“Welcome to the real world”,
She said to me condescendingly
Take a seat, take your life
Plot it out in black and white
Well I never lived the dream of the prom kings
And the drama queens, I’d like to think the best of me
Is still hiding up my sleeve
They love to tell you, “Stay inside the lines”
But something’s better on the other side
I wanna run through the halls of my high school
I wanna scream at the top of my lungs
I just found out there’s no such thing as the real world
Just a lie you’ve got to rise above
So the good boys and girls take the so called “right track”
Faded white hats grabbing credits and maybe transfers
They read all the books but they can’t find the answers
And all of our parents, they’re getting older
I wonder if they’ve wished for anything better
While in their memories, tiny tragedies
They love to tell you, “Stay inside the lines”
But something’s better on the other side…
Love this song, No Such Thing, by John Mayer. Supposedly it’s about Mayer’s mom telling him to get his head out of the clouds and do something practical with his life. That the life of a rock star was not acceptable. Until the moment he realized that the “right” way is just a lie you’ve got to rise above and then rose to multi-platinum status with some Grammys to tote. He reminds us to listen to our hearts and follow its path, even if it’s the road less traveled.
There’s no such thing as the real world. There’s only YOUR world. What you decide to perceive and create. So let’s not buy into the lie of what our lives “should” look like. If my father had, he’d have continued on with his architecture degree and never actualized his true gift of dance and performing. He chose to leave his homeland for New York City with $100 in his pocket and a dream. A dream that became his reality that took him all over the world and later touched hundreds of lives by teaching and passing on his gift to others. Countless numbers of people have expressed to me how much he touched their lives, and that even though they went on to become accountants or nurses, what he taught them had great impact on their lives. But, like Mayer, what if he hadn’t taken that leap and played it safe? He would’ve stayed in Mexico and his true expression in this world may have never existed and been lost forever.
If you suspect the best part of you is still hiding up your sleeve, then roll ’em up and get to work! It’s your birth right. Make 2012 the year you REALize the REAL you.
Happy New Year!
Photo courtesy of wallpaperbase.com
Love this blog, Inge!!!!
Thanks Mom (a.k.a. my #1 fan ) π
I love the positive attitude! I say if you know it’s who you are in your heart, don’t let anyone dissuade you. Own it and make it real.
Happy New Year, Ingrid!
Amen sista π Happy New Year!!
I will say, I love that song, and totally didn’t know any of that about John Mayer.
I’m planning on making 2012 a great year for me.
Awesome Patrick! Happy New Year!
Great post. I also did not know any of that info about John Mayer but love his music. I am making a number of major changes in my life for 2012 and really hope they work out well.
I’m sure they will Tasha. Best of luck with it all!
Gorgeous post. That last bit is such great advice!
May your year be chock-full of the great things the less traveled road can bring.
Thank you August! And for you as well π
Ingrid, great piece of writing: The flow, the sincerity and the music of the words, just oustanding.Bravo!
Thank you Gilbert! Coming from you that means a lot π