Adventure is a state of mind.
Like so many people of all ages, after seeing the movie 'The Bucket List', Dan started to think about what he would put on his list. This is his story, a story about how he decided to make his life a little richer and the steps he took to dust off a few, once dearly held, hopes and dreams and realise them.
Last year at the age of 67 I started to write songs. I have had a guitar since the age of 16, and love to sing, mainly folk and country music. For some unknown reason, songs just started to appear in my head usually in the early hours of the morning so I would get out of bed and write them down before I forgot them.
I have always loved to sing but never had the courage to get on stage in front of a live audience. However, after I had written about 20 songs, I started to wonder if they were any good or were they total rubbish. The only way I was going to find out was to perform them live. I thought a lot about performing in public, mainly negative thoughts of being rejected or ridiculed and being laughed off the stage. Then I realised that I didn't want to be one of those people who constantly regret not doing things in their life, the ones who are always saying, "If only I had done this or that" so I finally plucked up the courage, and joined a local Country Music Club and got up on stage to sing.
While I was sitting in the audience waiting my turn, I was a little dismayed by the number of people who were talking when the singers were performing. My turn arrived and I got up in front of over 50 strangers and it was terrifying. I was nervous and scared, however I told the audience that this was a 'Bucket List' idea for me to get up and sing my own songs. Then I started to sing, solo without the band's backing.
It was a weird, exhilarating experience. The first thing I noticed was that when I started to sing, there was the total silence from the audience. No one was talking. Over 50 strangers were listening to my original song. Once I finished, I received a tremendous applause which made me feel very happy.
During the supper break, many people came up to me and commented on how good my song was. There was disbelief that I had actually written the song. Some people wished that they had the talent and ability to write songs. Yet to me it didn't feel like a talent, the songs just came to me without effort so I never felt I had a talent.
After that first performance on stage, I wondered why hadn't I done this before? What stopped me? I realised it was mainly fear of failure, of ridicule and rejection. It was safer to be one of the audience, to be one of the "Grey", "Invisible" people, to be one of those who were scared to follow their dreams and to stand out from the crowd. I was like that for 67 years. Had I taken the plunge and started when I was younger, maybe things would have been different in my life, who knows?
Has this experience made a difference to my life? I would have to give an unequivocal “Yes”, I have gained a confidence and belief in myself that was previously missing, I now enjoy getting up on stage and performing my songs, yes, I still make mistakes and yes, I am still nervous, but I am enjoying myself so much doing this.
Before I started to sing in public, I stayed at home most of the time. Now I am out a lot more.
Since then I have also started to realise another 'Bucket List' ambition by buying a clarinet and enrolling at a music school to learn to play it.
The moral of this story, if there is one, is that don't let your fears prevent you from trying to realise your dreams and ambitions. Give it a go. The worst thing that can happen is that you fail. Don't be one of those “If only” people.
whitecrane - 12 years ago
I loved these songs Dan..when people write their own songs they reveal something about themselves..I love country and western music! To me it tells the story of the human experience….would be nice to hear you singing live….