I took 3 months off. No work, no drums, no gym, etc. Just to make a pause in my life and think... Think about everything, what would I do and what direction should I take, but most important how much time I want my name to live.
And now I know, a man has to make the biggest effort and give everything in what he does, if not why are we here? Everything has to be in excellence, always looking for the 10/10, supressing what doesn't help to reach it, all the negative things.
So I tought about the activities I do, and dig in each one to understand better what could be improved in that specific area:
- The most important. Drums. This is my thing, this is what I do. Practice will increase from 2 hrs/day (4 days I don't work) to 3, and 6 on days off, also, I will return to my particular classes with my friend and teacher Winston Marcos (a very fine drummer here in Mexico) alternating days with a beast of jazz drumming Hans Avila, learning the most I can (music styles, figures, patterns, etc) so I keep developing my own style and musical indentity with bigger knowledge. I thank life for giving me health, my 2 arms, 2 legs and everything I need to play, I value that a lot and it's a thing it can't be untapped. I haven't played on-stage too much, my friends tell me I'm like a library nerd of drumming, just practicing by my own and not going outside and play live, but there was one experience that taught me I'm very capable, The Roland V-Drums Mexican Championship 2012, I saw the entries and tried it, putting al my effort in it and I was the subchampion, but very dissapointed and angry for weeks because I wasn't the mexican champ, but the real learning was that working my ass off every day will bring nothing but joy, because no one did it for me, it was just me and my effort, so I WON'T watch the show from my seat, I will be part of it, and I won't die without trying and giving my best for it.
- Workout/health: One thing I love about drumming is that the complete body is in constant motion and it's the perfect balance between mind and body (no quick mind no quick hits) and it requires a lot of stamina, so it pushes my mind and body to be at their max, in this 3-month break I read and learned a lot of cool stuff about eating, what nutrients are needed so every cell in my system is at 100%. First of all I cut cigarettes they don't help at all for my goals, they're just death and lack of stamina. I love weed but smoking it is not so healthy so I bought a vaporizer. Talking about eating I'll keep the 5-6 light meals a day, trying to use the most natural nutrients I can, obtaining proteins from fish, chia seeds, etc. Not from protein powders cuz' for me they're not natural, lots of veggies and water, fruits and everything nature offers to us. Running/jumping rope everyday significantly improve strenght in my ankles for the double pedal, and gym supresses the little stress I sometimes get and gives me energy to give that last push in everything I do, it taught me discipline, one of the most important words in my life.
- Work: working in family business is a thing I value a lot, it lets me get out when I need to, go dressed like I want to, etc. Mexico is a hard country going to hell, I see people having hard times because of the shitty politicians, they squeeze the country resources and keep all for themselves instead of giving people better opportunities. So the best I can do is to take care of what my father started and work hard for, do it with joy and help other people (for example giving toys to houses for kids with special needs, give some coins to the homeless, etc). It gives me a lot of time to practice drums and do other activies so I have to be grateful and work hard and take care of it
- Friends/family: Love the ones that worth it, learn from them and let them learn good things from you, take care of them and enjoy their company, cuz they're not going to be around you forever, this world is full of lies and false people, so you're the only one who decide who will be in your circle of happiness and give everything for them.
-Mind: this is a tough one, it could be a mine of gold or complete destruction, I've learned negative things have to be avoided, they only require miss used time and space in your head, focus on positive things.
'If you spend too much time thinking about a thing, you'll never get it done'
-Bruce Lee-
'There is a very strange place that I wind up when I'm playing, a place that I become a better version of myself than what I am when I'm not playing'
-Marty Friedman-
These 2 guys showed me the way of hard work with their words, everytime I feel sore or not so cheer about practicing or training they remind me that there is much to do, and that inmortality can be reached...
I leave this post for the future, to remind me there's a compromise with myself to try hard to be the best and give everything at what I do. I'm very excited about tomorrow, I return to do my activities but now with a better perspective and direction.
'As you think, so shall you become'