It is wise to keep your pen moving as well as your feet. Your hand is often a truer version than your word in that you get to speak in private with your present & future self. Don’t dam the stream of consciousness. Trust where your river of thought is going and go with the flow. I promise you will reach the ocean.
Flipping thru old notebooks recently, I came upon this journal entry that made me smile; dated January 1999:
One day they will call on me and I’ll get to travel the world all over. I’ll sail the seven seas, ponder the great wonders, meet and greet so many new and exotic faces, taste 1000 varieties of foods and host a postcard collection like no other.
I’m so grateful to the kid who wrote that. It’s one thing to see your dreams come true, but it’s another experience entirely to hold the receipt.
Gift your future self. Write that special person a poem, a note, a story, a novel, a check even, or perhaps a song, like the one included at the bottom of this post. ‘Run Boy,’ written and recorded in 1999, is another little glimpse of my past. Like breadcrumbs leading me home, I look and listen to these melodies and musings as the mantras that shaped my life; the possibilities that I created along the way. Thanks to this soundtrack and nearly two decades worth of journals, I am present to the long, grateful journey it’s been; and still how far we’ve yet to go.
Grateful I never gave up,
J
I love this one, too. Holding the receipt. Great description.
I, too, found an old journal recently. It was from the end of high school, when I started to realize that, while throughout the duration of my childhood I thought my peers saw what their parents were doing, too, and so of course the cycle of conspicuous consumption and unhappiness would end, (They saw it, just like me, right? Who would want to go around that loop again?) it was beginning anew. I was literally shocked. Are you guys serious? I thought we were together in this!
My journal that year was full of proclamations, somewhat desperate proclamations that I would never give up. That I would never forget that the world is what I make of it. That I can and will do whatever I want. Retrospectively, it was fear-fuelled. But either way, it is most certainly a receipt.
I am living my heart out, and those people think I’m insane and also that my existence is impossible.
Here’s a comment I posted on one of your posts from some time back. I’m not sure what of this you actually see, so I’m going to tac this onto any of my comments to you:
Every time I check in on you, I’m struck by the similarity of our paths/interests. Hafiz, reference, really? My favorite of his is “The Warrior.” Next might be the one about two fat men in a boat. Anywho, I’m popping in to say hello, and say that I’m excited for when you and I write and play together. It’ll be beautiful!
I found music, my voice, the strongest passion my life has seen, to date, about one year ago. At the time, I was consistently updating a blog that ended up doing its fair bit of world circulation (www.theunraveling.net)– a blog about living honestly, and what shape that has taken for me (quitting career, moving onto an organic farm in the jungle, living with no plan, etc.)
I did my best to be completely vulnerable on the site, and so after I learned my first song, I posted it (the most terrifying thing I could think of doing). The song was “I’m Yours,” and I sang it as a love song to myself. Here’s the link for that, too: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcZyBbuJUNY.
Anywho, see you soon. Love, love, love.
Hello Jason! I have just discovered The Secret just 2 weeks ago, and it lead me to the amazing book Master Key System. And now i understand your songs ‘Make it Mine’ and ‘Anything You Want’ even better than before! I used to always wounder how the world can be yours and how you can have whatever you want…I used to think its impossible! But now my whole world changed by this discovery!!! Thank you for the beautiful songs your write and sing! And I’m grateful I saw a live concert of you on TV in 2004 because without your music I wouldn’t have come to love myself and the universe i live in so much! <3
goods before .. I wrote my diary .. actualmete use notebook .. otherwise .. I love to write my best way to express .. some do singing, drawing … and other
<3
I won't give up my dreams 
but in my case I am inspired by my observations .. or anger also chute right through the writing … but I do not do it quite literally .. metaphorically .. in fact when I read it after a few weeks .. I can not remember inspire to write .. sometimes if
but I have to always have a pen and paper close .. and take inspiration .. and I can not escape like water through fingers haha
and I would love to write a song with you .. that would be for me a dream come true .. because I admire you very much!
anything is possible if you believe so … there is a script .. fate … and actors … we .. we all are!
I am sure that I am going to be lucky enough to work with you someday. I just know it.
Thank you for the reminder! For the validation…JUST wrote about this myself today…http://dailyintentions.blogspot.com/2012/03/big-reveal.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zu9n5w9h69k&feature=player_embedded
SYNTHESIZER RE-TUNING TO THE ANCIENT SOLFEGGIO:
Jason: have you heard of this? Notes tuned to the chakras? Putting us back in harmony.
There are no words to express how much you inspire me…
Based on the number of Facebook fans you have it looks like there are about 10 million people on the planet who are also grateful that you did not give up! Your music fills our spirits and your spirit inspires our souls! I think you call that “authenticity.”
ThHank You!!!!
Pineapples and Dandelions
I actually have done the same months back and wrote it on my own blog. http://marrigrace.tumblr.com/post/15158022727/get-it-so-you-get-it-my-year-ender-2011
Im being an idealist now and in my mind its all true that if I think that you will read this blog, you will read this blog.
aha.
love and gratitude for you.
mg
YOU. I just dreamed about you last night. And just like the content of this journal which came from years back I am motivated to tell you that that dream last night will just come true.
In some ways it will.
Thank you.
xoxo
mg
YOU. I just dreamed about you last night. And just like the content of this journal which came from years back I am motivated to tell you that that dream last night will just come true.
In some ways it will..
Thank you.
xoxo
mg
http://www.matelas-et-sommier.com/infos/matelas-latex-bio/
I am grateful that you didn’t give up as well. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and thank you for sharing your voice.
Love and Peace.
xo,
Linda
I LOVE your glimpses….Jason………:-****
)) Thank you…..for sharing and giving…..not giving up….
writing yes is important ..like getting in contact with yourself…on a holy level….sounds funny i know….
Love that song……RUN BOY…..OMG ..be blessed…LOVE to you .trust where your river of thought is going and go with the flow..i promise you all reach the ocean…..poaahhh…love it love it…..sending you a glimpse of my love ………..be protectet…feel loved…
beautiful little song
Never, never, never, never, never quit
Thank YOU!
Dear J
Lying on bed and dizzy around this morning, the reason to get up is no reason to get up. I tried to think about few inspiring stories to encourage myself and carry on. I even tried to think about the Jeremy Lin, the Asian look legend in NBA at present; however, none of them workable as the story happened in more than thousands miles ahead me. Looking around, I own nothing but several failures; lose someone I hate but in the end I love recently; a bit hesitate at what I am doing and not sure if the goal can be achieved, even wonder if this goal is my destiny after a long time pursuing desperately.
At this moment, there must be a reason to carry on that drives me getting up. I trust God as I pray; I send out an message as an awswer is expected. Among this confuses, one thing is for sure that I will follow up my spiritual consciousness unitl the time comes. Before then, all your melodies guide me home too and below words circles on my mind to remind my goal.
Jai guru deva om
Nothing’s gonna change my world, nothing’s gonna change my world
ps. thank you Mraz, and I like your new music video addressing #IWONTGIVEUP.
walk alone quietly,
KT
well run, boy!
yeah, you’re right – again…
written words are more thoughtfully set than spoken ones.
i remember an essay we ought to write in 13th grade / english class about what we were planning to do after school and what/how we expect this would be. “i guess i will have a fucking great time!” – was considered to be too rude in english. crap. *lol*
You are just simply awe-inspiring…. Getting my journal out right meow.
That’s so freakin’ inspiring!!! Made me day
Reminded me of this:
http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lynectZ0zp1qk0pyco1_500.jpg
I’ve started an open letter to my future self. (two pages so far) I need to remember to include “You will always have fun where ever you go” … I heard you say that in an interview recently … thought to myself … that little bugger… look/listen to him creating his future in that moment. It was inspiring. Then I heard you say “I am glad to be here”. Speaking ourselves into existence … with the words we use. A beautiful thing.
“C’EST LA VIE”
I’m grateful too…
Writing to yourself is a powerful tool, isn’t it interesting to see the proof?
And writing songs…well, your river runs gold!
PS: I hope more songs come out of the vault!
Eres de las inspiraciones, la más grande!
Thanks for sharing – it is always a pleasure!! You have been on my mind all day because today it was confirmed – IAN was asked to perform at our town Music & Art Festival this May 19. This will be his first gig (15 minutes)! He was asked to perform 3 songs and he is planning to play 93 Million Miles, I’m Yours (as the grande finale
and either The World As I See It or maybe You and I. I told the organizer that it would be an all MRAZ concert and she loved it!! You have NO idea how excited he is. Thanks for bringing such joy into our home… I will be video taping and sharing. I don’t really know if you ever watch what we send you but…we like to think you do! Grateful, Jane
Here is Ian on the beach this past week (school vacation)learning/practicing Halfway Home
http://youtu.be/G_Qmd8hiAyM
You do not know how much stimulus you give at this time … thank you for this!
Congratulations to our success and your dream to come true.
Nice
Thanks for sharing , I have let down my pen for too long… ah heartbreak, it’s easy to let everything down and just float around until… thank you for being an inspiration and sending signs out into this crazy world!
Awww.. Grateful I am too that you never gave up. For you have touched countless souls with your healing music, mine included. Someday, I would thank you in person and give back the love that you have shared. Keep on inspiring the world.
…Rambo?
I hear you’re looking for a mattress : http://www.mygreenmattress.com/
Truly inspiring. I think this song was another glimpse of your amazing future! And, as another of your songs says: “Your voice feels so perfect, It’s breaking my heart…” Or something like that…