Hello friends… I'm writing this as I look toward the last official show of the 2014 Chicago touring season.
Panama City, FL and I can finally start feeling Fall… I love this time of the year… you can feel the change in the air. Humans don't take to change that easily but think about it… change is good… it's the only thing that you can count on! Change…
And as the air starts getting a little crisper… starting to think about wearing different clothes… taking a bit of time to reflect on the last year and to start thinking of the new year… here are my observations…
I've made many significant changes in my life this year… mainly in the areas of managing my time. My wife and kids and I have started getting into *regular* discussions on where we are and where we want to go… this is something that started about 5 years ago for me at the end of that year listening to some of my favorite motivational stuff, trying it on for the first time!
All this goal setting, reflecting, etc. I was such an idiot for so many years thinking that stuff was foolish… yes, I know I've lived a pretty charmed life and have been fortunate to have some of the best in the business doing the thinking for me… people who plan tours, plan a couple years in advance.
You know what though? One day you wake up and realize, “Wow… I haven't been thinking for myself! If I don't start, one day there is going to be a rude awakening…”
Some people may not realize this… they'd look at my life and think, “He's got it made”… but if you're not thinking for yourself and deciding where you want to go… emotionally… internally… MENTALLY… it's running FIGURE 8's.
Soooooo, just starting to think about setting goals… (what a funny thing that is the first time! Having never really set any… but that's not entirely true… they just might have been set in a more abstract way). I'm talking about focused, sit down and think about WHERE YOU WANT TO GO. Simple… but so many don't do it… I know I didn't, for a long time… didn't think I had to. It was being determined for me!
Not not that I'm unhappy with the decisions others have made for me… but at a certain point when the temptation is to feel trapped… in whatever capacity… creatively? That's the first one that comes up for people… not allowed to do what they want to do… and I'm actually talking about successful artists… that's one of the funniest ones I've heard! (and actually have allowed myself to think and feel in the past!)
But that's ridiculous… the sky's the limit! As long as YOU choose… make a decision… WHAT IS IT I WANT TO DO…
Then, suddenly, there is a magnet… I started thinking about the music I wanted to make… and it started happening… I wouldn't stop until it was realized… I stayed true to my vision… and that's ALL because there was an original vision, which created a PLAN…
When you've never planned before… won't the first one suck? Probably… but GET THE FIRST ONE GOING!
I immediately start seeing where it needs to be tweaked… and it did/does.
So I know I'm probably just ranting a bit here but I'm pumped… I'm headed home after another great year with the band and here's what's on tap…
I'm also jumping back into a good old fashioned round of P90X heading into the new year… gonna get a jump on it rather than wait until November… plus, I've also learned to go easy on myself and not try to be perfect… I'll start in November and go through the holidays having a good time on the day of festivities only to get back on the saddle the next day.
Have a great day everybody…
Jason