Neither Could Dylan

While I think I had a decent enough head on my shoulders as a kid, it wasn’t until a few years ago that I would say I was confident enough in my decision making to fully adhere to my personal philosophies on life. 

Values takes us through the types of things I believed both as a kid figuring out the world around me and as the adult that took a long time to wholly understand and appreciate. I think I’m equal parts intuitive and stubborn and sometimes I don’t like to believe the obvious signs in front of me until they’re entirely too loud, alarming or destructive to ignore. 

I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about what type of messaging I was receiving as a kid that led to this personality defect and then, what type of messaging would have better served me and the relationships I was a part of. Songs like Values allow me the opportunity to spread those messages to those who find themselves in the same confusing places I’ve been in and I hope they help clear the fog that keeps us confined to our limited perspectives.

One of those things is the value in simply being willing to try; to get out of your comfort zone and make an effort regardless of the outcome. I have failed significantly more times than I have been successful in almost every avenue, but I’ve come out of those experiences with a better sense of how to tackle them the next time or with the understanding that, “hey, this isn’t for me.” 

Another is the value in being open to new ideas and the value in simply wondering. We won’t always have all the answers we’d like and that’s okay.

The next is value in your own voice; Your own thoughts and contributions to the world you live in. Nobody else on this entire planet will ever have the exact same life experience you are currently in the middle of and there is immense value in sharing as much or as little of that experience with the world as you feel comfortable doing. You and your ideas matter and deserve space in your community even if you’re still figuring out what they are.

As an example, something I hear often from people who are just getting interested in a creative medium have a tendency to say things like, “well, I had an idea for this book I was going to write, but it’s already been written.” It both has and hasn’t, is what I’d normally reply. The general sense of it, sure, maybe; a lot of stories as with songs follow the same formulas or character archetypes – there are just only so many variations of these things. What makes each story or song unique however is the voice that writes it and nobody can ever take that from you.

Write that story, sing that song, paint that picture, take that photo. 

In the chorus and refrain of Values I speak to obstacles that hinder our growth which are often a combination of our own lack of confidence or our fears as well as pressures from outside perspectives who’s own choices or feelings should not limit our potential, but allow them the space and care to flourish. Unfortunately most of us have many people in our lives who feel entitled to force their own views on us, but we have to be strong and secure enough with ourselves to understand when their advice is warranted or not. That’s usually easier said than done, of course, but I believe in you. 

Trust yourself, stay true and authentic to yourself and your own values and you will eventually end exactly where you want to be. 

Official Lyrics:
There are worse things than giving up
Like holding on to what never was
Excuses shaping conscious thought
Freezing up when it’s your shot

There is value in what we know
Just as with all we don’t 
Best speak up before you’re told
Less someone else rich off your soul

Break away from hazy days
Take control of where you go
Walk with pride and confidence
They only know what they’re shown 

So give them something to talk about
Give them something to say
There are those that focus on accomplishments
And those that would rather speculate
So give them something to talk about
Give them something to say
There are those that critique and contemplate
And those that create their own escape 

There are worse things than being alone
Like being held to someone else’s view
Made to embrace choices unfit
Like the wrong measurements on a tailored dress

There is an honour in commitment
Just as there is an art to knowing when to quit 
The road ahead sometimes so obvious
The exits so easy to miss

Break away from hazy days
Take control of where you go
Walk with pride and confidence
They only know what they’re shown 

So give them something to talk about
Give them something to say
There are those that focus on accomplishments
And those that would rather speculate
So give them something to talk about
Give them something to say
There are those that critique and contemplate
And those that create their own escape 

So give them something to talk about
Give them something to say
So give them something to talk about
Give them something to say

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Keep listening and jump to track 4: Better Role Models