“Nothing Worth Having Comes Easy…”

Those five words are words i’ve lived by for as long as I can remember. Its a philosophy I preach to my struggling piano students. Its something I say to myself when I find myself up against a wall. It could very well just be my favorite motto.

I don’t recall where I heard them the first time or who said it until I took the time to actually Google it. Theodore Roosevelt.. Figures, he was a badass in most aspects.

I come across these five words again because I find myself having to call upon them more than ever. Almost a quarter of a century into this life and i’m chasing after career paths and choices that are worrying my parents. The life of an artist.

I am a musician, a photographer and an illustrator. I teach 10 students piano and am a keyboardist in a band, I do freelance photography and I am currently taking courses in college to become a graphic designer. All this worries my parents.The usual bitching about choosing this life. I shouldn’t say bitching, its more like they just care and subtly try and suggest I do something else… but it just makes more determined to make this life work. Just so I can show them otherwise.

At first I hesitated but then I resigned myself to this and to go ahead and stifle the voices that said “don’t do it” and went with my usual gut feeling and popular shoe brand saying of “just do it.” I’m honestly glad of everything so far, if I just focused on school and nothing else I probably would have not met all the people I know now or been to all the places or have had all the experiences I’ve had the past few years in college.

To say what I’m doing now or have done over the last few years was for nothing is a lie. A bit off topic, but I haven’t blogged since high school and looking back on those old entries I found a question to myself.

“To my 10 year older self, have I done anything with myself yet? - Age 14”

If I could hop in my Delorian with the doc and meet myself I’d say, “Not yet, kid.. though its one helluva ride getting there.” This life isn’t comin’ easy.. But I am damn sure its going to be worth having.