May 14, 2019 by Klaus Crow
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What more can you wish for when you’ve achieved most of the goals you had in the past?
I’m pretty grateful for my life right now and all the things I’ve experienced and accomplished.
I’ve played in a lot of different bands, done hundreds of gigs, played music for a living, met a beautiful girl, got married, traveled to beautiful countries, started teaching guitar for a living from my home studio, started a blog, got three kids and made some really good friends along the way. Of course, that’s the short version.
While I’m really happy with accomplishing a lot of the goals I had, goals can also change once you get older. Life changes, circumstances change, you change and so it’s not that strange your goals change along with you.
Lately I read something in a book that really struck me.
Let’s fast forward a couple of years. Suppose you are somewhere around 85 years old, you are lying on your death bed and look back on your life. Are there still things you wish you had done in your life or regret you didn’t have? Think about it for a moment.
Now let’s rewind again.
The funny thing is, there are still a couple of things that I would really love to do sometime. But then I often tell myself that it wouldn’t hurt if they didn’t see the light of day, because they are just small things. Because they are not necessary the big goals that I want to accomplish in life. So does that mean they are not important?
Well I always thought they weren’t, but by pretending having reached the age of 85 and realizing that I would have missed out on those little things, it felt completely different. It would have been a damn shame.
Okay, I’ve been busy with other awesome things, but those little things are still wandering in the back of my mind (and in my notebook). So I’ve decided it’s time to act on those little things.
I’ve been reevaluating my guitar goals and I’ve been adding the smaller ones, the more fun and innocent ones.
Here are a few of them:
– Playing in a jazz combo
– Playing and singing Ryan Adams songs with a band.
– Playing crazy lead guitar riffs and solos in a rock band again. Reliving my childhood :)
You might think. But these are projects that can take up years? Well, that particular thought would hold me back all the time. I’ve decided to eliminate that thought and just see what happens. Maybe some of these take a day, a week, a month, a year or more. Great, that’s fine! I don’t care, I’m not going for the destination, I’m going for the journey. I just want the experience.
I already started taking action. Lately I’ve been rehearsing with a jazz combo and it feels great! The little voice in the back of my mind has already calmed down a bit and sees I’m working on it.
It only took one step!
SO HAVE YOU REEVALUATED YOUR GUITAR GOALS?
Have you fulfilled all your guitar dreams, even the small ones or the new ones? Take out your note book and write it all down.
Are you aware you have any? Let me help you out.
– What kind of music are you listening to lately. Has your taste of music changed or expanded?
– What style of music are you playing on guitar these days?
– Do you wish you could play the music you love with other musicians?
– Do you have any secret musical aspirations?
– Is there anything holding you back?
– What musical endeavors are still on your bucket list?
Just take the first step and make them see the light of day!
Hi Klaus,
great post. Had the same idea just a few days ago. I´m playing in a cool rockband, creating our own songs in different tunes with cool bandmates. But looking for new things actually I try to find a sax-player and someone crazy at a cajon to combine it with my guitar playing. Just another kind of music, feelings, moods… Don´t know if it will work, but only the idea of the new project leads me to new forms and sounds while playing. So: Let´s free our “guitar-thoughts”!
Right on Joe!
Sounds really awesome. I say go for it.
Thanks for your comment, appreciate it.
Best regards,
Klaus Crow
Hi Klaus,
I will surely take the time to reevaluate my guitar goals.I have even missed many small goals in guitar playing.It makes me to achieve it.Thanks for sharing.
Hi Prasana,
It’s fun and realistic to have big goals, but just don’t miss out on the small goals if they are even more fun.
Best regards,
Klaus Crow
Hi Klaus,
had the first session with a small “percussion&wind” ensemble. Rhythms from africa and south amerika, saxophone, didgeridoo…to me it´s mind-opening-music and there are many new goals like: “what can I play in this or that tune?”. A crazy new world for me. Hope anybody gets the chance to jam with interessting musicians outside his own “musicsphere”.
Best regards,
Joe
Hi Joe,
Good for you! That seems pretty cool what you’re doing.
I think it will also have an effect on the way you play other instruments as well.
A new source of inspiration.
Best regards,
Klaus Crow