Enjoying the Process and the Journey . . .

When I was younger all I wanted was to be famous. I wanted everyone to know my name. I was aware that life was short and you had to make your mark if you wanted to leave something of yourself behind. I remember being amazed at singers and songwriters because they were leaving a legacy of song that would outlast their mortality and touch people long after their earthly life was through. I was also fascinated with artists who had works that people were still talking about hundreds of years after their death. We all want our lives to mean something. When I was young I was desperate to find that one thing that I had that would set me apart from the crowd and bring me the timeless fame that I desired. The reality is that only a small number get to that point and there are so many factors that can affect the outcome of such a pursuit. It is possible if you have the right combination of good looks, amazing talent, excellent work ethic, sterling personality, and opportunity. If all of those stars align for you then you might have a shot. There is always the Cinderella story, but those are more like winning the lottery. As we get older we realize that fame is very circumstantial and fickle. It does not always stay and often times it brings unforeseen complications that can bring down even the strongest person. I started playing music thinking that would bring me fame and notoriety and it did on a small level—so I kept doing it. I started drawing because I loved it—it too brought a level of notoriety and fame among my peers. I started writing songs, thinking that I had a great gift. In the beginning my motivation was for the prize and not the process. It wasn’t until years later that I realized that what keeps me doing it is the love and passion for it. I still write songs and love to play music. I never became famous for it, other than on a local level, but I have enjoyed it and it has enhanced my life in ways that I did not expect. I enjoy the expression that songwriting offers—it is music and poetry intertwined. The point is, that the pursuit of fame and wealth did not render what I had planned. That was a hard blow in the beginning. I was counting on it. Once I met my wife and we started a family, I knew that the early dream would not fit into the new life plan with all of our immediate needs. Most everyone comes to the age of reason and makes peace with who they are and where they are. But there is a part of us that still dares to dream the dream. And why not?