I had lunch earlier today with some of the members of a wonderful Rush tribute band from New Jersey called A Farewell to Kings. As you might expect, we talked about all things Rush, but we also talked about the importance of following your dream and doing what you love.
Like other tribute bands, including the stellar Massachusetts-based Lotus Land, the guys in AF2K hold down other jobs during the week. But on many weekends, you can find them performing at venues throughout the northeast, making fans happy and keeping the music of Rush alive. It's not the easiest life in the world: there is a lot of driving, a lot of practicing, and I'm sure some venues are better than others. I'm also sure the guys are not getting rich doing these gigs. But more often than not, the enthusiastic crowds make up for those inconveniences. After all, when you're doing what you love, it's gratifying to know that others appreciate you for doing it.
But this blog post isn't just about Rush tribute bands. There are many folks out there who are also following their dream and doing what they love. School is starting in many parts of the US this week, and many children will be starting kindergarten. Some will be nervous or apprehensive about their first day of school, while others will be excited and eager; but in all cases, the one thing that is consistent is they will be greeted by their teacher, who will encourage and reassure and welcome them. Few teachers in the US are paid what they deserve. In fact, most are seriously underpaid. But if you ask the average teacher, "Why do you do this work?", the reply is always "Because I love it."
Recently, a friend of mine decided to start taking some courses online; she's not pursuing a degree at this point-- she already has one. And she's not looking for a career change-- she likes her current job. So, why take courses? She told me she was eager to learn something new, to study something she was interested in but had never studied before. So, she signed up for a course in archaeology, and she is really enjoying it. "I've always loved to learn," she said to me, and as someone who got my PhD when I was 64, I could totally relate.
I'm sure that some of you who read this blog can also relate. Perhaps there is something you enjoy, and you do it not because it's lucrative, and not because it will bring you fame, but just because you love doing it. I do a lot of research about early baseball history, and I write articles about it. Most of the work is unpaid, but for me (and the others who do it), it's a labor of love, because there are so many great stories waiting to be told. My husband, who makes his living repairing computers, took up nature photography as a hobby a few years ago. He got pretty good at it and he has won several awards, but that isn't why he goes out seeking birds or flowers or butterflies to photograph. He loves to do it, plus he is preserving something interesting, something beautiful, that can be shared with others.
And in a world where so much around us seems chaotic or unpredictable or even depressing, there is often comfort in pursuing a dream, or doing something you love-- whether it's playing in a Rush tribute band, or reading little kids a story, or taking photos of nature, or studying archaeology. It doesn't have to make you rich, but it can help keep you grounded and remind you that even in difficult times, people still need the opportunity to seek out those moments of joy, and to cherish every one of them.