4/17/25

Thought of the day

Music has always been my secret weapon for motivation. 

Back in high school, I’d spend hours curating the perfect mix tape to get my adrenaline pumping before a wrestling match. 

In college, heavy metal blared through my headphones as I marched toward intramural soccer games, fueling my competitive spirit. And before stepping onto the softball field, nothing set the mood quite like some high-energy country tunes blasting from my car speakers.

These days, life’s “big moments” look a little different. 

Sure, music still gets me going — but the stakes have changed. 

Now, I find myself belting out the lyrics to Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” in the bathroom mirror, psyching myself up… to pop a pimple.

Not exactly the twist you expected, right?
Let me explain.

There’s an art to tackling a zit. 

If you go in too soon, the results are always disappointing. 

You have to wait—let it gain strength, nurture it —until that whitehead is practically begging for its final curtain call. 

That’s when Eminem’s words start echoing in my head:

Look, if you had one shot, or one opportunity
To seize everything you ever wanted in one moment
Would you capture it or just let it slip?

Because if I don’t nail it, things get messy fast.
The battle can drag on for days, and suddenly I’m walking around feeling like there’s a neon sign on my face announcing my defeat as the pimple grows angrier, bigger, and redder, taking up more and more real estate on my face. 

And these are the thoughts of a middle-aged man who had too much time on his hands yesterday, waiting in line at the grocery store. The moral of my story: Whether it’s a wrestling match or a bathroom mirror showdown, the right soundtrack makes all the difference.

Thanks for stopping by, and I will talk to you soon.

I will persevere.
I will keep moving forward.
I will be the stream.