When is the time to stop pursuing a goal?

[mjr]

Ok, another bit of life discussion here.

Is there ever a time (or age) to stop pursuing a specific type of goal?

I mean, there are some things I used to want to do when I was younger that I know I'll never, ever do (because of age, not being in good enough shape, whatever).

But there's one thing I've wanted to do for well over 20 years: put out my own music CD. I play guitar (some of you may know this -- I own 6 guitars, and eventually plan to possibly increase that). I'm also somewhat of a lyricist.

The issue, right now, is that I've got a LOT going on in my personal life with family, work, improving my tech knowledge, and such.

I'm also almost 39 years old, and with the exception of having written more lyrics, I'm really no closer to putting out my own CD than I was 20 years ago.

There's a part of me that wants to keep pursuing this, but then there's another side of me (not sure if it's practical, rational, or what) that says to just resign myself to the reality that it's probably not going to happen, and just let it go. The second part of that is a bit depressing to think about, though.

I don't really have any aspirations to move to Nashville, or get national radio play, or anything like that, it's more of a "vanity" thing.

So, thoughts??

[April]

Keep doing it! Since youre so busy right now, what about creating a song here or there and putting it on Youtube? That way, you are producing, but you're not committing yourself to something that you feel like you can't complete at the moment

[MoonCat]

Go for it!! Look at it this way: You're going to get older anyway, would you rather be older with regrets, or older and able to say "Here's my music on CD! Have a listen!"

Also, you're still a kid to me OMGI'M58DON'TEVENSTART!

[morgana]

Listen to Mooncat. I'm 64 and ALL my regrets center around, "WHY didn't I _____________ when I was 40?"

[HotelMinion]

I'm about 5 yrs younger than you and my dream used to be to write a successful novel. Now it's just to write a novel period. I will never stop working at it, unless I lose my mind from old age or working with people I suggest that you do too!

[KuariKaydrith]

It's never too late to follow your dreams. Well, it is when you're dead...but you're still alive! Do the thing!!!

[mjr]

Gracias, everyone!

I'd like for it to be a country CD, with more of a "classic/contemporary" feel to it. Gonna try to avoid "bro" country and "pop" country if I can.

[BlaqueKatt]

Listen to Mooncat. I'm 64

and you look incredible!

*sets up tiny lab to harvest Morgana's DNA from holiday envelope*
What?
*looks around*

(you've mentioned your avi is you)

[morgana]

and you look incredible!

*sets up tiny lab to harvest Morgana's DNA from holiday envelope*
What?
*looks around*

(you've mentioned your avi is you)

Well, yes, but it's not real recent . . . But thanks! (And yeah, I have had people just days ago guess me ten years younger than I am, so . . .)

[Kristev]

Go ahead and do it. I regret many things, but writing and publishing my books is something I do not regret.

[XCashier]

I'd like for it to be a country CD, with more of a "classic/contemporary" feel to it.

Like a Patsy Cline or Loretta Lynn sort of vibe? I say go for it. It's always good to get some new music. And as April suggested, post a video or two on YouTube, that might even lead to bigger things.

Good luck!

[MoonCat]

Listen to Mooncat. I'm 64 and ALL my regrets center around, "WHY didn't I _____________ when I was 40?"

Been thinking that a lot lately

[mjr]

Like a Patsy Cline or Loretta Lynn sort of vibe?
Good luck!

Closer to Hank Williams, except if you "modernized" the recordings. The same type of instrumentation, but modernized, if that makes sense.

[Seshat]

Being busy is not a reason to stop pursuing a goal; it's just a reason to put it on the back burner. Set aside even as little as ten minutes a week to keep your skills from total atrophy, and make a point of getting back to it.

Becoming incapable, fullstop, forever, is the only reason.

I know that I'll now, never be able to hold down a full-time job. Barring some miracle cure for fibro, of course.

But even after being sick, I have written and published two editions of a book; and I'm currently working on writing story for an MMO. (It's too soon to tell you which one, or what story - sorry.) Those aren't goals I'd had when I was younger, but they're damn worthwhile goals, and things I'm proud of.

Life sometimes forces you to change your goals, or to adjust their priority. Roll with it; but don't give up on something you really, really want to do just because you have had to lower its priority temporarily. Keep the relevent skills as fresh as you can, and whenever you can reduce something else's priority and boost the priority for learning/retraining in your goal, do so.

BTW: You mentioned lyrics. How about musicality? How's your composition ability? If it's not so great, perhaps its time to give yourself ten minutes or half an hour a week studying online music theory and/or composition classes.

[NotMyProblem]

I knew someone who had a home music studio. Today's technology is amazing, making it easier to create a CD from home. Continue to play, have jam sessions, start recording those. See how it sounds. Move from there.

Keep dreaming. Keep taking steps that lead you closer to your dreams. Something inside us dies when we give up on certain dreams...