Have you ever had a dream or passion for something that was extinguished because of life’s circumstances? Either work, marriage, children or just keeping up with the day to day slowly crushed inside you what was once a burning passion? Painting, music, photography, fitness, sports…what was yours?  Many people never get around to it again, thinking that it is irresponsible and selfish to give in to that guilty pleasure of our youth.

This post is about my man Sean. Twenty six years ago, music was his life. Deciding to marry me, meant leaving the band to move across  country and do what normal people do, get a real job, work 9-5 and live the “American Dream”. Still in his early twenties, music came back to him in a new way. Forming a few different bands over the next 10 years with some guys we still consider family. Slowly his passion for playing music was strangled by life’s grip, till there was no breath left. Commuting to and from work 4-5 hours hours a day to keep up with the “dream” will do that to a person.

When we decided to move to Tybee, after selling everything we owned, we took 4 months off and asked ourselves, what do we WANT to do and how do we want our life to look? These are not easy decisions, but they are easier to make when you remove the clutter and get down to what is most important and what you really want. We made the choice that our relationship with  each other and our kids is what matters most. Setting aside disappointments, failures and broken dreams we now had a clean slate, and were ready to build a new life here on Tybee.

One of the few things that Sean kept in his possession during the great McNally purge was a mandolin that my grandfather gave him, 25 years ago. Last January, he knocked the dust off it and started to pluck the strings, teaching himself how to play a little bit everyday. Within a month he had joined a friend playing a weekly gig for tips. The passion was reignited and over the past year the flames have been fanned. Last summer he started nervously playing a few open mic nights solo. This soon led to a few solo gigs, then regular weekly gigs including the Monday Mandolin Mayhem at a favorite watering hole, the Sandbar.  This month he got the bug to have a band again. Hand selecting the people he enjoys playing with,  “In For a Penny” was formed. Still it its infancy (as in never having a full practice with all three band members) they were booked for a jam packed weekend over the beloved Savannah St. Paddy’s five day celebration culminating on a featured main stage on River Street.

Here is a video of a favorite song that Sean wrote. Inspired by a blog post written by our good friend Micheal Elliot about his guardian angel needing a break.

I have always been proud of Sean and his talents are plenty. I am now most proud of how he took his life back. Of all of the smiles in the room when he plays, his is the biggest as his joy has returned. Nothing makes me happier than seeing my family thriving in their giftings and leaving their mark on this world.

What can spark the magic in your lost passion? Is it time to remove the clutter of your life so that you have time and energy for what makes you happy?