Here's a Throwback Thursday for ya! A friend of mine sent me this photo on my birthday. Wow! Look at this kid. He has absolutely no idea what he's in for. I'm glad my sense of style has improved. Seriously! What the heck am I wearing?! Why did I always chop off my hair?? 🤷♂️
When I stop and reflect on my musical past, I can't help but laugh. It's a history with a rollercoaster of emotions. When you work hard and still fail, it can be demoralizing. The failures cut deeper when you pour your heart & soul into the very thing that rejects you. Events like these can make you bitter. That's what happened to me.
I gave up music because success seemed unattainable. It was from my hiatus that I understood how empty my life felt without music. When I decided to play again, it was only for fun. I still remember the liberating feeling of no longer needing to prove my worth. Music was purely something I did to fill my heart with joy. Little did I realize how that mindset was key towards becoming a better entertainer overall. By focusing on my own self-improvement and enjoyment, crowds experienced my happiness through osmosis.
It's funny how I made a career in music by refusing to chase the glory. I stopped seeking validation and just did what made me smile. That's still my approach today. The kid in this photo has yet to have this epiphany. The tribulations in his future will knock him down to his knees. He'll think himself as a failure who wasted his life. Through it all, he'll dust himself off and accomplish things he'd never thought possible. He'll also have the ability to spread that knowledge in an attempt to inspire others. Not bad, Kid. Not bad at all.