A little while ago, Amy Winehouse passed away. I had never been a big fan. However, I did respect her vibe and ethics. She was a jazz singer and was not about to the let the industry machine tell her what to do and yet she was ultra successful. In the end the things that she used to shield herself from the outside ultimately did her in.
We all have our vices, our means to get through the day. It may be food, booze, drugs, thrill seeking or exercise. We all look for it.
Many of my own heroes had succumbed to drug, alcohol, some sabotage and some even committed suicide because the pressures they faced everyday were too much to take. We all have made mistakes, we all have pain and we all have to move forward.
In my time as a musician and partner at The Art of Charm, I have certainly heard stories from people and friends about pain, death and struggle. No one is exempt.
If you yourself are having trouble balancing your life and the struggles get too much, please open up to someone you trust. Ask for help. Your true friends would want you to and will listen. Addiction is a disease and no one is immune.
There is a thin line between celebrating and medicating and it begins with you. If you are not able to do the task at hand at a high level you really need to ask yourself why you have not. Have your vices gotten in the way? Has playing video games for hours upon end hindered your social life? Do your vices keep you sheltered from the world around you? Have you alienated those who care about you? An easy question to ask yourself is, “Do I feel guilty after doing whatever it is I do in those times?” If you answered yes then it could be a problem. This is your consciousness telling you it’s not right.
You guys are old enough to make your own decisions in life, all I ask is when things get tough and you find yourself alone, that you use your best judgment and ask for help when you need it. We are not super heroes, we are human beings. Even our heroes have their dark side and faults.
People often seem afraid to ask for help, but the funny thing is others are usually pretty willing to help when really needed. Ask, what’s the worst that could happen?
It seems people who really are that done are proud and don’t want to bother other people with their problems. Yeah, it’s a shame. People would will help if they care.