Stay with me here.

I believe Prince really did set an example for others to follow.

Prince's call in life was to be music. He did nothing else, really. I think of videos of him rehearsing or working on a song - and I think, "He's not doing anything else, but that right now."

Prince wasn't worried about watching the Kardashian, or Chopped, or whatever. Sure he had down time and made funny tweets, and I would think Damaris (sp) helped him along with his Instagram posts (most are in the shape of his symbol, or a 9-square collage of one photo, etc). He didn't have the distractions. He just did what he did, all the time.

We hear about band members saying how he just played and played and played. It's all he did for hours at a time. He had no guilt in feeling like he had to be doing something else, or that he was spending too much time playing and now he had to get back to real life. It seems a lot of us do that (us being people in society in general).

People feel guilty about doing what they love. We're taught go to work, pay bills, raise children, be responsible. But how much more responsible can you be than to maneuver in the gifts you've been given? Why do folks feel like "Okay, I've had enough fun for now, back to the real world", then set their talents aside to do something mundane and out of pocket just so save face, or seem 'normal', or straight up feel guilty if they don't?

Now, gifts we've been given could be anything. It could be music, painting, drawing, writing, cooking, reading stories to kids, walking dogs, making wigs for cancer patients, repairing shoes for the poor, or creating a water filter. Whatever!

When we maneuver truthfully and fully in our gifts, everything can fall into place. Prince knew that. He always honored the gifts he'd been given, and often times we were lucky enough to share that with him. To him, the music always came first, in that when it came to him, he allowed himself to be the vessel that poured it out. He once said, "When you're brushing your teeth, and the toothbrush starts to vibrate, you gotta go grab a bass."

The meaning of life is to find your gifts. The purpose of life is to give them away. I think Prince did that. Shouldn't we all follow suit? Why is guilt often a part of not fulfilling our purpose in life?

TrivialPursuit said:

Stay with me here.

I believe Prince really did set an example for others to follow.

Prince's call in life was to be music. He did nothing else, really. I think of videos of him rehearsing or working on a song - and I think, "He's not doing anything else, but that right now."

Prince wasn't worried about watching the Kardashian, or Chopped, or whatever. Sure he had down time and made funny tweets, and I would think Damaris (sp) helped him along with his Instagram posts (most are in the shape of his symbol, or a 9-square collage of one photo, etc). He didn't have the distractions. He just did what he did, all the time.

We hear about band members saying how he just played and played and played. It's all he did for hours at a time. He had no guilt in feeling like he had to be doing something else, or that he was spending too much time playing and now he had to get back to real life. It seems a lot of us do that (us being people in society in general).

People feel guilty about doing what they love. We're taught go to work, pay bills, raise children, be responsible. But how much more responsible can you be than to maneuver in the gifts you've been given? Why do folks feel like "Okay, I've had enough fun for now, back to the real world", then set their talents aside to do something mundane and out of pocket just so save face, or seem 'normal', or straight up feel guilty if they don't?

Now, gifts we've been given could be anything. It could be music, painting, drawing, writing, cooking, reading stories to kids, walking dogs, making wigs for cancer patients, repairing shoes for the poor, or creating a water filter. Whatever!

When we maneuver truthfully and fully in our gifts, everything can fall into place. Prince knew that. He always honored the gifts he'd been given, and often times we were lucky enough to share that with him. To him, the music always came first, in that when it came to him, he allowed himself to be the vessel that poured it out. He once said, "When you're brushing your teeth, and the toothbrush starts to vibrate, you gotta go grab a bass."

The meaning of life is to find your gifts. The purpose of life is to give them away. I think Prince did that. Shouldn't we all follow suit? Why is guilt often a part of not fulfilling our purpose in life?

I agree with U, and U put it into words wonderfully.

I think the difference 4 most ppl not doing what they really love like P did is simply the root of all evil; money. 4 most of us we can't live off what we would make in doing what really makes us happy. Most ppl R stuck in dead-end jobs simply bcuz they have 2 eat and keep a roof over their heads and/or their families. And while a lot of ppl do what they love in their spare time they always wish they could do more but bcuz of having 2 keep a job that they may not like or even hate, it keeps them from doing what is their true gift.

P was very ambitious and like he said on Arsenio; when he looked in the phone book cuz he needed a job he couldn't think of 1 thing he wanted 2 do other than music so he decided 2 go 4 it full force. Between having an insane work ethic/drive and the genius musical talent he made his dream a reality and gave of his gifts everyday.

It's a shame we all can't take our God given talents/gifts and use them the way we really want bcuz the world would be a better, more beautiful place IMO.

Wow...lots of wisdom all over this topic. Thank you, OP and commenters!

ACharmed1 said:

I think the difference 4 most ppl not doing what they really love like P did is simply the root of all evil; money.

A correction: Money is not the root of evil. The bible never said that. In fact, God always promoted being paid and compensating people appropriately.

I Timothy 6:10 says, "For the love of money is the root of all evil". Not money, but the love of it. Loving money changes one's focus. Jesus dealt with money and used it. The dude had some surplus for him and his twelve friends. Jesus also said you can't serve two masters - God and money. In short, don't be a slave to money.

TrivialPursuit said:

TrivialPursuit said:

ACharmed1 said:

I think the difference 4 most ppl not doing what they really love like P did is simply the root of all evil; money.

A correction: Money is not the root of evil. The bible never said that. In fact, God always promoted being paid and compensating people appropriately.

I Timothy 6:10 says, "For the love of money is the root of all evil". Not money, but the love of it. Loving money changes one's focus. Jesus dealt with money and used it. The dude had some surplus for him and his twelve friends. Jesus also said you can't serve two masters - God and money. In short, don't be a slave to money.

Who would have guessed the Galilee Tour ’33 raked in so much cash?

bonatoc said:

ACharmed1 said:

I didn't say the Bible said money was the root of all evil. I know it's Sunday on the org when I'm being sermonized 2. No disrespect, I'm just not going down the religion road, I was speaking in general terms. And unfortunately most ppl R slaves 2 money, that was my point.

I actually wasn't sermonizing. Since Prince followed the bible, that's why I addressed it that way. And we do agree, because I did make the point that folks are almost perpetual bondage to the almighty dollar. I actually hate the idea of money, and having to survive by having it. I work just enough and still be able to live as I wish.

I remember something Diane Sawyer said that her father told her. Do what you love, do it in the most unusual place you can, and eventually someone will pay you to do it. I think Prince would probably agree with that.

TrivialPursuit said:

ACharmed1 said:

I didn't say the Bible said money was the root of all evil. I know it's Sunday on the org when I'm being sermonized 2. No disrespect, I'm just not going down the religion road, I was speaking in general terms. And unfortunately most ppl R slaves 2 money, that was my point.

I actually wasn't sermonizing. Since Prince followed the bible, that's why I addressed it that way. And we do agree, because I did make the point that folks are almost perpetual bondage to the almighty dollar. I actually hate the idea of money, and having to survive by having it. I work just enough and still be able to live as I wish.

I remember something Diane Sawyer said that her father told her. Do what you love, do it in the most unusual place you can, and eventually someone will pay you to do it. I think Prince would probably agree with that.

Gotcha.

U know in saying that Diane Sawyer thing, U have me re-hashing a question that's been rolling in my mind about P and that is; I wonder how he would get his music out 2 us if he were just starting now or, if the technology we have now was available back in the day, I wonder how P would fair in the music industry?

The state of music is in such a decline and the net is so over saturated with music, I wonder if he'd of had a shot at making it in these conditions, despite the supreme God given talent. I know a lot of musicians -good 1s that's it's incredibly hard 2 do what they love even tho they're great at it. Kinda depressing.