Just today, I was asked what inspires me to write.
I sat and thought... What it is, I don't actually know.
Stories, people, places I have been, all sit on a long list of triggers that spark emotion within.
I have always wondered who I am as a writer. Trying to be something I am not has become boring.
I live for passion, emotion and original creativity.
"Almost Famous," the story of a young boy chasing his dream of becoming a music journalist has pulled feelings from me I never knew I had. Driven by his newly discovered love for music, this young 15 year old boy experienced a lifetime of emotions over the course of one bands tour. I can only imagine how that must feel. Never have I watched a film and been so physically moved by the storyline. Maybe it's because it hits so close to home, given that I am a journalist but very possibly, because deep down, we are all living and breathing for that one dream.
Not necessarily to write or to play music, it could be something as simple as succeeding at a new sport or getting that job once you've finished college. For some reason, this film has made me realise that life is not life without individual dreams and ambitions. The question is though, why do we allow ourselves to give up on them? Surely if we want something badly enough, it's worth fighting for no matter how difficult the journey?
You see, that's the thing...
Everybody tells you to "Chase your dreams." Nobody tells you just how hard that can be...
My dream, to hopefully one day become a successful journalist will no doubt be long and tough, like many others. Currently, I am working Monday to Friday in a job that, although I may love, is very much unpaid. Unfortunately, this is one of the realities that comes with chasing your dreams. In order to come out on top you must endure life at the bottom for a while.
It's not all that bad though, even on rougher days I see and feel inspiration everywhere. Take today for example, exhausted, having skipped the gym and gone to bed, wallowing in self pity, a friend of mine suggested out of nowhere that I watch "Almost Famous" and well, here I am.
It's hard to feel inspired all the time. Heck, we all know that. There are days where I want nothing more than to write a blog post or come up with a great idea for the show I am working on but somehow, the harder I try, the worse I blank. It's mentally draining. Do you ever sit and think what's the point?
That right there, that IS the point.
The second you find yourself drifting from your dream, use that exact feeling of disappointment and defeat as motivation to push on. Dreams don't come without hardship. Sleep it off, we all have the odd nightmare every once in a while. Wake up fresh and start again...
There is something about the music throughout this film that has left a very lasting mark on me. From the very first scene, all the way through to the last, I was completely and utterly drawn into the storyline through its soundtrack. Scenes of rock and roll stars playing passionately to crowds of adoring fans, you can feel the electricity racing through the screen.
It got me thinking about the power of music and how incredibly underrated it is... The ability to make you feel things you never knew you could, I find myself being inspired more and more by the music I listen to each day. Just like in this movie, we listen to music to fit our moods. Happy, sad, heartbreak, celebration, there is a song for every occasion and feeling. In the very middle of Almost Famous, there is a moment where Elton John's "Tiny Dancer" comes on and I have to admit, it reduced me to tears.
A scene where everything seems to be going wrong, all of a sudden, through the power of music, it all seems as though it will be okay again. Beautifully inspiring.
That feeling of inspiration driven by music, encapsulate it and do not let it go.
Swallow the pill, you will thank me later.
Stories, people and places I have been, as you can see from this post, personal experiences are what I write. Almost Famous has rekindled my love for creativity and will forever hold a special place in my heart from now on.
Whether it be the person you meet at the bus stop, a new place you go to for lunch or even a film in this case, I am a firm believer that there is a story to be discovered everywhere. All it takes is a little bit of imagination. People are so fascinating, give them time at all and you will discover a whole new world outside of your own. Don't be shy... Get out there and explore the world around you. It may not feel like it but inspiration is everywhere.
Write that novel, produce that EP, fly that aeroplane, open that bakery...
Do whatever the hell you like.
Live your life.
Be yourself
Chase your dreams.
Katie x
