Well, we played with Soul Coughing once for like two days, that

On the Art of Finding Greatness in Every Experience

In the humble, reflective words of Mike Lowry, there shines a quiet truth that belongs to all ages: “Well, we played with Soul Coughing once for like two days, that was pretty cool. I mean they were all good, you can pull a great experience from everything.” Though spoken in the easy tone of a musician recounting his days on tour, these words carry a deeper wisdom — the wisdom of appreciation, of presence, and of finding meaning in every encounter. Beneath their simplicity lies a lesson as timeless as the sunrise: that every moment, no matter how brief or ordinary, holds a hidden spark of greatness if we are willing to see it.

To “pull a great experience from everything” is to live as the ancients advised — awake, attentive, and grateful. It is to recognize that life is not measured in the size of our triumphs but in the depth of our perception. Many pass through life seeking only the grand occasions — the victories, the fame, the thunderous applause — and in doing so, they overlook the quiet miracles that unfold in the in-between. Mike Lowry reminds us that even two days, spent playing with others, can become a memory rich in value if one’s heart is open.

This philosophy is not new. The ancient Stoics, those seekers of inner peace, taught that wisdom lies in the ability to draw goodness from all circumstances. They said that even hardship can be a teacher, even failure a friend. And so too does Lowry’s sentiment echo their spirit — that from every collaboration, every journey, every fleeting moment, one may harvest insight. To “pull a great experience from everything” is not to chase fortune, but to transform perception — to train the soul to see light even in shadow.

Think, for a moment, of Leonardo da Vinci, who studied not only the grand subjects of art and science but also the way water swirled in a stream, or how smoke twisted in the air. To others, these were trifles; to him, they were lessons of motion, life, and beauty. Every sight, every sound became a teacher. Leonardo’s greatness was not born merely of genius, but of curiosity — the ability to find wonder in the simplest thing. So too can each of us become students of life if we open our eyes as he did, and as Mike Lowry suggests, draw meaning from every experience.

In Lowry’s quote, there is also a spirit of humility — a recognition that every person, every band, every encounter offers something worth learning. He does not elevate one experience above another. He says simply, “They were all good.” This is not the voice of arrogance, but of wisdom. For those who believe they have nothing left to learn close the door to growth. But those who approach the world with humility find endless teachers in every person they meet.

Life, after all, is a vast stage, and every encounter is a note in its eternal song. Some notes are soft, others thunderous — yet together they form the melody of a full existence. The wise traveler, like the wise musician, learns to love each sound for what it brings. Even discord has its place in the symphony, for without it, harmony would lose its sweetness. And so we, too, must learn to gather wisdom from all things — the beautiful and the painful alike.

The lesson, then, is this: seek meaning in every experience. Whether your days are spent among kings or strangers, whether you labor in triumph or in solitude, look for the light hidden in each hour. When you speak with others, listen deeply. When you work, do so with your whole heart. When life gives you a fleeting chance — even “two days” — embrace it fully. For life’s greatest teachers often wear ordinary faces, and its deepest truths are whispered in passing moments.

Let this be the teaching we carry forward: that every encounter is sacred, and that wisdom dwells everywhere. To live well is not to demand perfection from the world, but to find the lesson, the beauty, the rhythm in all things. As Mike Lowry said, you can pull a great experience from everything — if only you have the eyes to see, and the heart to feel.