-to-body mass ratio of all invertebrates
8 arms that can operate in unison or independently
2/3 of its brain neurons are in the arms
Can change color to camouflage themselves
Inquisitive and curious
Have no bones, thus are extremely flexible and can contort into a variety of spaces
Independent and self-sufficient
Exhibit complex learning, memory, and problem solving skills
Are escape artists that hate being contained
To go deeper, here are the qualities he sees in "Octopus People:"
Have many diverse interests they explore simultaneously
These interests can overlap or be completely disparate
Curious, inquisitive, exploratory personality
Highly adaptable/flexible
Independent and self-sufficient
Creative, learn quickly, and intelligent
High problem–solving ability by intersecting disparate concepts
Hate being pigeon holed/boxed into a narrow way of living
When I read this for the first time, it felt like fireworks blooming in my head. Literally all of the above applies to me.
Am I an octopus? Why not?
YES, I AM AN OCTOPUS!!!!!!
I feel seen. This does not happen often.
So then, how does this broader template apply to my life?
For starters, I do not have to be exceptionally good at one thing. I can, in fact, be good at a lot of skills that complement and enhance each other. Specialists be damned.
This does not mean that I will pursue all of my interests simultaneously every day. Certain skills will only apply to specific projects like directing a film, editing a movie, or gardening. Alternately, I can have daily or weekly drawing, writing, and reading habits on top of regular practice sessions for my singing and playing my instruments.
The underlying intention is to experience as many moments of joy and mindfulness every day as much as possible. In my life, creativity is my biggest gateway into those realms, and ultimately, I do not have to pursue and cultivate my craft in the traditional ways that society has taught. (And maybe you don’t either.) I can integrate several practices together.
Are you an octopus too? HERE is the article by Dave Kang that melted my Asian face if you want to read it. In subsequent writings, he delves MUCH deeper into his ideas and how they can apply to different aspects of our lives.
2025 is going to be the year of the octopus in my life. I will pursue everything that inspires curiosity, joy, and a buoyant desire to keep going.
I will allow the tentacles to go where they will.
For now, I am not going to do a low-key internet search for an adorable octopus stuffed animal.
Nope. Not at all. Nothing to see here.
I hope your 2025 will be filled with all the experiences that make you smile to yourself and jump out of bed every morning with eagerness and joy.
Art and Photography by Roqué Marcelo
I recently treated myself to a sewing day. I have struggled with finding time to experiment with my new sewing machine that my mom gave me, embroider something new, and mend a torn garment or two. Well, giving myself a whole day out of the week was a grand idea! I had the best time hemming three pairs of pants and starting on a new embroidery project.
Of course, the day did not go perfectly, the first pair of pants I tried to hem was a HOT MESS (!), and I will not bother showing a photo of this disaster. However, the next two turned out nicely. This was a gentle and annoying reminder that with sewing anything, the prep work makes a huge difference in the end result. I slowed down and took my time with the next two (pictured below). I will proudly wear them while I undo that first pair and try again on my next sewing day. I also started a fun new embroidery project (more on that in the coming weeks).
If there is something you have been itching to do but have not had the chance, treat yourself to a full day of it and plan nothing else. It will feel immensely satisfying.
