Is it worth it?

We all ask this question at every step of life I’m sure, and for the most part the right answer is always yes.

I bring up this potentially meaningless question because of a post that my friend put up on his blog and has been passed around on the (fantastic) hip-hop artist, Charles Hamilton. Here is what the post says:

To answer a question…

I’ve had a few people ask me lately, “how’s music going?” Here is my answer:

I sleep less.

I eat less.

I watch hardly any TV.

I see Randa (whom I adore) way less.

I’m broke.

I’m in debt.

I have way less sex.

I drink less.

I listen to fewer albums.

I haven’t watched a movie in a month.

I’m addicted to coffee.

I get stir crazy in this tiny house that I share with four people.

I no longer have car insurance (I don’t drive).

I have trouble staying awake at my day job.

All that being said,

I absolutely love what I am doing.

Now, I don’t need to go into what’s been said because it’s a pretty obvious. What I would like to add to it is some of my thoughts to mix. The author of those words and I are in the beginning stages of a music project that both of us believe in very strongly. I know the both of us feel that we have the right vision, sounds, and attitude towards what we’re doing. It’s more than just doing what we love, it about doing what’s right. I don’t need to dive into this business venture. I’ve been making music on my own for years because it’s something I love. This is way more about going through this painful process because it needs to be done and I really have no choice in it. I don’t work till 8PM and without any dinner go into the studio and start working on music because it’s fun, some times it is, sometimes it’s not. It’s just what needs to be done.

With my mindset established is now where I bring up that question again, “Is it worth it?” I again answer yes to this because I have grown and learned in just a short time. Working in one creative field doesn’t just stay secluded to one medium, that passion overflow into all areas.It is because of that reason that my love for film grew. When I first took a film class I was a lightweight in anything that wasn’t scientific, I was a physics nerd. After I watched a Antonioni or Godard film my life changed completely. I started to become obsessed with not only film but music, art, design, fashion, literature, etc. and the history behind it all. I became a walking wikipedia that always asked questions and always kept the answers to heart. I left physics and went to college for photography and art history, (which surprisingly my parents didn’t mind, thank you). So with just a couple films taking such a strong hold in the direction of my life you can imagine how much my life is improving with spending 40+ hours a week on top of my regular job working in music, photo, writing, and graphic design on a fairly professional level.

The learning curve has been incredibly hard and my stress and reached levels to which I didn’t know were possible. I honestly cannot say that I have begun to reap the rewards for my hard work, but I can say that I definitely feel that I have made all the right decisions to get where I’m at. I don’t look for quick success, I am someone who is motivated by the concept of putting in your dues. All I can say is that I know I am just at the cusp of reaching new heights of learning that I haven’t before and it is very exciting. It is definitely worth it, even if the end result isn’t something that I necessarily wanted. Even if all my projects fail (which I’m confident they won’t) I know that it was all worth it because it has put me a level of productivity that I don’t think I ever have been. Even though life may be getting harder creativity is definitely getting easier and that gives me hope. So when I’m way behind deadline for a magazine, or I just can’t figure how to play that perfect chord for the chorus, or I just can’t save a photo which means I’ll lose some money, and on top of that I’m behind in paperwork for work…

I realize this is exactly where I want to be.

-Tim Moore