Life 101
Follow Your Dreams
by Antonio Parker on 10/10/11They say that you can't steal second base with your foot still on first. You must take your foot off of first base in order to get to second. It also implies that there may be some risks in trying to steal second base. But think of it this way, even if your tagged out trying to steal second, you still get another chance at bat. And the next time you might just hit a homer. This scenario not only applies to baseball, but it also applies to life and going after your dreams.
Every since I was 10 years of age, all I wanted to be was a great musician (a jazz musician in particular). My whole life was geared around this passion. I even have three college degrees in music to prove it. I never even entertained the idea of doing something else. Music was my mistress as the great Duke Ellington would say. However, somewhere along the corridor of life, I compromised. I created something to "fall back on." I then had kids, student loans to pay back, bills and other responsibilities. I went back to school to get a second bachelors degree in music education, and I ended up becoming a music teacher. Now don't get me wrong, being a music teacher is an honorable undertaking and I would not trade that experience for the world, but it just wasn't my passion. My passion, since the age of 10 has not changed, however it has expanded.
Anyway, I had somehow got caught up in the "I gotta do what I gotta do trap" and ended up being a music teacher for 14 years. And although I never lost my passion to be a great musician, I inherently knew my talents were being stifled to some degree. I did my best to keep my skills in tact. I would burn the midnight oil, staying up late working on my music and then get up early to go to work the next day. It certainly wasn't easy. In the interim, I was watching other musicians and artist making great strides and obtaining great success in their music careers.
I continued to have hope and belief in my abilities and skills however. In fact, I even continued to grow musically within the limited context I was subsisting. Then at some point, I just couldn't do it anymore. I would wake up in the morning, stare at the ceiling and ask God, "How long?" There were even a few times when streams of tears would fall from eyes as the frustration was becoming more unbearable each passing day.
At some point I had to make a decision. I had to tell myself that this was it. I couldn't continue to allow myself to go through anymore of the torture of not going after my dreams. I decided that I had enough and officially resigned at the end of the 2010-2011 school year. Although I loved the kids that I was teaching (and they loved me), I had to follow my passions. When I handed the principal my resignation letter and the word got out, many people (including some family members) were surprised and begin asking me what I was going to do to make a living. I simply answered "Music", even though I couldn't tell them exactly how I was going to make it happen. As scary as it seemed to leave a job in the mist of an economic recession, I felt at ease with my decision. Even though I couldn't fully put it into words to get people to understand, I felt it was time. And as the great Charlie Parker titled one of his most famous compositions, "Nows the Time!"
So here I am, building my own website (I can't afford to pay someone else to do it), late with the rent (praying, asking God to show me the way), low on money (but that don't stop my kids from asking me to buy them something), car acting a fool, and waking up each day working on my music. As scary as it all seems, I aint scared! I'm willing to go through the struggle to reach my dreams. I can't turn back now. I made a decision and I'm sticking to it, come hell or hot water. I truly believe in myself and my abilities. I also believe that God is with me. I have to do this. For who wants to look back on their life and say, "woulda, coulda, shoulda? Not me! I sacrificed too much to get to the point I am at now. I'm going all the way and I will not be denied. I believe that success is there for everyone if you are willing to go out on the limb to get it. And that's just what I choose to do.
So why did I really post this blog? Yes it's a bit therapeutic to ease some of those doubts that sometimes want to creep in. But the real reason is to encourage each one of you to go after your dreams. Forget trying to play it safe. Live life to the fullest and follow your passions. Tell yourself, "if it has to be, it's up to me." Think of it this way, if life is going to be difficult and challenging anyway, you might as well be doing something you love instead of something you loathe. Forget the naysayers and all the boogymen. As Martin Lawrence said so eloquently, "Ride this Mutha F@#$% to the wheels fall off!"
Start following your dreams today!
Thanks you kindly.
Antonio D. Parker
