"A rolling stone gathers no moss"

"A rolling stone gathers no moss" is an old proverb dating back to the 1500's. Some think it means that if a person keeps moving, changing, growing, they will never lack creativity and will live a full life, which seems pretty positive and progressive. On the negative side (if there’s an up, there must be a down) a rolling stone is also said to be a drifter, a vagabond who never decides on anything, maybe this refers to a person who has no passion, purpose, or direction in life? The interpretations are numerous, but it's interesting to me to envision a single thought brought to form by one individual hundreds of years before, and the chain of events, the ripple effect that can create such a link in time.

I haven't been able to find any history behind the song "Rollin' Stone" (written by Muddy Waters) to confirm if it relates to this proverb, but there may be a link there, and in any case this song is what inspired Brian Jones (the original guitar player of The Rolling Stones, later replaced by Mick Taylor) to call the band “The Rolling Stones”. The lyrical innuendos referencing this saying are numerous and all seem to represent a peaceful yet sometimes sad feeling of freedom, independence, and discovery.

We’ve all heard in some form or another that change is necessary; season’s change, ways of thinking change, people change, and I believe stagnation makes life stale. My interpretation of this somewhat goes both ways, I think it's important to have a familiar stomping ground (or a home, whatever you want to call it) and to grow roots with the people you love and live with, to stay somewhat grounded, to encompass a strong social network. After all, I don’t believe humans weren’t meant to live solitary lives, we were meant to live in communities, with family and friends, neighbors and colleagues. And it's when were busy strengthening these roots that the moss slowly creeps in and grows over, and all the while we continue growing internally, being open to changing the way we perceive the world, the way we carve our thoughts, the foods we eat, music we listen to, clothes we wear, you get my point. I know it’s not something that’s way off in left field, after all this proverb has been around as far back as the 1500’s, but it was something that made me think, and I would be interested in hearing new age interpretations or variations of the saying.

So for now, just keep puttin' one foot in front of the other, and have a listen to this…