New Possibilities

It's early on a quiet Saturday morning. In a little while, I'm going to a meeting about getting one of my original songs on a compilation CD to benefit music programs in our school district. And, as excited as I am to be part of this worthwhile cause, I'm even more excited about finally putting something tangible out there, instead of defaulting to my usual "I'm too busy to record now, I have to mow the lawn" position.

I realized something awhile back about all creative endeavors. If you quit trying or are endlessly putting things off, you're guaranteed not to succeed. I don't mean to get all Deepak Chopra on you, but it's the truth. As an artist, there's nothing more exciting and fulfilling than actually having an iron in the fire, no matter how much of a long-shot it is. It's SOMETHING. It's an EFFORT. It's a DREAM IN THE EARLY STAGES OF FRUITION!

I've been a musician and a songwriter now for nearly thirty years. Some people look at me and think "Oh, that's sad, he never really made it, did he?" I think it all depends on what your definition of "making it" is. I've achieved things in music that millions of other aspiring musicians never have. Likewise, there are those who've gone further than me. That doesn't mean that I'm going to quit doing what I love, based on someone else's criteria, it fills me with excitement thinking of what might be.

Huey Lewis was much older than the average pop star when he finally hit it big in the '80's. Actor John Mulroney was a local Chicago actor until he was in his 60's and found the role of a lifetime on "Frasier." If either of these guys had quit after ten or fifteen years of pursuing their dream, just think of the creative loss to all of us.

So, as I sit here typing, on the cusp of my 45th birthday, I'm still as excited as I was when I was fourteen and got my first acoustic guitar at a neighbor's garage sale. Oh, the possibilities!