Surviving in this World

How can one survive in this world doing what they love to do? It appears there are plenty of people who are capable of such a feat and I SO want to be one of them. Am I surviving as a full-time musician? Yes and no. If it weren't for my savings I would have never made it this far. So I am scrambling to find other avenues of an income source. I know I will make it because of my tenacity and perseverance, but it gets scary sometimes. I don't/won't end up back in a cubicle, but I'm also not yet ready to go and work at Starbucks to make ends meet!

I love to teach and am currently looking for a new teaching gig that will supplement my income and also allow me to give back to children what was given to me. I have a strong sense of "duty" to contribute to society. But I want my contribution to be a creative one, one that will open new doors for children and help guide them on a more positive path.

I went to see a Gymnastics competition the other night with my mom. There were a ton of kids there who obviously were aspiring gymnasts. It was great to see so many families out with their children. But there were two young girls behind me, neither more than 10 years old who were looking for all of the mistakes of the gymnasts instead of appreciating the hard work and dedication each was giving to their sport. It occurred to me that even at a very young age, our children are learning to view things in a negative light rather than a positive one. How did it happen that we have become such a cynical society? I am just as guilty--everyone is--but I am making it a point to change my way of thinking by approaching things in a more positive light, trying to see the good in things rather than gravitating straight to the negative. This is part of what I want to give to the children I will be teaching.