My 40's and JM

John Mayer - Curitiba October 2017

April 7th, 2017, I turned a 40 years old man. I thought that I was ready for it, but in fact, I wasn't. I had imagined that becoming 40, all the theater's curtains would open. The sea would open for my walk. It didn't happen. It was like some sort of fog had blinded me. Things became unclear. The doubt started to be my best friend.

As I am the kind of person who is always questioning myself and everything that surrounds me, I set as being my goal, find a way to get rid of that situation. Every single day I spent hours wondering about it.

Six months later, I was quite better but far from entirely well. Thus, my wife invited me to a John Mayer's concert in another city. That involved a lot of planning because our baby was going to travel with us. One of our relatives who lived in the city, would provide everything necessary for the baby well being. Nevertheless, a dozen of doubts were surrounding my mind.

I must say that I wasn't in the mood to attend the concert. Whereas, my wife was super excited. She always loved John Mayer. When John Mayer opened the show I began to think how much time I'd wasted since April. Music after music, things started to becoming clear to me. What was the trigger?

I believe that was the fact that we are the same age, 40. He turned 40 in the beginning of October. Also, both of us admire good music (he produces it) and guitars. We have the same influences (Eric Clapton, BB King, blues, etc). Finally, we have a bunch of people who love us, but in the same way a bunch of people who hate us, just by the fact that we are idealistic.

Okay, but the turning point was that maybe the concert would be his 50th in 2017, not considering his entire career, but he was playing it as if it was his first. I could feel that! He was delivering his soul, all of his heart to the crowd. Why?

Because he was doing what he loves, what he was born for. He was being a professional, but more than that, he was being him, natural, unique. He wasn't there just by the "paycheck" or just to follow the agenda. He was using the gift that God gave to him.

Another "Me" left the concert. Apart from the great music that I listened there, I got something that have been helping me since then.

Some lessons that I learned

• Find the balance between fighting every day and living;

• Do your job with excellence; 

• If God gave you a gift, use it with mastery; 

• Enjoy the path.

Thanks JM!