All I Need In This Life of Sin

Story 1: In my perfect world, I'm sitting pretty in a mansion with acres of land surrounding me in a New England setting.  I'm an entrepreneur, I'm a music producer, stage designer, and a shoe designer, and I've got plenty of extra money to spend, money is no longer a concern.  I've got a wife that I met before the money who loves me for who I am and not what I have, and we have 4 kids, two boys two girls.  I'm able to put my parents in a nice house that they don't need to worry about paying for.  My family can depend on me for help should they need it.  I've designed stages for the biggest musical acts and have also contributed music to their sets.  People compare my beat skills to those of Pharrell and Timbaland, I'm a role model to young kids, and teach/give speeches at schools around the country.  I'm satisfied not because I have money, but because my worries are minimal.

Story 2: I've had a life changing experience, I'm on an expedition through the Amazon and get attacked by a poisonous snake.  I rush to the hospital thinking I'm going to die when the doctors tell me that I'm completely fine, and that somehow the venom in my system has been fought off by my blood.  I decide to return home to Boston after that traumatic experience.  I contemplate my life and where it's headed and realize the snake attack has shown me that life is a virtue.  I decide I need to stop being so reckless and take an easier life of relaxation.

Story 3: I'm now a bartender working at the most popular bars in New York, and am known as one of the best in the city.  My ability of flipping shot cups without spilling a drop of alcohol becomes something people continuously talk and ask about.  My techniques are studied by others trying to become bartenders and I meet a lot of great people including my wife at the bar.  I make a living on my bartending and support my children with it.  I still get the chance to be popular, just on a much smaller level.

Opportunities

Opportunities are a large presence in my life
Networking is my greatest quality
The world seems to be on my side
I'm meeting people I never would've imagined

Just this week I got RZA's email
Just this week I found out I might meet Kanye
Just this week I sent Travi$ Scott more music
Just this week I met a professor from Harvard

My bank account continues to increase
My t-shirt company is in early production
The world seems to be on my side
I'm doing things I never thought I would

Just this week I experimented with a new music style
Just this week I designed a new type of stage
Just this week I planned out a trip to travel during the summer
Just this week I wrote a letter to the DOJ

My family is the closest we've ever been
My friends are supporting me more than ever
The world seems to be on my side
Just this week.....

Everything I'm Not Makes Me Everything I Am

                  As you can see my pictures show off a little bit of everything, and that's because that's what I want to do with my life, a little bit of everything.  I always wanted the people back in the day, when they were like mathematician, artist, scientist, inventor, author, farmer, astronauts in space (well maybe the last one is an exaggeration).  I always idolized them, because they were never stuck doing one job, but rather doing everything whenever they wanted.  So let's go through these pictures as I take you through different jobs and such. So for my different jobs I would like to be a music producer, a shoe designer, and an innovative tour set designer such as that seen on the Watch The Throne and Yeezus tour above.  I'd also work hard enough into wealth that I can afford a sizeable art collection from Banksy, to Basquiat, to Picasso, and also an avid car collector including old and newer cars.  I also hope to travel (soon) to Florence, Italy and to Australia at some point.  I'd also like to continue to always learn, because knowledge is power, and also one day be able to inspire others to do great through writing books and doing public speaking.  I also have some aspirations to become mayor of Somerville one day, all while balancing all the other things.

I Know Now

When you ask what I want my life to be about

I know now
I know now

I want the house on the hill
so I can look out

I know now
I know now

I want to throw awesome parties
without any doubt

I know now
I know now

I want to find the best cars the best paintings
like a talent scout

I know now
I know now

I want to talk to young adults, and write about my experiences
they need somebody to reach out

I know now
I know now

I want to create the wildest stages for the biggest artists
so I can hear the fans shout

I know now
I know now

I want to go to the depths of every book
to find knowledge, to seek it out

I know now
I know now

I want to see the ancient buildings, and the shining sun in Australia
that everybody always seems to talk about

I know now
I know now

I want to be everything but one thing all at once

Adventurous.

Passion is No Ordinary Word

       

          Ironically the reason this post is a day late this week is because I got caught up in my passion this weekend and lost track of time.  I know this probably sounds cliche but my passion is music, as in producing beats, and songs, in hopes of getting chosen by a major artist.  However, I also enjoy other aspects of music too, such as interpretation, by that I mean, when I listen to a song, I try to think of how I would want the music video for the song to look, 9 times out of 10 I'm disappointed with how they come out, cause they're no where near as meaningful or cool as I saw them.   I also enjoy drawing set designs for tours based on the theme of an artists themes.  I'm currently working on an idea for a more interactive concert experience, that I hope to get patented should I ever believe it's a valid idea.  If I could choose one thing to be dedicated to for the rest of my life, it would be producing music, I would go as far to say that I would do it for free, if money wasn't a problem.
            I've considered several different ideas if I were to become successful as a producer or tour set designer, and that would be a part time teacher.  This class would be special though, because I would allow students to take in the creative aspects of what it takes to put a song, or a show together, and how I come up with ideas.  I also considered being able to know certain artists or other producers I could bring in as guest speakers to talk to the class and give them motivation.  In a way it would also help my own creativity getting to see the reaction of kids and how they react to the content, because of everything they see everyday, and most times than not they can tell you honestly what they think.  Since I do enjoy talking, and producing, I think teaching would help fulfill both of my favorite things.
            With music the range is so large, I want to be able to affect a wide audience of people, and be able to connect to a wide audience.  I want to make music that's so uplifting and upbeat that every commercial is requesting to use the instrumental to advertise their new product.  I want my passion to lead to others getting passionate about music the same way I did, at a concert, where the presentation was amazing, and got me all kinds of excited.  Seeing the Watch The Throne concert, as the cubes rose up out of the ground and displayed various images, it looked amazing and only improved the already amazing performance.  I want my passion to lead to others following my foot steps, I want my concert design or my beat to contribute to the reason that a kid decided to become so engulfed in music.  Because that's exactly how I felt at the Watch the Throne concert, and I want others to feel that too.

The set design for the Yeezus tour was centered around a giant LED mountain.

The Irreplaceable Sound

You're the sound feelings make
   You stay close by, always a button press away
  You fill an empty room with your presence
You stand the test of time, but never age
  You help through the struggles and through the sadness
 You hold the secret to bravery and courage
You allow all in, and never discriminate.
    You're a million different races, and ethnicitys in one.
   You know how to have fun
  You make me feel cool
You portray different moods
    You always change for the better
  You're always a conversation starter
You provide me with an outlet to expression
  Without you the world would be boring
You've always been my one true love
  You never leave my side
On the darkest of days
  You stand by, and fill the room with joy
You, music, are irreplaceable

The Alchemist (The Book, Not the Producer).

            For my Voicing Your Future class, I had the pleasure of reading the book The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.  It tells the story of Santiago, who ends up having a dream about a treasure that he saw at the Pyramids, and takes you on the journey of his Personal Legend.  Santiago learns several valuable lessons on his journey, and also creates a greater connection to the world and nature.  Santiago also learns how hard it is to stick with something for as long as you can when you're faced with so many different articles.  The Alchemist was created to show that when you set your mind to a goal, that anything is possible. 

             One part of the story I really connected with, was when he finally meets the alchemist and the alchemist gives him all kinds of advice.  One part was when he talks about the need for Santiago to connect and talk with his heart and to always listen to it.  This in a way resonated with me because I've been struggling to follow what my heart is telling me and going more with what my head is saying.  But the book has been able to make me realize that listening to your heart can turn out for the better, especially in the sense of Santiago who ends up listening to his heart and connecting with nature.  There is a power in the intuition of your heart, and being able to listen to it, holds great power. 

              For the most part I loved everything about the book, from the underdog plot to all the life lessons it upheld.  The character exposition was also great, feeling like you really know a character and what he was thinking is always a plus in my book.  I also enjoyed the fact that each person that Santiago encountered had some kind of wise advice to give him, and always encouraged him to continue on his journey.  The one thing I didn't necessarily like all that much was the personification of inanimate objects, such as when he talked to the sun and his heart.  Though I know this was all meant for the greater purpose of character exposition I didn't enjoy those points for the most part.  All in all though it was a fantastic book, with not to many wrongs done.  

               I would recommend this book to a friend, because I believe they'd learn a lot of lessons like I have from the book.  Especially somebody who is in a rut or can't quite get their mind right, I'd recommend this book to get them back on track.  The best audience it would be good for is people who enjoy reading, because of all the hidden lessons, if you think reading is boring you may not see them.  I actually read this book in high school, and it led to me reading more and more to the point of where I am today.  I recommend this book to everyone!

Lessons

The Alchemist

It teaches you a lot of lessons

Ones that you can see

Ones that you can't 

It tells the story of anything you want to be

Follow your dreams

Chase after your goals

Travel the seas

Go to the North Pole

It doesn't matter what it is

As long as you go and do it

Be adventurous but observant

Connect with nature

And follow your own

Pathways can lead you in all different directions 

So follow your heart it knows what to do

It saved you more times than you know

The silent helper

It'll always be there

Waiting to save you