Shinybass Journal Entry 06/30/25

 

 

 

Potential

 

Hi. It’s you. You just came into this world, and you’ve been taken from a warm, comforting area to a halogen-lit beige room with a bunch of VERY strange looking people around. You immediately feel that you don’t like any of them, except one. The one that feels and sounds familiar. The one that holds you tightly with deep sighs of relief and a love like no one else in the room. That’s the one. That stinky one with the baseball cap is ok, too, but he doesn’t hold me the same as the one getting all the attention. Anyway, it’s been a day. Time for a swaddle and a nap. 

 

Hi. It’s you a few years later, and for some reason everyone is making you learn, like, everything. (I like to think my entries are timeless, but I am about to run that ship aground…)

 

You just want to Rizz up that freshman, but your drip makes you need that vibe check. I don’t mean to be so salty, but to you college is sus. Most adults are sus. They say college is important, you say ‘Stop the Cap!’

 

Hello again. It’s you. As it turns out, college sort of was important, for many reasons. First, learning how to live on a meager budget. Very important. Second, how to interact with other human beings on a daily basis. Big plus in life. Delaying actually getting out into the real world, well, that’s the biggest check mark on the list. 

 

Of course college isn’t for everyone. For some hiding in college is the only way. I remember one guy where I went to school who was there for like a decade. He had zero desire to do anything else. He could still be there to this day, enjoying beef skittley dinner and whatever foodservice iceberg lettuce they are serving that day. Whatever works for him. That path may not work for you. 

 

When I say the word ‘college’, what comes to mind? For me, it’s several things. First, it’s missing my minor in music because I didn’t attend enough recitals. That sort of sticks out. Not taking school as seriously as I should have also pops in. I also remember being very young, over the top obnoxious, and had no idea what was going on. Come to find out, most of us were in the same boat. (Not the obnoxious part. I was head of the class on that). 

 

As I think about it, there were more people that had a career figured out than I thought. The classes were full of aspiring professionals, waiting to go out into the world and work as __________. They knew. Since I roamed the halls of the music department a lot, I made a lot of friends who eventually went on into careers performing and teaching music. I have no idea what my friends from the business classes are doing. 

 

Running the risk of sounding dated, I feel like there were about 17 different jobs in the world when I graduated college. Of course there were at least double that, but none that I could figure out that were for me. I walked across the stage with an unpressed black gown and a sad GPA (see: apply yourself to be successful at your tasks), and sat and cried when my family drive off from the ceremony. I had little idea what I was going to do next. 

 

We’re supposed to support ourselves with work, with money. We keep afloat while trying to stay sane, keep positive change happening in the universe, and possibly raise small children who will carry our torches into the night long after the lights have left us. We see the wealthy, the talented, the beautiful people and want to be the same, however, the path doesn’t take us there. Our paths are full of potholes, rough terrain, and unmarked sections with not even a road reflector that leave us wandering for years. Want some insight? Everybody walks that path. 

 

Which leads me to the real point of this entry. There is no right way, or wrong way to this life thing. The idea struck me after a conversation I had with a good friend about raising kids. Single parenting is about balance. I told him I’ll have the kids on one side, and the rest of life on the other, trying to level the two, then someone comes along and kicks the scale over. He said “You know, I wish someone told me years ago that life wasn’t about absolutes. There’s not a right way or a wrong way: there can be two right ways to do something”. That hit me so hard. 

 

I hear all the time ‘I want to be a successful musician. How do I get there?” First, define success, Let’s start there. I have been playing music my whole life. Am I successful? Many days I feel less than successful. As creatives we all feel that. Do I still have potential to make music? Yes. That to me is success. There is no exotic sports car in my garage (Fun fact – statistically very few sidemen bass players own such an item…), although I have some great instruments, which are way more fun, and use less gas. 

 

Here’s the thing – if you have the potential, you aren’t done. You are smart. You are savvy. It seems that when I left college, the only ‘side hustle’ was pizza delivery. Now you can make money with your phone by eating homegrown vegetables and filming reviews? Who would have thunk it? You aren’t done. Just find your jam. Or jelly. Either way, preserve your… OK, I’ll stop. (Dads gotta Dad). 

 

That classic graduation present of ‘Oh! The Places You Will Go!’ spells it all out for us, we just didn’t know it. I’ve lived that whole book and never intended to. I’m still on that path, figuring out what works and doesn’t. I do know that the more effort you put into something, the more you will get out of said something. That’s sort of day 1. So put the effort into you – however that works for you – but you have to put in the effort. 

 

For the people out there that have worked one or two ‘real’ jobs their whole lives I’m jealous – up to a point – however that wasn’t my calling. I have been all over the map literally and figuratively trying to keep it all together. The laundry list of my side hustles is exhausting, and I mostly got into them to push myself into unfamiliar territory. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn’t. I can also say ‘Oh yeah, I did that’, which may help in the next project. I still have potential. So do you. 

 

So my advice for everyone – including myself – is keep pushing – keep trying, whatever it is. Strange things happen in this universe of ours, and your path may take a turn you weren’t expecting. We can’t fight it. We pivot, adjust, and have the good sense to know that life isn’t about absolutes. There is more than one right way, so do it your way. 

 

Hello! You again! You got old. Fast. You were just a baby about 1000 words ago. Since you are old now, I have a question. Did you do what you wanted? Were you successful? If you honestly tried, then fantastic. No? Guess what? There is still time. You have potential. 

 

 

When the road gets long

And your boom drum’s not booming

The clouds look dark

And danger is looming

Remember your heart 

That’s tied to your feet

And simply start to march 

To a different beat

Untapped you are, 

That talent within 

Your potential is worth more 

Than a golden Oxenfodderlin 

So hop on that train

Never be rushed

For you, that wonderful you 

Can never be crushed!

 

(Channeling my inner Seuss…)