Hi. It’s been a while and I hope you’re doing well.

Me? I’m getting there.

Lately I’ve been trying to acclimate to a whole new life. My wife and I welcomed Baby Madelyn on March 22, 2022.  Since that time my world has been turned upside down. Late nights have turned into early mornings with lots of smelly diapers in between. Maybe that’s why it’s taken me so long to write another post. Maybe not. 

Maybe it was due to the lack of sleep, or maybe it was my newfound roll as sole provider of my family. What I do know is that I was dealing with a healthy bout of burn out. I think most people who work in the creative field can relate to that time when being creative becomes a burden. What if I fall on my face? What if no one likes what I do? The inner dialogue can become taxing and stifling. Every time I would pick up a stick and lay it down on a drum, I just felt dread and anxiety. It got so bad for me that I thought I was done playing forever and interviewed for several “real jobs.” 

Then I had a conversation with a dear friend of mine (who is probably one of the only people who reads my blog on a consistent basis), and his remedy was simple: “Find the passion again.”

At first, I was upset. After all, it’s easy to offer advice to people when you’re not the one going through it, but I couldn’t put the sentiment out of my head. It stuck like a broken record, and I went over it again and again until I had unpacked it in every way humanly possible. My mission became clear: Find the passion.

With the help of several Buddy Rich videos, therapy, and positive lifestyle changes, I can confidently say that I am well on my way to finding my passion for music again. I know I was put on this earth to make music and bring my knowledge of drums to others. I’m not 100% “there” but I am on my way.

I know this is a common feeling with a lot of people, especially creatives. The world can be a crazy-stressful place and it can be easy to lose sight of what really matters. And what really matters is that you never quit. You work harder until you dig yourself out. Don’t give up – take care of your whole self – mind, body, and spirit – and find your passion again.