Let's See Action

You can make things happen, and you can start now. 

 In life, there seems to be a lot of people who make claims they can't back up. Sometimes this is due to severe shyness, and some people are just full of bull. My grandpa once told me "Watch a person's feet, not their mouth," it took me a few years to understand it. But once it did I could see that it roughly translated to "actions speak louder than words." Actions do speak louder than words. There's nothing wrong with wishing or hoping, after all that fuels the fire. But there reaches a point where it's time to stop vocalizing your desires but taking the steps to make them happen. Not being in control of your life is a myth, just as much as being able to be in complete control of your life.

 As a kid, I was very shy and rarely even spoke. Of course I spoke, but only when I had something to say. I was never the kind of person to fill dead air with pointless talking. I was afraid to ask questions, I was too shy to assert myself. As I got older I was starting to see that literally life was passing me by. My shyness was keeping me unable to do the things that I knew would make me happy. When I was a teen I dreamed about working with bands, having my own business and just plain doing my own thing. The truth is, to get that takes courage. It takes courage to be yourself and put that out there.

 Before I could take action on the things that I wanted to do, I found I first had to work on myself. Many things gave me inspiration on channeling the person I truly am inside. I gained a lot from old films and the wit of Groucho Marx. I just knew I wanted to be like that guy. I always had a pretty good sense of humor, and I found when I was comfortable I got people to laugh. Getting comfortable with yourself and realizing there is nothing wrong with you is the first step to doing what you want. As a kid and teen, and like most of us, I felt a huge sense of "nobody cares or believes what I think or have to say." Young people are often talked down to and have their emotions and physical pains mocked by anyone older than them. I always found that sad.

 Don't think that you're too shy or not cool enough. I used to believe that of myself and have heard many others say the same. It simply isn't true. Just early this year when I had my 11 year birthday bash for Bite-the-dust.com, although I invited the performers to the "after party" at my place...I forgot to give them my address. When they didn't show for the rest of the festivities, I automatically figured "I wasn't cool enough." Like I said, I forgot to give them my address, which a band member let me know the next time I saw her. Wow, what a tool I was being! I thought I wasn't "cool enough" when it had nothing to do with that whatsoever. They just didn't know where to find me.

Gotta Dance!

 You can do anything you want do to, but getting there is the tricky part. There are no rules in life, last I checked there was no official world "Book of Rules." We all might have the commonality of being humans, but we have separate journeys and different ways of getting to where we want to be. One rule, logic, or ritual does not work for everybody. Don't feel shy about carving your own path.I just think of Jr. High and History class and reading about strong characters in world history that did incredible life changing things. Not that I would put myself in that category, but I would argue that anyone who lives their life the way they want it as being groundbreaking. I can't tell you how often I hear men and women across the age spectrum go "That's just what you're supposed to do. That's what my parents did." not noting that it is what works for them or that it is what they want to do.

 Another big lesson I learned is it never hurts to ask. I was pretty crippled by the fear of rejection, not so much in the romantic sense but in the creative and artist sense. You worry that people will think your ideas are crap and they're not good enough to make happen. Again, a big heaping pile of crap and a myth at that. You will be shocked how many "yes's" you might hear when you put yourself out there and pursue your dreams. One thing you will find along the way is people who genuinely appreciate you, give you their business and more over....believe in you. There will be people who share your views, almost like your creation or project reached out and found your kind of people.

  There's another saying that goes (and I'm paraphrasing here) "what keeps you from doing what you want is what's inside you, not ahead of you." Don't be afraid to pursue and vocalize your dreams. Don't be afraid ask friend, or to reach out to the community for support. You'd be surprised to know that there are art galleries around you that can showcase your art, venues that would like you play, and screen printers that can help you bring your design to life. The first step to take is to acknowledge that you are smart and awesome and you can make it happen! We all have this voice in us that makes excuses for an inability to take action. Silence it, because it is holding you back, just like it did for me.

 Don't be afraid of failure. Be afraid of not trying. Failing is a lesson, something that enables you to develop your craft. You will fail, I can guarantee that because we all fail at some point.

"The race is long, and in the end, it's only with yourself." 

- Baz Luhrmann "Everybody's Free to Wear Sunscreen"