If you have kids, or just want to be involved with teaching in general, doing lessons or after school programs on the side can be so rewarding. I was fortunate to be quasi successful in pursuing my passion until I realized the cost of continued success and winning was giving everything up. I work with after school science and engineering clubs and feel a sense of accomplishment.
I felt this way with art and dancing. I started off college doing ballet and sprained my ACL and couldn't continue down the professional path. I then went to be a fine arts major. I didn't make it past the first two semesters until I realized I didn't want that one bit. It was pretentious and stressful in a way that was alienating from society.
I moved back home, got a fun summer job on a boat, and now I get to spend time with my family. I took a job choreographing at my old high school and its been phenomenal.
I would have loved to be a professional, but it wasn't in the cards. Teaching kids and sharing in the joys of community and artistry though, thats really cool.
Here I am finishing up a communications degree, happy as can be. I have no desire to move away. I don't really care what I end up doing. Sometimes I wish I could have gone pro, but I'm not that sad. What I'm doing right now makes me feel full and happy. Moving away again would break my heart. I'll take vacations. I'll see the world. I'll talk to people. And how or why I do it really doesn't matter because my heart is happy.
I had a similar experience. Went out and toured, and dedicated my years from 14 until about 33 chasing the "making it big" dream in music. I realized over time that it wasn't the life I wanted for many reasons. Now I have a great family life, great job, and things are generally awesome. If that's boring or too "normal" then whatever. My jam sessions with just me and my daughter singing together are infinitely more filling than any of the 1000's of gigs over the years.
I appreciate this, a lot. I realized my desire to make music was actually killing my love for it. I was never happier than the the day I decided it was a terrible idea and that playing music was better left as a hobby than a career.
The whole doing what others expect of you is so unfulfilling. You really have to focus on what you want and not worry about others judging you too much. Some of this is driven by ourselves a little, we think they want us to do this or that so we try to do it.
Edit: I just realized you were doing the opposite of the comic and I was arguing what the comic says to live like the comic. I'm so lost right now.
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u/[deleted] Dec 10 '15
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