Chapter 1: The Choice

February 2nd 2017

James Edward Tolly

We've just started kicking off our 20 time projects this semester and I'm not going to lie, I'm already scared. I'm scared, because I know what I'm going to do is going to put me out in the open for friends, family and strangers. I battled with what to do for awhile. I'ts not secret I'm creatively driven and so I knew I wanted to do something with my writing or my music. The more and more Ms. Becker talked about how we are supposed to challenge ourselves no matter how scary I knew my choice was becoming more clearly apparent.

I have a dream. Now as historically moving as those four words are I never felt them more personally then when I discovered my love of performing. And when I got my first guitar I never felt so in tune with life. So I decided that I want to advance my skills with my guitar, because I'm good, but I have so much more I can do. I am going to become a better guitarist by teaching myself theory and to play different genres. I'm also going to improve my voice, because I'm a decent singer, but there's an even longer road ahead to be at a place where I want to be.

And to tie my aspirations together I want to polish and someday preform my own new songs.

Ultimately I would love to get to the point where I can preform at shows and gig's around the Cedar Rapids area and start making my dream into reality. It was once said that "the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step" and I'm happy to say that you readers, are watching me take mine.