"I hadn't been practicing or playing or anything. But that had been a vital part of my life"

Joseph Jarman's quote speaks with the value of practice and playing in his life. He acknowledges that he had not been engaging in either of these activities, but acknowledges that they had actually been a vital part of his life. This recommends that he had been depending on these activities to bring him delight and satisfaction, which without them, he was feeling a sense of vacuum. It is likely that he was feeling a lack of function and direction, and was missing the sense of achievement that includes mastering a skill or attaining a goal. The quote functions as a reminder that practice and playing are important for a satisfying life, which without them, we can feel lost and disconnected.