Rockfest

When I was 16 years old, a friend of a friend knew a guy who could get us discounted tickets to Rockfest. We got there, asked for someone by name, and gave him our cash. We were told to stand by the port-a-potties off to the side.

I was pretty sure we just fell for a scam. After a bit, a large vinyl sign advertising something pulled away from the fence, and someone said, "Hey! Y'all with Jon?" Since we were, he let us through a hidden gate. Upon reflection, I don’t think we got a legitimate entrance.

Shortly after No Doubt's set, someone rushed the stage. This is pretty common at live music shows. Someone in the crowd musters enough courage to bolt through the crowd, the security, and if they are strategic, or lucky, all the way to the band. Those successful in navigating the challenges to get on stage grab the microphone and look out at the crowd. You can see the feeling of accomplishment washing over their face. They pause, then shout something like WOOO into the microphone.

I don’t know what our guy said that day, but it was certainly some version of "YEAH MAN!" He probably didn’t think he'd make the stage, but even if he did, his plans ended at grabbing the mic.

In some ways, I catch myself wanting to be something or somewhere so badly that I don’t consider what'll happen when I make it.

Is your goal a few seconds of standing on stage and being forgotten? If not, decide now what you want to say. You never know when the mic will show up in your hand. Be ready.

Do I know what truly motivates me? Am I ready to rush the stage? With mic in hand, what must I say?

Be curious, be kind, be whole, do good things.