Getting Closer
The finish line is in sight. We have one more song left to finish for our 2023 release schedule. To be honest it’s kind of a weird feeling. I’ll reflect a little more on this when everything has been released - today I feel mostly relieved. It’s been a grind, but I’m happy to be able to see the end. If the reception was better this year that would’ve been nice, but we definitely learned a lot. I kept getting reminded through the year that there is always more learning to do. That’s a good thing, though, The more you learn the more you grow, and the better equipped you are to be more effective in your ventures. Next year things will look a lot different here, but I’m determined to level up our performance. We have to get better. We will get better. We’ll get closer.
-J.P.
After Dinner
I know I spent yesterday talking about how it’s important to not worry about the why all the time. It’s hard to enjoy yourself in the moment if you’re always worrying about why you’re doing what you’re doing. After dinner though, after you’re done doing what you’re doing, it is good for the what to have a why. You need both.
-J.P.
Just Be At Dinner
Have you ever gone out to eat with some friends on a night where you didn’t particularly feel your best? Maybe something triggered an insecurity earlier in the day or you just woke up on the wrong side of the bed and you stumbled through the day filled with doubt and existential dread? Then you end up surrounded by people that you’re supposed to be comfortable around but you just don’t feel that way. You feel isolated and silly, and then the inner monologue starts telling you that everything you’re saying is stupid and that you should probably go home, or even better, you should probably just leave the state and never see your so-called friends ever again. You don’t have anything good to say and you feel like you’re wasting everyone’s time and everyone’s space and they all probably hate you and even the waiter thinks you’re shit. You don’t understand why, and you don’t know how to fix it. You ever feel like that?
That’s when it’s time to focus back on the what instead of the why. Take a breath. Take a look around you. Remember that you don’t have to believe all your thoughts, and that you’re not in danger. There’s nothing to escape. Everyone is there with you and it’s ok. You’re doing fine.
Just be at dinner.
-J.P.
BTW
I’m trying my best here. It looks different every day. Most days I feel like I talk too much, like if I were to keep more to myself or not commit to adding to this page every day this would come off as a cleaner, more successful foray into whatever digital frontier I’ve found myself in.
That’s not what I did though. Whoops. I’ll work on it. I feel like I gotta work on everything these days. Do you ever find it a little strange that we spend like 35-50 years of our lives dedicating the majority of our days to work? If you live 78 years, that’s like just below 50% (on the low end of that range) given to work. You better be doing something you like cause… I mean that’s a lot of time. Sometimes I have to find ways to remember how much I like these things that I’ve been doing. The past couple days I’ve been learning a bunch of songs on piano for a prospective gig. It’s the first time I’ve really sat down, listened to a song and learned it in… probably years. It’s been a reminder how much I enjoy playing music. And I’m gonna get better at piano and understanding song structure, even if I don’t get the job so… win win.
Look at that - a silver lining. Life’s (trademarked).
-J.P.
Fun Times Being Silly
I’m beginning to reflect on 2023 as we prepare for 2024. We did a lot of good work this year, we learned a lot. We may not have hit all the numbers I was hoping for but we did more than we’ve ever done before. The thing I’m the most proud of is that we had a lot of fun times being silly, and that’s what’s really important.
-J.P.
Tips For Getting Better… I think
Try your best
See your ideas through
Ask for help
Practice every day
Be nice to yourself
Find a way to have fun
Remember you can always change your mind.
(List subject to change)
-J.P.
Better Business
When I was deciding what I wanted to study and where I wanted to apply to college, my mom was adamant that I continue my studies in the creative arts. DO NOT go to business school, she said. Follow your dreams, she cried. I WILL NOT let you waste your gifts, she would insist.
Well, I’d like to first say thank you for that vote of confidence. It’s the faith I needed to keep going. Also though, I probably should’ve taken some business classes. It probably could’ve helped. Now I gotta teach myself.
-J.P.
We’re Back
Board’s clear. New ideas on it. Sun is shining. Tank is clean. People are laughing. We’re back. We’re so back.
-J.P.
