any time i think that something might be too hard
or that someone has set up a stumbling block for me to trip on
or that because no one else has done it before, i cant
i think about bob dylan who never wrote these words but epitomizes them perfectly
you can do this you can do this you can do this
fuckers known as the greatest lyricist and songwriter of all time
yet if you went up to 100 people maybe one of them can sing you a song of his all the way through
but it would probably take you 500 people to find that one.
does that mean that his songs are any less special? no it means that they are complex and twisted and gnarled and break the rules of what pop music is “supposed” to be like.
which should be the goal of creative people. and ps we are all creative people.
you can do this
dylan was booed when he omg dared to put down his acoustic guitar and plug in and play an electric.
he was criticized — and is still maligned for not being a great singer
when he recorded a number of “Christian” or “Born Again” records he was ridiculed and those magnificent pieces were considered unworthy for his canon.
but did he pay any mind? did he pack up the plantation? did he give in to those who were a few steps behind him?
no he kept moving. which is why you can do this you can do this you can do this.
being a leader can be lonely, the bugs hit your windscreen more than those riding comfortably in your wake,
you have to blaze the path by cutting down the weeds with your machete of love,
you have to shake hands with the natives and build bridges and repair roadways
the others can simply coast behind you and tell their friends how much progress They’ve made in half the time it took you
but you know
to lead means to make the map, to learn the language, to set up milestones and alliances
to follow means to look out the window and take in the view.
even in a road race of a thousand cyclists there’s only one leader
and with each strenuous pedal he’s saying
you
can
do
this
you can
do this
you can do this
because yes you can.