I wouldn't say that I'm necessarily the deepest thinker in the world. I do try to reflect on myself and look for whatever truths I might find through my life experiences. This may seem simple or incomplete to some of you, maybe even to most of you, but this is the 'easy version' of what I've learned so far in my 28 years:
For as long as you can, be good to as many people as you can; lend a helping hand to all that you can; extend a kind word and a gentle nature to all that you can; fill your mornings and your nights with grace, gratitude and love for all that you can. Do this, and you will not have to worry about loving yourself, for you will have filled the world with so much love and light that you will have no where to hide from the glow that emanates from you.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Monday, April 5, 2010
Name your price
Nothing in life is easy. Nothing in life comes without paying some price. I was reminded of this last night as I was talking to a friend. She works a typical 9-5 job and doesn't like it one bit. She has had a dream, a calling to pursue something that she feels is part of her purpose, but is nervous to do it. She gets nervous because there are no guarantees that come with pursuing her dream. At least her 9-5 gives her a steady paycheck and some security; but like I said, everything in life comes at a price.
The price that she pays for this guaranteed paycheck and security is an intense feeling that she is wasting every second of her life that she spends at her job. That is a big price to pay. I told her, in my opinion, she had to decide which price was easier to pay; the price of feeling like her life was being wasted, or the price of having to overcome some nerves and anxiety about pursuing something new and different. That, of course, is a question that she has to answer for herself.
I think there is a lesson in this for all of us though. Our lives are made or wasted day by day, by the path that we decide to stay on or get off of every single day. Pile up enough of these days and 20, 30, 40 years have passed. So, just remember, there is a price to pay for doing something just for the security or normalcy of it - and there is a price to pay for taking your own road too. Which is more important to you? Which is the more palatable risk for you to take?
My final thought is this: One of her concerns was that she would feel poor; not that she would be poor, but that she would feel poor. Being poor is something that I know a little bit about. I told her that you only feel poor if you are poor for the wrong reasons, and I really think that is true. I believe that I'm poor for the right reasons; it doesn't mean that it's noble or easy, it just means that I don't feel poor because my life experience feels very rich!
The wonderful artist who did the design for the "Random Thoughts and Incomplete Sentences" album, David Derr, gave me this advice: He told me that when he made the decision to freelance at art, and to try to make a living at it, that he was often concerned about not being able to pay this bill or that bill; but something always came along. I will never forget his advice, which I hold near and dear to my heart, everyday as an artist pursing my music. He said, "You can always do with less money." That was when I decided that I could do with less money, whenever I needed to! What I couldn't deal with was not pursuing my dream because I was afraid of it.
My way is not everyone's way, but never be afraid to ask yourself these questions, and determine if you should stay on your current path, or if there's another road that you would like to take.
The price that she pays for this guaranteed paycheck and security is an intense feeling that she is wasting every second of her life that she spends at her job. That is a big price to pay. I told her, in my opinion, she had to decide which price was easier to pay; the price of feeling like her life was being wasted, or the price of having to overcome some nerves and anxiety about pursuing something new and different. That, of course, is a question that she has to answer for herself.
I think there is a lesson in this for all of us though. Our lives are made or wasted day by day, by the path that we decide to stay on or get off of every single day. Pile up enough of these days and 20, 30, 40 years have passed. So, just remember, there is a price to pay for doing something just for the security or normalcy of it - and there is a price to pay for taking your own road too. Which is more important to you? Which is the more palatable risk for you to take?
My final thought is this: One of her concerns was that she would feel poor; not that she would be poor, but that she would feel poor. Being poor is something that I know a little bit about. I told her that you only feel poor if you are poor for the wrong reasons, and I really think that is true. I believe that I'm poor for the right reasons; it doesn't mean that it's noble or easy, it just means that I don't feel poor because my life experience feels very rich!
The wonderful artist who did the design for the "Random Thoughts and Incomplete Sentences" album, David Derr, gave me this advice: He told me that when he made the decision to freelance at art, and to try to make a living at it, that he was often concerned about not being able to pay this bill or that bill; but something always came along. I will never forget his advice, which I hold near and dear to my heart, everyday as an artist pursing my music. He said, "You can always do with less money." That was when I decided that I could do with less money, whenever I needed to! What I couldn't deal with was not pursuing my dream because I was afraid of it.
My way is not everyone's way, but never be afraid to ask yourself these questions, and determine if you should stay on your current path, or if there's another road that you would like to take.
Decide what you want and go out there and get it!
I made it to 28 years old. An entire decade since I graduated High School. Although I am probably one of the poorest people that you will ever meet - I wouldn't change a thing. I'm so thankful that I've taken the road less traveled. My life is uniquely rich. I've made huge mistakes and learned from them - and I know that day-by-day I'm a better person.
Choosing to pursue this life as a Roving Vagabond (as I refer to myself) has provided me with experiences that are greater than I could have ever imagined. Life is amazing. The things that you can experience if you live your life on your terms is amazing. If this hasn't been your experience in life so far, so what?! It is never too late to change that. Right now decide that you will live your life as you see fit - regardless of what other people will think - because in the end no one has as much invested in yourself as you do; trust yourself the most.
Decide what you want and go out there and get it. We will all be in a much better world if you, me, and all of us, are following our inspiration. What inspires you? "You've got to jump before your parachute will ever open." And once you jump, it will.
Choosing to pursue this life as a Roving Vagabond (as I refer to myself) has provided me with experiences that are greater than I could have ever imagined. Life is amazing. The things that you can experience if you live your life on your terms is amazing. If this hasn't been your experience in life so far, so what?! It is never too late to change that. Right now decide that you will live your life as you see fit - regardless of what other people will think - because in the end no one has as much invested in yourself as you do; trust yourself the most.
Decide what you want and go out there and get it. We will all be in a much better world if you, me, and all of us, are following our inspiration. What inspires you? "You've got to jump before your parachute will ever open." And once you jump, it will.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
For One Day...Just One Day!
I'm reminded that tomorrow is my Birthday - Whoot Whoot! I have never really cared how old I am - is that weird? There are a lot of things in life that I find myself just not paying attention to and age is definitely one of them. I think that it can really limit a person, to think too much about their age - because often times we use it against ourselves and not to our benefit; meaning, if there's something that we are really driven or inspired to do, oftentimes we make excuses like 'I'm too old' and 'I'm too young' or 'I'm going to miss my chance.' Yada Yada Ya.
I think those time or age-related excuses are completely bogus and there is a lot less emphasis that could be placed on how old we are (or aren't). Just be you - however young or old you feel - just be yourself...yes I know this sounds cliche and cheesy, but I don't care! So how about just for a day - to celebrate my Birthday - just on April 5th 2010, spend the entire day being yourself, whatever that may be. "Out beyond the ideas of right and wrong there is a field, I will meet you there."
I think those time or age-related excuses are completely bogus and there is a lot less emphasis that could be placed on how old we are (or aren't). Just be you - however young or old you feel - just be yourself...yes I know this sounds cliche and cheesy, but I don't care! So how about just for a day - to celebrate my Birthday - just on April 5th 2010, spend the entire day being yourself, whatever that may be. "Out beyond the ideas of right and wrong there is a field, I will meet you there."
Saturday, April 3, 2010
I always seek out ALL of the music that my favorite artists have made
I wanted to find a way that somebody could easily own my entire catalog of music - meaning all 5 of my current albums plus any albums that I make in the future - and here is what I came up with:
For $50 I will immediately put all 5 of my current CDs in the mail to you, then anytime in the future when I release a CD, I will email you to double-check your current mailing address and then I'll put your CD in the mail for free. I always seek out all of my favorite artists complete catalog of music, and this seems like an easy, inexpensive way for me to offer this to my amazing fans.
Here is the link http://bit.ly/begWjH
I'll post again soon ;)
www.dancoyle.com
twitter.com/dan_coyle
facebook.com/insidethesunshinefactory
Free Podcast http://bit.ly/bxq1Zx
For $50 I will immediately put all 5 of my current CDs in the mail to you, then anytime in the future when I release a CD, I will email you to double-check your current mailing address and then I'll put your CD in the mail for free. I always seek out all of my favorite artists complete catalog of music, and this seems like an easy, inexpensive way for me to offer this to my amazing fans.
Here is the link http://bit.ly/begWjH
I'll post again soon ;)
www.dancoyle.com
twitter.com/dan_coyle
facebook.com/insidethesunshinefactory
Free Podcast http://bit.ly/bxq1Zx
Thursday, December 3, 2009
It's been a long time!
Wow - As I welcome myself back to the blog-o-sphere and thank you for stopping by to check out my blog - I'm currently bunkered down in Maryland, smack-dab between Baltimore and Washington DC.
Work on Album #3 has begun and it will be quite a treat! This one will have various instruments as I'm recording it with a full band and I'm doing a lot of writing on the piano/keyboard as opposed to the guitar ;)
There is a video documentary being created about the making of the album, chuck full of interviews, inside-looks at practice sessions and studio sessions, etc, etc.
There is also a FUNdraiser at dancoyle.com that is attempting to raise $3000 by Dec 18th to fund the making of the album. Along with your donation you get a ton of really fun prizes for donating at every level (starting for as little as $1) and all the way up ;)
That's it for now, I'm going to enjoy my orange/peppermint/ginger tea and surf the web and start booking the spring 2010 tour (oh the fall tour was great and there are still 3 shows left: Dec 4 at Old Bowie Town Grille in MD, Dec 11 at Boulder Coffee in Rochester, and Dec 15 at Kenny's Castaways in NYC) -- connect with me at twitter.com/dan_coyle and http://www.facebook.com/insidethesunshinefactory and stay updated every week with my free podcast on itunes or http://www.gcast.com/user/dancoyle/podcast/www_dancoyle_com
Much Love, Many Thanks!
Dan
www.dancoyle.com
dan@dancoyle.com
Work on Album #3 has begun and it will be quite a treat! This one will have various instruments as I'm recording it with a full band and I'm doing a lot of writing on the piano/keyboard as opposed to the guitar ;)
There is a video documentary being created about the making of the album, chuck full of interviews, inside-looks at practice sessions and studio sessions, etc, etc.
There is also a FUNdraiser at dancoyle.com that is attempting to raise $3000 by Dec 18th to fund the making of the album. Along with your donation you get a ton of really fun prizes for donating at every level (starting for as little as $1) and all the way up ;)
That's it for now, I'm going to enjoy my orange/peppermint/ginger tea and surf the web and start booking the spring 2010 tour (oh the fall tour was great and there are still 3 shows left: Dec 4 at Old Bowie Town Grille in MD, Dec 11 at Boulder Coffee in Rochester, and Dec 15 at Kenny's Castaways in NYC) -- connect with me at twitter.com/dan_coyle and http://www.facebook.com/insidethesunshinefactory and stay updated every week with my free podcast on itunes or http://www.gcast.com/user/dancoyle/podcast/www_dancoyle_com
Much Love, Many Thanks!
Dan
www.dancoyle.com
dan@dancoyle.com
Monday, July 13, 2009
Get this Train Running Again!
OK - I'm back for good now! Given all of the excitement with stalking and traveling and so on and so forth I let this go...but never shall I waiver again!
Oh sweet Jesus there has been so many things going on. Just today I created an option on my homepage (www.dancoyle.com) to purchase autographed photos...it seems like a really cool idea to me, so I hope it catches on. I also launched my "I'll come play a private show anywhere for you" campaign. Essentially, you can purchase a private show and have me come play for you with as many or as few people there to enjoy the performance as you would like. Shows are 60-90min in length and you can request songs, etc.
So we'll see where this all goes, but I hope it only keeps increasing. I've been super tired and I have a live stream tonight and Thursday this week at www.ustream.com so that should be fun; but for now I'm going to shower and try and nap before the LIVE Stream...hope to see you there!
Oh sweet Jesus there has been so many things going on. Just today I created an option on my homepage (www.dancoyle.com) to purchase autographed photos...it seems like a really cool idea to me, so I hope it catches on. I also launched my "I'll come play a private show anywhere for you" campaign. Essentially, you can purchase a private show and have me come play for you with as many or as few people there to enjoy the performance as you would like. Shows are 60-90min in length and you can request songs, etc.
So we'll see where this all goes, but I hope it only keeps increasing. I've been super tired and I have a live stream tonight and Thursday this week at www.ustream.com so that should be fun; but for now I'm going to shower and try and nap before the LIVE Stream...hope to see you there!
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