Less is More
Sarah and I had to say goodbye to our sweet dog Moo Moo the other day.
It was a deeply emotional experience.
You don’t realize how much presence someone carries until that presence is gone.
When we came home from the vet, we opened the front door and, and for just a moment, expected to see our giant white husky standing there, tail wagging, ready for another walk.
This morning I woke to the first day without her.
The weight of her absence settled over me.
Sarah reached over, held me, and quietly said how much she missed Moo Moo.
The man in me wanted to say all the words.
I wanted to reassure her.
Comfort her.
Explain grief.
Make it better.
Then a quieter voice whispered,
“Shut up, Danny.”
Just hold her.
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Years ago, my friend Ashley and I were recording a song while our friend Shawn was producing.
As we listened back to a take, Shawn smiled and said,
“I’d like you to meet a friend of mine someday.”
I asked, “When?”
He said,
“Right now.”
“His name is Less More.”
“Play less.”
“Create space.”
“Let other people experience the music for themselves.”
I’ve never forgotten that lesson.
Sometimes I remember it.
Sometimes I have to learn it all over again.
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This morning, lying beside Sarah, I wanted to play every note.
I wanted to say every comforting word.
Instead, I thought about Moo Moo.
She never spoke a sentence.
She spoke with her presence.
She spoke with her tail.
She spoke with her spirit.
And somehow we understood every word.
So this morning, I listened to that quiet voice.
Less is more.
…
Shhh.
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PS. Want to hear the song that led to this moment?
Shanti Mantra by Danny and Ashley
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ROAR with Love,
Danny
The Emotional Driver
“Emotion Is the Note. You Are the Song.”
