Washington D.C. to Greensboro
Day 2 headed west is in the books! I got a pretty good workout in this morning in D.C. and we had a nice breakfast down the street from the hotel at a place called Emissary. Then we headed over to get a dose of American history. We did a nice walk through the park and saw the Lincoln Memorial, The Washington Monument, The Vietnam and Korean War Memorials, the World War II Memorial and even the White House! We skipped the Capitol Building, The Jefferson Memorial and the MLK Monument because they were a little too far away for our schedule. We sang whatever Hamilton lyrics we knew and Understanding also sang as many American songs as possible for everyone to hear. I got some fun photos that I’m looking forward to getting developed, except for the White House. The White House view was through a fence and it would’ve been a really shitty picture so, whatever. To be honest, I really enjoyed our walk through the park today, but I was hoping to feel more inspired than I was. The memorials were quite grand but I don’t know, I was hoping to feel something deeper than I did.
I found myself thinking about it again in the car after we left. The men whose Monuments and Memorials we walked by were working toward something so much bigger than themselves. Sure there’s a valid argument to make about the morals of the time and the problematic aspects of the foundation of our country, but had they not done what they did I might not even have the opportunity to bring that up. They established a foundation for hundreds of millions of people to build upon, and a built a nation that created the opportunity for everyone after them to chase their dreams, just like they did. When I look at this company, I hope to establish a legacy that can outgrow me, support and facilitate the dreams of generations to come, and bring people joy in their lifetimes. I’ve been complaining about the idea of having to find a supplementary job next year or find more composition or soundtrack work because it will force me to divide my time in a way that I’d rather not, and it doesn’t get me excited like building this company does, but I have to remind myself of my ultimate goal. I’m not comparing the specific sacrifices I’m going to have to make to the sacrifices of the forefathers of the United States, but I am comparing their dedication to their dreams to the dedication required of me to achieve mine. I have to also remind myself that it’s not just about me.
Anyway, the drive to Greensboro consisted mostly of a beautiful tree-lined highway. I’m excited to get to Nashville tomorrow. I guess I’ll keep following this dream wherever it takes me.
J.P.