First time was when my mate, Pete gave me his VHS copy of Dire Straits Alchemy Live.
I watched Mark Knopfler in awe.
His fingers gliding over the fretboard like Torville and Dean on ice.
I figured I could never ever come close to licking his toenails.
I was devastated.
.
.
.
But I got over that by realising that I wasn’t looking to become the next Mark Knopfler.
I carried on practising the guitar.
.
.
.
2nd time was when I’d been through my local band phase.
I didn’t have the energy/desire/acumen to see through how I could make a living as a creative producer/artist/creator.
I sold pretty much all my gear and felt free.
.
.
.
I got over it when song ideas still came to me when I wasn't even looking for them.
Started buying gear again...
.
.
.
3rd time was when I realised that everyone on the internet music marketing courses I was signing up to was 20 years younger than me.
Were prettier.
Were more informed.
Had existing fan bases.
.
.
.
I got over it quickly.
I remembered that it all starts with a good song.
And I had plenty of those.
.
.
.
Last time was when I realised I’d been engineering and producing my own tracks for many years...
...but hadn’t been practising my core music skills.
.
My vocals were poor…
My guitar playing techniques needed a lot of oiling…
My piano skills were still too rudimentary...
.
But then I started to practice.
More and more.
And you know…
Each time I’ve given up…
It’s kinda strengthened my resolve.
I've always bounced back bigger.
.
I’m like a great-grandparent with three kids, half a dozen grandkids, and 20-fold great-grandkids.
I see one misbehave and I want to disown them.
Then a minute later they’re making me belly laugh.
.
.
.
That’s what songs do to me.
That’s why I’m still hacking it thirty years on.
That’s why I’ll still be doing it until I meet my maker.
.
.
.
Come hell or high water.
I’ll still be doing it.
For me.
And you too…
If you’re on board.
.
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.
Just as Rick said.