Never “throw in the towel”

I’ve been writing music for over 40 years. I could have easily given up, traded my guitar for something else, but the thought never even crossed my mind. People often say to ‘follow your dreams,’ but that usually means follow them as long as they align with their expectations for you and your life. This never influenced me, though it was frustrating at times.

Over time, I’ve realized that ‘making it big’ isn’t the ultimate goal. When people say they want to ‘make it big,’ they usually mean they want to connect with others, earn a living, find happiness, and feel valued. These things aren’t solely dependent on having a hit song or a million dollars.

True happiness isn’t a product you can order online or a destination someone else defines for you. When you find it, you’ll simply know.

If you never quit, you cannot truly fail. And if you find something that deeply fulfills you and brings daily satisfaction, you’ve found true happiness – regardless of your income or societal definition of success.

Music offers endless possibilities. Every day, new sounds emerge from the same instruments – guitar, piano, and beyond. The potential for creation is limitless with these familiar tools. Picking up my guitar and writing something new, or learning a new technique, is a high in itself.