Faith

summer3

Happy New Year!!I’m looking ahead and I’m looking back to see where it is I am. I want to share with you my experience of changing my life and one of the lessons in life I remembered at just the right time. More than a year ago I left my job as a successful Realtor to become a Musician.I left my office, my computer, my fax machine, my desk. I left weekly meetings and important phone calls. I left my clients, many of whom I had worked with for many years. I left my identity as a successful professional. I left my title of Platinum Member of the Million Dollar Club and the six figure income that came with it. I left a career that had taken me eight years to create. I had started with no clients, no real knowledge of real estate, no business experience and no real idea how I was going to get by. I had started with no salary, no benefits and no clue. I ended on a high note. I packed up my unused business cards, calendars, paper clips and address book. I told everyone I was just taking a year off and that maybe I’d be back even when I knew all along I would not because it was hard for people to understand such a decision. I was afraid.I started my career in music from that decision to walk away. Turning to music could only happen after leaving real estate, I’m not sure why but for me, this was the case. I started with no real experience in the music industry. No experience writing songs.  No record contract. No Manager. No booking agent. I didn’t know how to play guitar and I didn’t know what to wear on stage. I wasn’t sure if anyone would listen.I wasn’t sure and then again I was. And this is what I call faith…The basis of my faith is this. I accept that there is a natural order of things. All things. That things are as they should be. Things are confusing. Life is complicated. Bad things happen to very nice people. Good things happen to bad people. Bad food happens to everyone. Good food makes you fat…it is not a perfect place but perfection is not the point. There is a rhythm an order and place for everything. I believe this.So this is faith. I am where I am supposed to be, all the time. I work on my life and on myself and on my goals. I strive to be a better person, to eat less and exercise more. I try to read the newspaper and to have good character. I try to send birthday cards and recycle. I try to walk my dog. I floss. I pray. I clean. I think. I floss some more. I try to make the best of a dismal situation like being on a crowded plane when I’m sick as a dog and smell like one having flown for 24 hours - I do my best. And when my best is done, I relax into it all, and this is faith.Faith is diving into a swimming poolFaith is closing your eyesFaith is a deep breathFaith is the best kind of laughterFaith is freedomFaith feels like a secret sometimes.Faith is private.I am in that time of my new career where I have done much of the work. I’ve learned to play guitar. I write songs. I wear what I want on stage and I don’t worry about it. I made a record and I’m making another one now. I sing my songs and do the work and then I relax into it all and this for me, is faith. Written 2002. Photo Sumner 2003