Living With A Purpose Series | What Do You Live For?

what lies behind you and what lies in front of you pales in comparison to what lies inside of you

Ralph waldo emerson

---

The Nashville skyline at twilight is one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen. Almost like a very detailed painting with vibrant colors grabbing your attention. I was glad to say that I have witnessed a beautiful view like this when I visited the great city in May of 2015. We arrived in Nashville that night around 10 PM CT after making a long and demanding nine hour drive from my hometown in North Florida. I had my brights on ever since we crossed into the city limits of Nashville, the skyline was lit up, specifically the AT&T building, the tallest skyscraper you see in the picture above.

The sounds are as beautiful as the sights. From the guys and gals at the Stage on Broadway trying to get noticed to Brad Paisley and Carrie Underwood at the Grand Ole Opry, the music scene spans far and wide. Just a few weeks ago, Shinedown brought their famous Carnival of Madness tour to the Ascend Amphitheater right outside of the metro and right next to the Cumberland River. The Nashville community also offers many great festivals such as the annual CMA Fest.

Okay, I'm done talking as if I'm a tour guide. Nashville is legit the best city I've ever been to. Everyone has their goals in life and a city they want to end up in. Some people I grew up with want to stay right here in my hometown for the rest of their life. Some want to move to Georgia or North Carolina. I'm sure some people have goals to move to New York City or LA to pursue their dreams and goals. Nashville is that city for me. I've always been one for checking out live shows no matter the artist and finding friends to talk music tech stuff with. You know the deal.

I moved out of my natural habitat to the capital of Florida, Tallahassee in April to, what I thought, start a brand new life and be an adult, whatever that is. I was working at Buffalo Wild Wings as a server, making 100 dollars every two weeks on base pay and living off of my tips. I quickly knew that I made a mistake but my pride didn't let me admit my fault until I was forced to leave Tallahassee. As I'm writing this blog, I am currently employed with a part-time job and paying off my major bills before I start saving up what I can. At the end of this year, I will be leaving out of my home once again and moving to a more natural habitat but this time, I will have a plan and all of my ducts in a row so I can stay. Where's the place I'm moving to? I'm sure you guessed right.

[NASHVILLE :]

I'm crazy, I know. This past June, I had one of the best job offers I ever received. I applied with Comcast as a Call Center Support Technician in Nashville for a starting pay of $12.55 an hour. I tried my hardest to scrounge what little money I had but I didn't even have enough to get me there. I was surely heartbroken that such a great career opportunity that could carry me to where I want to, slipped through my fingers. The problem was this: I was too early. I wanted so bad to escape my situation because frankly, it was quite embarrassing that I moved and couldn't even support myself.

As a dreamer, my life depends on this move. I will start school in September to become a Touring Manager for bands and/or artists so internships would be awesome. I could meet a whole new group of people, I could find a nice girl, I could form a band. So many opportunities can arise from this move. Only time will tell.

Let's be real for a second here. I am completely terrified.

I am terrified because even though I am stepping into the realist world possible, I will be right over 500 miles away from home. I will know but a few people whom I don't personally know completely. All I will have is myself, my computer and a camera to collect precious moments and sights. I will have no idea where to go or what to do but I find joy in it.

Do I know that this is where I need to be? Not exactly but I've learned to live in the moment. What I do know is that God has called me to such a platform that I can't walk off of. If I walk off of that platform, I will be right where I started, as a fan level with the ground. I'm not saying that I will be on a pedestal and higher above everyone else, what I mean is that I am called to be a leader. One of the most famous songs in the Christian industry is Jesus Freak by DC Talk whom split up 16 years ago. In the middle of the song, the lyrics go as so:

I saw a man with tat on his big fat belly It wiggled around like marmalade jelly It took me a while to catch what it said 'Cause I had to match the rhythm Of his belly with my head "Jesus Saves" is what it raved in a typical tattoo green He stood on a box in the middle of the city And claimed he had a dream.

Enough said, right?

Now, it's no secret that I write long blogs but I'm not finished yet so stick around. I'm going somewhere with this. Have you ever longed for a place so desperately that you would do anything to get there? I'm not talking about Heaven even though I do and maybe you long for that place. Where is your heart at? If you don't know, then think about this: What do you believe in? If you had four minutes left to live, what would you do? What would you want to experience or tell someone?

Maybe, you've took a step toward what you think was right and failed. What did you learn? Would you do it again? Is the passion still there?

I've learned a few things in my 22 years here on planet earth. One notable thing was this, don't live to please anyone but yourself. You know yourself better than anyone. You're going to have those who block your way to freedom yet want you to branch out. You feel caged with no way out and you just do not know what to do. Then an opportunity arises. Would you take it? Would you step out again and pursue that dream you think is right? I mean, you don't really know what is right and what is wrong until you take a step toward it.

When I move to Nashville, I will choose to succeed. I will tell myself that I will make my dreams come true and I will not fail. Have you told yourself that lately? Or have you let people tell you that you're a failure and you won't ever do anything worth nothing? I've lived my life letting people control me and fill my head with doubts. Don't let it happen to you. You only have one life to live.

I will move to Nashville with a good paying job and support myself. I will live freely, stand tall and speak loud. I will finish my book and publish it. I will change lives. I will for it.

What do you live for? It's out of your control anyways.

Oh, one more thing. Listen to this song: