31 Aug Kyle Falconer’s Latest Gig
Kyle Falconer, front man for rock band The View, came to Lanna Rehab in Chiang Mai, Thailand for addiction treatment. It’s not unusual that a rocker would have such an issue, it’s pretty common and we applaud Kyle for realizing he needed help and getting it. But, we have to take the opportunity to point out that sometimes miraculous things happen in recovery.
It is easy for someone coming into a treatment environment to get focused inward. You have to do that because, after all, the treatment is for you and about you. But it isn’t entirely. And, in fact, it is that sense of focus that has contributed to becoming addicted in many cases. There is often a failure there to see the others around you and to act only in your own self-interest. It’s part of what the addiction does to you.
But, when you begin to change that focus, magical things can happen. They may be simple things, but they make big changes in many ways, for yourself, as a recovering addict, and for others.
In this case, Kyle took some time away from focusing on himself to teach a group of local orphans from Im Jai House how to play ukulele. The end result is he made a big impact on those kids, but it also had an impact on him – a sense of giving, of being connected to the rest of the world, of giving. All these things are good for your soul. If you had any doubt about how much Kyle changed these amazing kids lives, and how much they changed his, just look at this video.
This is why the recovery community as a whole, and we specifically at Lanna, stress the importance not only of community, of a shared life, but of giving of yourself, being of service to others in what might seem like small, but are very meaningful ways.
If you look at the video and see the faces of these kids as they play their solos, and of Kyle as he plays along with them, you’ll see the immense sense of sheer joy such a small act can bring. It’s not as if these kids really knew who Kyle was (initially), beyond that kind hearted and talented guy that gave up his time to benefit them.
Life is full of many small miracles, many small moments that bring incredible joy and a sense of wellbeing, of having done something good for others. That’s what brings a peace to your heart and soul and a smile to your face. It’s joy. It’s the joy that so often fills whatever hole you may be trying to fill with alcohol or drugs. And that, in a very real sense, is what life is really all about. Doing for others.
Kyle Falconer is a very talented musician, but it turns out he’s also a really good guy.
