What Springsteen's darkest chapter teaches the rest of us about self-care

While Dylan was the voice of a generation, the Boss has long been the voice of Americans. His hits sound like a national celebration, but behind them are lyrics that speak to America's aching spirit. No album captures the individual ache of the man behind the persona better than Nebraska, the album whose making is chronicled in the movie Deliver Me From Nowhere. Even as a Bruce fan, I'd be lying if I said Nebraska was near the top of my list. It's an album I think every music fan needs to hear at least once, but only revisit as necessary. Heck, I even prefer The Band's version of "Atlantic City" over the Boss's own.

If the reviews and box office are accurate, I'm in the minority when I say Deliver Me From Nowhere was incredible. The acting, the music, the cinematography, the story. I was all in. That hasn't been the case for others, though. It's been called self-indulgent, dull, depressing and, ultimately, a flop.

I take issue with "depressing." Yes, there's a darkness to it, but the story is told through the lens of a boy turned man who had seen some dark times, and whose dark times sometimes win. Not to be dramatic, but I wonder if the rejection of the movie reflects our continued discomfort with mental illness. We can talk all we want about the importance of mental health and having open conversations about our struggles, but we don't want to see what those struggles actually look like, especially in our heroes.

Anthony Breznican has a great piece in Esquire that digs into some of the softer lessons from Springsteen, including the value of self-care. One part really stuck with me, because I think it speaks to all of us: leaders, caregivers, heads of households and aging humans alike. Breznican points out that the more people rely on you, the more you need to be sure you're "standing steady on your own two feet." That doesn't come naturally, especially to those who take their commitments to others seriously. And it's all too easy to burn out or lose yourself if you never stop to look inward and regroup.

Wise words.

If you've seen the film, I'd love to hear what you thought. Drop me a note.