"The irony of committment is that it is deeply liberating. In work, in play, in love. The act frees you of your internal critic, from the fear that likes to dress itself up and parade around as rational hesitation. To commit is to remove your head as the barrier to your life."
-The Dumpster Quote Cup
I have a very peculiar habit. Which is to say, one looking in on this habit would certainly consider it peculiar. I, however, feel like it is when Jesus and the Buddha are both rooting for team Colby. Mostly because it has proven time and time again to be a catalyst to exponential growth. This habit consists solely of my inablilty to function when ignoring universal or divine guidance (you can pick whichever you prefer). Allow me to explain:
This chain of events begins approximately two years ago. I was living with my best friend in Salt Lake City while I (and I use this phrase loosely) "attended school." This particular morning I decided it was necessary to actually attend school despite having been up the night previous partaking in much more productive activities, i.e. sneaking into a filthy bar downtown. It's fine. Anyway, I was certainly feeling accomplished after attending a gruelling and excessive two hours of classes, and I decided I deserved a reward. Cut to me holding a hot and fragrant cider in a random Starbucks. Now, at this time, the 'bucks was featuring deep and lengthy quotations on their cups. (See above) I read this particular cup and found the quote oddly captivating. Not thinking anything significant of such a circumstance I threw away my empty cup and began my drive home. On the way home I noticed a particularly unnerving sensation. To this day, it reminds me of the sensation you get when you know you are being expected to be somewhere but you try to ignore the responsibilty of actually going. Like when you know you should be at church, or in my case, school. Within this sensation I recognized that my mind was driven to this cup; the Quote Cup. So I turned around. I parked at the Starbucks. Again. And I went inside. Again. I then proceeded to play my famous role of Homeless Man In Dumpster #1; I dug in the garbage and, despite lengthy awkward stares, retrieved the Cup. I then got back in my car, careful of what I touched, threw the cup in backseat and drove home. It wouldn't be until almost two years later that this very cup-the Dumpster Quote Cup-would re-enter my life.
It was one week before my 21st birthday. My father generously decided to surprise me with a new, old car. So, naturally I had to transfer my garbage pile from old car, to new-old car. Amid the transferring of said garbage pile, what catches my eye, but the very Cup that caused me to rummage through a garbage can-much like the back seat of my car, which happened to look very similar to that garbage can at Starbucks. The Quote Cup had found its way back into my life. The timing of this was all too perfect. Well, I see it that way now. But at the time it felt like nothing but a kick in the face.
At this particular time there was much happening. Much soul searching, much turmoil. Not just with me, but all those around me. I naturally took the cup as a threat. I recently realized that I simply applied it far too hastily and literally...
Turmoil was the word of the season. After experiencing, watching, and partaking in so much in such a short time, I found my tipping point. The straw that broke the camel's back was when I realized I was, indeed one of two in a failing relationship. It was only recently, however, that I realized that a tipping point, or a Cup, is often only one step in a lifetime of stairmasters. Step after step after step leads me to the point of this story. Who ever thought that one could learn so much about oneslf by sitting in a friend's living room in San Francisco on a Saturday evening watching a television show? About tattoos of all things. There was a man on this show who told a story and spoke a single phrase that, like so many other people have in the past, reopened my eyes to years of stairmasters.
I don't even remember his name. But I remember his story. He decided to get a tattoo of some musical persuasion. I don't even remember what the tattoo looked like. But this man got this tattoo to remind him of this: He was a typical guy living in Los Angeles persuing a typical professional career when reality struck him. He said, "I had finally come to terms with the fact that I was going to make music for the rest of my life."
This was it. The Dumpster Quote Cup wasn't about committing myself to a formal education, or to a false sense of social stability which happened to manifest itself by means of a failing relationship. It was about committing to passion. The Quote Cup came into my life to tell me that I had to come to terms with my passion. My responsibilty. So I did.
So, this entry is to all of you who tell me, "Get a useful degree just in case." Or to those people who think that happiness can be found in conformity. And most of all to those who think they can define success! This is for you. I pray that you all start looking into the very details of your everyday lives and realize one of the most amazing concepts ever to trace the human mind. It is a simple phrase with immeasurable power. It has guided my life, now I dare you to let it guide yours: "There is a reason for everything!"
And So It was. A Dumpster Quote Cup saved another life.
"Music saved my life. I have the responsibilty to be the medium by which it has the possibility to save others."
-Joseph Colby
Shower the People-James Taylor
High Life Scenery-The Rocket Summer
Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill)-Wyclef Jean
Say (All I Need)-OneRepublic (Listen to this one as loud as you dare!)
Black and Whites-Phil Vassar
Slow Me Down-Emmy Rossum
When The Lights Go Down-Faith Hill
All I Have-The Rocket Summer
Here's to the Night-Eve 6
People Get Ready-Eva Cassidy
Stand-Rascal Flatts
Farmer Chords-Ben Gibbard
Coming to Terms-Carolina Liar
