I started working when I was 15. I woke up early to take Honors classes, then went to school, then participated in sports, then worked a pizza job, then worked a grocery job on weekends. I even had time for Homework and 90210. I didn't go to parties or drink. Not that I didn't want to. I just didn't know where to go. I mean, it wasn't this schedule the entire time in High School. There were breaks here and there. Once Masil & I even snuck out of the house. But for the most part, that was my life. I got 5 hours of sleep a night.
When I got to college, I learned to work hard and play hard. That was even my personal motto for a while. I learned balance. I learned to get things done and still have time to join in on the fun. I did well in my classes -- not excellent -- but well. I worked my part-time job at McD's, I was a writer and photographer for the school paper, I played Intermural sports. I even helped start a female and co-ed Intermural league (so gay). And I drank along with the rest of the 7th-floor girls. They drank every Friday and Saturday. I couldn't do that. It was too much for me. So I worked Fridays until midnight and then drove them all home from the parties. Saturday was my day to play.
When I got out of school, I started working. I learned an entirely new skillset for my career as a computer geek. So after work, I took classes. Perl, Web Databases, Dreamweaver. Once I took a 9 month course in Fundamentals of Security. I'm what you call an Overachiever.
Then I discovered House music. And I became a DJ.
But being a newbie DJ just don't pay enough to sustain. It's an art. And art, in this society, is not what makes the world go round. Most artists must work in order to fund their passion, in hopes that some day the means will shift. I was gifted the unique opportunity to work as a DJ for 6 months. I knew that I was blessed with some 'time off' in my day job and I feel that I used it wisely. I used it to work exclusively as a DJ ... build relationships locally and out of town, increase my fanbase, explore new genres and new equipment, re-design my web site*, throw some kick-ass parties**. And sleep. I needed to sleep. 5 hours may be fine when you are 15. But at 30... I want double. In society today, we do not allow ourselves enough sleep. We work too many hours. We keep ourselves busy with too much 'stuff'. We watch tv to calm ourselves down in order to sleep. Truth be told, when you do sleep as much as your body asks you to, you dream. Such fabulous dreams. I travelled planets, played in bands, had children. I met Tegan & Sarah, seduced Kate Winslet. I could fly.
I guess last night, when I was thinking about how I have 1 week left off from working a day job, I thought about what I wanted to do. I had already said goodnight to my girlfriend. I could read, watch tv, spin records. I could talk to my roomies or surf the net. But what I really wanted to do was sleep. To dream. Your mind is a place where you can create a reality in 7 minutes. In the world, it takes a little longer. It's taken me 15 years to create this reality. Who knows, it could another 15 years to create the next. Isn't that what we are really working for anyway? To create a reality where everyone in this world can live their dreams?
Work for change.
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*I had to part in this, VuDu did it for me. You'll see it soon.
*BTW -- Nothing that I do is on my own. I have a LOT of great people working just as hard as I do.. and they didn't get 6 months to sleep. Sokolicky, Momo Swells, Pink, Da Man, Hei, Fishlure, VuDu, Samantha, Elletee, Masil, Jessica Star, DiRty, Liz ... the list goes on ... That's why I feature everyone on my blog. To say thanks. And give credit when I can.
