Today in my Jazz Styles and Analysis class, we discussed how so many of us musicians worry about what the audience, our peers, and our teachers think of our playing, our interpretations, our technique, or our improvisations. Then I realized how selfish humans are. We care so much about who sees us and our achievements. We're afraid of being forgotten, unnoticed, criticized for our mistakes. Perhaps there is a reason for our selfish natures. Think about it. Our internal reasons, as conceited as they are, for performing, for working, for building, are what promote development and movement in the arts, sciences, even the day-to-day living circumstances. I let that sound-eating monster eat me and screamed out these melodies: "Just for once, rid me of selfish cares And let me be a true artist Let nobody see." But in that monster's pit, no one heeding, and it'd just be me Engulfed to the final truth with no one to hear Nightmares are dreams too.