Rhythm Cafe MKE
VOL40 - Maxwell James - A Reluctant Practice in the art of Zen
Season 2025 Episode 6 | 3m 12sVideo has Closed Captions
“A Reluctant Practice in the Art of Zen” is a song about the tension between ambition and patience.
When you’re young, you want to hit the ground running—chasing dreams, making things happen. But life often teaches you to slow down, take your time, and truly develop your craft. This song reflects on my twenties, a time when I had to learn patience the hard way. It’s about embracing the process, even when it feels frustrating, and understanding that growth comes in its own time.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Rhythm Cafe MKE is a local public television program presented by MILWAUKEE PBS
Rhythm Cafe MKE
VOL40 - Maxwell James - A Reluctant Practice in the art of Zen
Season 2025 Episode 6 | 3m 12sVideo has Closed Captions
When you’re young, you want to hit the ground running—chasing dreams, making things happen. But life often teaches you to slow down, take your time, and truly develop your craft. This song reflects on my twenties, a time when I had to learn patience the hard way. It’s about embracing the process, even when it feels frustrating, and understanding that growth comes in its own time.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship(guitar strumming) - Okay, I'll just keep plucking away and it doesn't bother you guys.
♪ I don't have a place I can stay ♪ (guitar strings picking) I'm Maxwell James and this is "A Reluctant Practice in the Art of Zen."
(gentle acoustic music) ♪ Was it all madness that I made up ♪ ♪ Second guessing motivations ♪ ♪ As I regress ♪ ♪ Don't wanna let you down before I begin ♪ ♪ Don't wanna let you down ♪ ♪ Now if you're ready, willing, able ♪ ♪ Lay around ♪ ♪ They sold us on a fable ♪ ♪ There's no land to be found ♪ ♪ I have to wait so long before I begin ♪ ♪ Reluctant practice in the art of zen ♪ ♪ This contamination ♪ ♪ The cure is just a ray gun ♪ ♪ To my chest ♪ ♪ Don't let me get too much ♪ ♪ It's starting to itch ♪ ♪ Don't let get too much ♪ ♪ Now if you're ready, willing, able ♪ ♪ Lay around ♪ ♪ They sold us on a fable ♪ ♪ There's no land to be found ♪ ♪ I have to wait so long before I begin ♪ ♪ Reluctant practice in the art of zen, yeah ♪ (upbeat acoustic music) (upbeat acoustic music) ♪ Now, if you're ready, willing, able ♪ ♪ Lay around ♪ ♪ They sold us on a fable ♪ ♪ There's no land to be found ♪ ♪ I had to wait so long before I begin ♪ ♪ I had to wait so long ♪ ♪ I'm feeling ♪ ♪ Na na na na na ♪ ♪ La la da da da ♪ (upbeat music) (chord rings out) "A Reluctant Practice in the Art of Zen."
I always have trouble saying that 'cause it's a little, it's a little wordy, but that song is kind of about being a little frustrated.
You know, when you're young, you want to kind of hit the ground running and you wanna get going on things and you kind of have to learn how to be patient and take your time and learn your craft or whatever.
So I felt like my twenties were very much me learning how to be patient.
So that's what that song is kind of about.
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Rhythm Cafe MKE is a local public television program presented by MILWAUKEE PBS