To friends of This World Fair:

Wow! I read through my New Years letter last year and I couldn’t have predicted all the change on the horizon. I started the year with a band and no rights to my music and ended the year with no band and full rights to my music. And it was a bumpy ride!

I ended my last letter with this:
“In this moment, This World Fair exists to remind you to pursue purpose and endure its storm. Hold tight to the people who remain steadfast in your life. Be graceful and patient with those who you think mean to harm or use you. All that seems unfair in this world won’t immediately seem fair, but charge yourself to transcend the trap of fairness altogether. This World [is] Fair. It has purpose for you and it is conspiring with you to achieve it.”

Never have I known the storm like I knew it this year. Never has my purpose felt less significant and grace less existent. Never have I seen more erosion with those whom I counted steadfast. Yet, as this year closes, never have I felt this much peace and hope for the future. For all that was lost, much more was gained. I transcended the trap of fairness and felt the world conspiring with me.

As Krishnamurti said, “Truth is a pathless land.” We all must find truth ourselves - it cannot be found for us. Truth is found in the mirror of our relationships and through observation without projection. At one point this year, I penned, “We can all understand the truth about ourselves through others and be confident they’re understanding the truth about themselves through us.” We learn truth in relationship, not in isolation. And sometimes, the truth is, it isn’t meant to be. And other times, it is. Nothing more, nothing less.

As I look forward to 2009 with fresh wind in my sails from the long-overdue album release, new creative direction and wonderful friendships, I charge you (and me) with this:

sometimes the truth hurts, but, it’s still the truth. If you’re alone, it’s not because of someone or something else, it’s because of you. Observe your situation without assumption of the truth, but rather to uncover it. The past will fail to define you and your definition will evolve with every present moment. Lastly, don’t listen to me. After all, nobody can tell you what is true - you have to find that for yourself.

Happy New Year,

Chris
This World [is] Fair