Hey y'all,

It's Daniel.

I had a wonderfully strange weekend... (let me explain)

I said "15 year old Daniel would be freaking out that I get to do this."

Sometimes, the things you dream about doing you actually get to do. (or have)

And it takes effort to truly enjoy the moment, rather than think about a future moment.

I hope as I share a quick story that you can breathe. (maybe even take a deep breathe right now)

And experience gratitude for the things that you have. (that you always wanted)even though they're imperfect

The first Dream I had:

I wanted to play drums.

I wanted to play drums for my churches middle school and highschool group.

It was a bunch of things:

1. I thought the guys (Aaron Soto, Brian Bothwell, Mike Woodward) who played drums were so cool. (I was 15, they were 25-28)

2. It took a lot of skill to play drums (Tough to fake skill or use tracks to cover)

3. It's incredibly physical.

4. It has the most positive effect when played well, and the worst effect when played poorly.

5. I also thought this girl I liked (Katelyn) would like me if I was good at drums.

Sacrifice Not Included:

“Are you coming to the pool?” Marcos asked as he stood watching me. (in his swim suit and goggles.)

“not yet, I haven’t finished my three hours of practice yet. I’ll be there later.”

When I was 15 years old I spent 3 hours a day practicing drums.

I called it the 3 by 3 rule. Practice 3 hours by 3 PM, or I couldn't hang out with my friends till afterwards. (this was a self enforced rule, my parents didn't care)

When I was 16 I decided not to play football my Junior and senior year of highschool because I felt drums would be something I could do longer term. (best cause scenario I had 6 years playing football if I played college level)

After doing 2 years of swimming junior and senior year I thought about doing that in college, because It seemed like I could be pretty good at it. (Under 60 seconds for all 4 stokes at a 50 meters. 45 seconds freestyle for 50 meters)

Again I choose to pursue drumming and move to sacramento to do a 2 year intership and get better at drums.

Dreams have valleys and mountains.

Every time after I play there is a dump of chemicals. (kinda like the post vacation blues)

Performance takes a lot out of me. (played drums in front of 4000 people live and about another 4000 online)

I went home: Ate

Read a book

Cried.

took a nap.

Then started writing this Newletter. (why, you're asking?)

Because these moments where you are living the dream that you always wanted are combined with the reality of the pressure of that responsibility. Its the tension. To have what you always wanted. And to understand the weight of that.

The reality of living in the dream that I always wanted is that there is pressure to perform and do well. Honestly until the last service I was afraid of failing. I wasn't fully present.

Why share this, Daniel?

Because I wonder if there are things in your life that you now have, that you always wanted but they come with other things you didn't anticipate:

What's your dream?

Did you want to buy a house?

Get married?

Start a business?

Increase your confidence in social situations?

Develop creativity?

Become a better storyteller?

I'm not sure what your dream is.

What I do know is that dreams acted on come with responsibility.

And in order to enjoy them you must choose to be present.

Otherwise you only see the gift afterwards.

screw that.

I want to enjoy the gift in the present. AND when looking back (not only once it's over)

What a crappy way to live.

Imagine, only enjoying moments after they're gone.

I’m unwilling to live that way. (and I hope you are too.)

How I cultivate gratitude in the moment

1 Remember.

Even though I felt the pressure to perform this weekend, I remembered that this was a younger me's dream.

I wonder if we remember that we so often are living in the future that a younger us wanted, but the reality of it may feel different that what we thought.

2 Be around good people (ideally share a meal with them)

3 ask for the things I need (sometimes I need a hug and I'll ask my friends for one because they can't read my mind, but if I ask they're often quite willing)

How I choose gratitude even in the midst of the pressure:

1. If it's something you're newer at frame it as an experiment (especially if it's public speaking of some type of performance

2. Lighten the mood (I will almost always tell a joke before we go live) I want everyone to smile and laugh (even if its a bad joke) because it changes the way everyone shows up.

3. Nervousness and excitement are normal to feel. I know my heart rate will elevate when I do a speach. (I don't feel my heart rate increase when drumming anymore strangely, it's become normal enough)

4. Choose this mindset: I want to enjoy this more than I want it to be perfect. (This is a self feeding cycle, the more you enjoy it the better you’ll get at it)

P.S. Want to Improve your Confidence in Social settings? Buy my Course: https://app.gumroad.com/products/qmygte/edit

P.P.S. Here’s what I hope you gained from this newsletter:

1 idea: Knowing too much of your future is never a good thing.

1 Emotion: Peace in the present

1 action: Grattitude for the current