Pursuing Dreams not Doldrums

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Daniel and Sammi love music. They both want to pursue music as their professions, in some form or another. (Perhaps teaching.) They told me that most of their friends who love music, are not encouraged by their parents to pursue music as a career. They are told it is not lucrative, or worth the effort. Their friends are told it can be a minor, but not a major, in their future pursuits. (Music pun intended.)

What I tell my children is, you must do what you love! If you love music, then make that your life, your passion, your drive, and go out and do something amazing with it. I truly believe, if you love something -- if you are passionate about it -- you will be successful at it. I encourage them to follow their dreams of music... wherever that may take them.

I watched as their father tried to find his passion in the career world, being an attorney, trapped behind a desk, and I tell you it made him wither in his soul. Charles was full of creativity and drive, he could do whatever he wanted, but he also felt he had to provide well for the family, so that drove him to make a different, more "responsible" choice. (I would have lived in a cardboard box with Charles, his career was his choice.) He was not happy in his career. He wasn't. Life as a lawyer sucked away his joy. It did. Do I think it led to his early death? Yes. I cannot go back and say "what if" now, but I can teach my children what I have learned, from life's sometimes very difficult lessons.

What Charles really wanted to be was a teacher. He would have been a fantastic teacher.

I know Charles would have me teach the children to pursue their dreams... the dreams that make them excited to get up in the morning; the dreams that fuel their hearts with joy, and life, and passion. Because life is meant to be full of passion and joy, not just drudgery, day in and day out. I do not concern myself with what they will choose to do with their professional lives, as much as I care about who they will choose to become. In all their choosing, I hope they choose the path that is most likely to lead to happiness.

If that is music...

May the Forte be with them!

The other day Sammi asked Henry (who is 4) what he wants to be when he grows up. He responded with, "I want to be Henry!"

He speaks with simple, profound, wisdom.

I want my children to grow up and be who they are truly meant to be. I want them to know who they are, and I want them to have the courage to pursue their most fantastic of dreams.

If you choose to do what you love, you will love what you do.

Life is too short to let dreams wither and die.

*The video is from Daniel's Solo Ensemble performance.