Playing an Instrument to Beat the Mid-life Blues

Ever since turning 35 years old I've had a naggingalways wanted or thought you might one day
feeling that my life had somehow changed. Wherehave, just on a more realistic scale. Thus begins
once there was wonder and amazement at themy quest for musicians to jam with. I tried the
simple things in life like a cloudless summer day, orband thing when I was a teen and wasn't
the unspoilt scenery of the countryside, theseimpressed. There were too many people with
things stir little inside of me. It takes a lot more tolarge egos trying to railroad everyone else into
excite me now than a few years ago. I talked todoing it their way. Now I'm more mature, I'm
my friends who were the same age as me, andlooking for people like me who just want to enjoy
yes they felt the same way. What was it -playing music for the sake of playing music. I've
what's changed?readjusted my dreams. Now I just want to find
We came to conclusion that it was hope we hadsome people to play with. No false hopes of
lost - the hope of a better tomorrow. When webecoming famous and gigging way into my
were younger the future was always there andseventies! Just regular guys and girls who also
we'd always be young enough to change our liveshave lives they love, but want to play music with
and change our fortunes. The realisation thatothers.
we've reached and passed the peak of our livesFor me playing the guitar and singing helps me
is a shocking one. It's too late for me now to getfeel grounded and at peace with the world and I
that degree and become a lawyer. I'm neverknow others feel the same way about their
going to go to university and then on to becomemusic and their instruments. It's important not to
a world famous brain surgeon. Don't get melose sight of the fact that just because we're not
wrong, I love my life and I love my family, it'syoung doesn't mean life is over. As long as I'm still
just that I always thought that one day I'd makephysically capable I will still be playing my guitar
the 'big time'.and singing my heart out. The dream of strapping
I've played guitar and sung since I was nine yearsthe guitar to my back and riding my motorbike
old. Learning more and more songs and evenoff into the sunset might be gone now but that
writing a few of my own. I believed that one daydoesn't diminish the pleasure both give me.
I'd make it. Perhaps a talent scout would hear meSo who cares if my band is never going to get a
play or I'd get around to making that demo tapesong in the charts (or even play on stage at
and sending it off. Sadly a hundred and one otherButlins!)? Does it really matter if I'm never going
things got in the way - girls, cars, motorbikes,to be a champion motorcycle racer? There are
work, marriage and kids. I wouldn't change any ofenough people in my life who love me and enjoy
that for the world, but now I'm in my mid-thirtieslistening to me playing guitar and singing to make
it's finally occurred to me that my big break's justme feel perfectly happy with today.. and
not going to happen.tomorrow. Now that I'm finding people to play
The answer to being happy once in yourmusic with my wonder at the world we live in has
mid-thirties is to fill your life with the things youfinally returned.