In America, we are hyper focused on success. The “American Dream” after all is to work so hard so that you obtain a certain amount of success. True success meaning reaching the height of that 1%. True success being the career of your dreams! How much we have is dependent on how we are valued. The people with the most money have the most power. The people that “make it” are the ones that are living the best life.
Is that true?
I just watched a music video that was made from a Spanish Colombian artist. He just married the love of his life at 26. His lyrics say (in Spanish):
I can offer you a very interesting life (Yo puedo ofrecerte una vida muy interesante)
But it depends on you what is interesting to you (Pero depende para ti qué es interesante)
If you are thinking of discos, cars, and diamonds (Si estás pensando en discotecas, carros y diamantes)
then it may be insignificant for you (Entonces puede que pa’ ti sea insignificante)
It is not the life of a rich man (No es vida de rico)
But it is very rich (Pero se pasa bien rico)
and if the house has not enough air (Y si en la casa no alcanza)
I’ll put a fan on you (Pa’l aire, te pongo abanico)
I don’t have a penny to give you (Yo no tengo pa’ darte ni un peso)
But I can give you my kisses (Pero sí puedo darte mis besos)
To get you out, I have a little bit (Pa’ sacarte yo tengo poquito)
But it’s free to dance (Pero es gratis bailar pegaíto’)
I do not have champagne to open you (Yo no tengo pa’ abrirte champaña)
But I do have beer on the beach (Pero sí cervecita en la playa)
Although there is little that I offer you, with pride (Aunque es poco lo que yo te ofrezco, con orgullo)
Everything I have is yours (Todo lo que tengo es tuyo)
When I went to Spain, I saw a different way of being. I saw a way of living that wasn’t directed towards success. It was directed towards life. It was directed towards love. Towards community.
I remember I saw a band at a bar one night in Barcelona. They were amazing! At the end, I asked the singer if they ever thought about moving to LA (where musicians go to get recognized, duh right?) He said no, not so much, he was happy where he was…
It’s been about a year and a half since I visited Spain.
I came back with less of an idea of what success looks like and more of a need to live my life. I often have tunnel vision. I see what I want and that’s all that I can see.
I’m lucky because I have an amazing family. I have friends that are spread out all over the country. I miss each and every one of them though.
The “American Dream.”
The “American Dream” without the realest people around you to love is nothing. The “American Dream” without community is nothing. The “American Dream” alone is nothing. Yet that is so often what it portrays. The “American Dream” in exchange for life is death.
Find those people that matter and don’t ever let them go.
Screw the “American Dream.”