People My People,
Welcome back to my life, glad you could join me. It’s 11:21 pm and I’m waiting for a phone call from an online radio station for an interview. Perfect time for my weekly reflection, this would be the part of the movie that it would flashback to a poor childhood. Someone telling me, “No one wants to hear you speak boy!” Cut to a montage of me writing, holding down my seasickness in the Navy, then rocking my first open mic, first slam, first bar, first festival, first poetry workshop I ran, to starting Train of Thought. And mixed in with that a whole lot of trails and tears.
A good friend and talented artist told me today that if his band doesn’t hit their album sales goals they are giving up music. I was sad to hear that. Even sadder that I understood and couldn’t blame him. He’s newly married and rap sometimes has to give way to responsibility. At what point does passion give way to having a stable position? When does what you believe you were made for become a little less important than the person you believe you were made for? I’m asking these questions but I really don’t have the answer. As I move into the afternoon of my life these choices swarm around me, poking, prodding. Is life about the people we serve or the people we love?
…I’m back, just got done with the interview, went well. He messed up and got me speaking about the things I love. Almost couldn’t get me off the air! Funny thing is the radio host is also one who is a family man, going to school to work in medicine, but loves the arts. Medicine is steady; art is walking on Jell-O in high heels. The interesting thing is even in the Great Depression people still went to shows, still paid for movies. Needed an escape. I truly believe one is not more important than the other. And as for dreams vs. family, perhaps I’m naïve, but I don’t think they have to always be at war. Draft a peace treaty, stick with it. Take a moment to come up with creative solutions. Get your family involved with those decisions. I believe if they love you they will be happy to compromise. If your dream is about the betterment of people, which I think all dreams are (even if you are entertaining them from the stage), then giving a little bit is better than giving up everything. I’m not saying the people I mentioned before are doing that I’m just saying in general.
ON A PERSONAL NOTE:
Things are still going well. Album is still selling, I’m still doing shows and Train of Thought is still my favorite part of the week. Please come out and support me, Dave Booda, Elaine Faye tonight at RAW (make sure you say you are coming for me, I still got tickets to sell.) I promise you will not be disappointed. After tonight my life will change dramatically. Stay tuned to the next email for details…. (Insert evil laugh here)
THIS WEEK’S CHALLENGE
Give your dream away. That is the challenge for this week. So many people keep who they are and what they want to be so close to their chest that it silently suffocates them. This week your challenge is to tell one person what one of your dreams are AND ask if they have any ideas on how to make that happen. Pick someone you love and trust. If you have no one, hit me up, I’d love to hear from you. Your dream is a manifestation of the gift you have been given. And gifts are meant to be given. Do not hold in your dream or gift. Share it with someone who will hold you accountable. It’s the first step.
Until Then
Be now
Remember The Light
Gill Sotu
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