Dream Chasing

At my campus job, one of the activities my co-workers and I engaged in is something called a "pat bag." We each took a brown paper bag and wrote our name on it, and then taped it upside-right to the wall. Throughout the week, we wrote each other little notes (signed or anonymous) saying things we noticed that the person did well at our job, kind of like a written "pat on the back". At the end of the week, we took the bags home and got to read all of the lovely things people said.

One of my friends closed her note to me with a phrase I won't soon forget:
"Keep on chasing down your passion like the last bus of the night." 
That was in June.

In August, one of the editors of my college's campus newspaper contacted me, offering me a position to write about music for the Opinion section of the paper. She had seen this blog, and liked my style; both my writing and my flare for music. I spastically flailed my arms around after I read the email and wanted to stop people in the streets to tell them how excited I was. It's like booking your first gig at a tiny coffee house: even though only a few people are going to be there when you play, and even fewer will care, you're out of the garage, and you get a small taste of the reality of what it is you love to do.

My column is called "Put Your Records On" (the title was created by my editor, and I think it is wonderful!) It's only around 300 words for the weekly publication, but it's a blast because I get to talk about something I love. Tomorrow, my article will be in the first printing of the campus newspaper for the semester.

Some might say that this small-time success is pointless. I say cheer up, buttercup. One small step for another is one giant leap for L.V. (look at this kid, mixing her metaphors like that. She's gone mad!)

 Maybe you're wondering, "well, that's cool and all, but what does any of this have to do with me?"
Here's a few tips for pursuing (and hopefully, capturing!) that often elusive creature, success:

1. Find something you love, and throw yourself into it. You don't even have to be good at it to begin, you just have to love it. Enjoying what you do increases your chances of wanting to learn everything about your chosen activity and how to do it well.

2. Do you, dude. Whatever it is you choose to do, do it for you. Don't write, play, or create for other people. Make yourself happy with your work first, and the rest will follow.

3. Stay true. Once you've established your activity, don't lose yourself to it, or let other people change you because of it. Keep it simple: just do what you love, stop when you don't love it, and don't let negative influences tell you otherwise.

That's about all I've got for tonight. My Shakespeare homework is calling me...

Anyways, whatever you do, wherever you are, whatever it is you love, I hope you get the chance to share it with your world, whether that's through your personal website, your school, or even with a bunch of your closest friends.

"Keep on chasing down your passion like the last bus of the night." Remember that.