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The following commentary appeared in
the November 2002 edition of
The Songwriter's Connection.
Minor changes have recently been made.
"Do It NOW !"
Living with
PASSION and PURPOSE !!!!!
by
Jace Carlton
I started
writing my
November review a couple of weeks ago
and promised Susan that I’d have it ready on time.
Then something happened the other day that shook my world, so the
article I was writing will wait until next month. What I have to say can’t wait.
I normally review books
and concerts, but occasionally I
offer my two cents worth about a subject that’s on my mind, and this
month, at
this moment, I have a pound of gold to share with you.
When I get personal I run
the title “Up Close and Personal” because my thoughts are coming from a
very intimate place, deep in my
heart. This month it’s especially deep
and very personal, so listen up. I hope
I don’t come across as preachy, because if you could hear the voice
behind these words they’d be coming at you full of compassion and
sincerity. This is for me just as much as it is for you.
A good friend of mine
sent me a quote a few days ago, and
that quote, coupled with something that happened just 48 hours prior to
my writing this, has changed something deep inside of me.
What if you just decided?
What if
you just chose?
What if
you could just
have your life exactly as you want it?
What if
you could just do
it now?
Vicky
We don’t have time to
wait any longer. If we’re not already following and
living our passion we have to push every obstacle aside, get our
priorities in
order (can’t mess those up!), and put the pedal to the metal.
WHATEVER that passion is, we MUST be doing it. If songwriting is
that passion, do
it. If mechanics is your passion, do it. If public or
community service is
your passion, do it. If teaching is
your passion, or medicine, counseling, business, law, engineering,
acting, singing, or whatever, DO IT! But don’t
just do it … do it with PASSION!!!
I’m not saying push everything aside to live your
passion, only your obstacles. And don’t
become so obsessed with your passion that you eliminate what matters
most in the end - your family, friends, and your sanity. These
come first and they’ll help keep your life balanced, sane and focused.
What are your
priorities? If you’re married, then your wife or husband comes
first. If you have children, then your children come next.
If you’re working full time, is it what you WANT to be doing? If
not, why not?! We don’t have time to waste doing things that
aren’t fulfilling to ourselves and others. If what you want to be
doing is not something you can switch to right away then what steps do
you have to
take to get there? Be specific. And then DO IT! You
can’t imagine the relief you’ll feel just by taking that first step
towards your passion.
Two days ago our youngest
son was involved in an accident
that totaled an older brother’s car but he walked away from it with
only 2nd degree burns on his right wrist from the
deployment of the airbag and a
very shaken spirit. To say he was scared to
death is a huge understatement. We were all
very blessed that day.
Accident and serious
illness survivors alike say the same
thing, “I’m grateful for every new day and I cherish every moment I’m
blessed with!” What does it have to take to
make us live a genuinely full and fulfilling life?
Why do most of us have to wait for a wake up call? What if that
wake up call never comes? Or, what if it’s already come and we
were “too busy” to answer it? Too busy with
every day “stuff” that insidiously eats up precious moments.
We’ve all been blessed
with certain talents and
abilities. Are we using them? For the right reasons?
Or are we going to lose them from inactivity? The choice is ours.
I’m keeping this month’s
column short, not because of
Susan’s deadline (yes, Susan I know that’s important, too!), but
because I have things to do. I’ve answered my wake up
call, I’m listing my priorities, and I’ll be making the necessary
changes in my life in order to live it more genuinely and with more
passion!
Copyright © 2006 by Jace
Carlton
Jace
Carlton
lives in the Nashville, TN area and is a member of NSAI. A
Freelance Writer /
Photographer, Poet, Author, and former Radio DJ, he now enjoys a career
as a Songwriter, and a
collaborator much in demand predominantly in the Country genre, but
also enjoys occasionally writing for A/C, Pop, R&B, Smooth Jazz,
and
Cabaret.
As a Freelance Writer he has contributed reviews on new CD's to online
newsletters and regularly contributed book and concert reviews along
with personal commentary on the music industry to Nashville's Songwriter's
Connection e-Zine.
Jace is also the creator of the Change Your Stars! website
and its
companion daily motivational / inspirational e-mail message that's read
by over 14,000 people all over the world. For a free subscription
click here and you'll be added within 24 hours. Privacy Statement
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