Photo by Arina Krasnikova
Every year, I write up a gratitude list. This year, the list came easily – but it’s mixed with what I’m learning, because growth and gratitude feel connected right now.
In this holiday edition, I share what I’m grateful for in 2025: 31 years of marriage, the Unstarving Musician community, my health, and the accidental connections that turned into real relationships. But I also talk about the harder questions I’m sitting with about work, stress management, and what “making it” actually means.
If you’re dealing with the tension between strategic thinking and creative joy, wondering if you should quit your day job, or trying to define success on your own terms rather than social media’s terms – this episode is for you.
Topics Covered:
- Why day jobs might be the smartest path for most musicians
- The cost of strategic thinking (and when it becomes exhausting)
- Redefining “making it” – still creating in 5 years, not burned out, not broke
- The question of celebrating versus numbing stress
- What the “mystery of the quotient” means for finding your tribe
- Health, sustainability, and the choices that compound over time
- How loss clarifies gratitude
This is the last episode of 2025. The next episode drops on January 2nd of the new year. Happy holidays, and thank you for being part of this community!
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New in the Unstarving Musician Store – Sparticups
Just in time for the holidays, I’ve immortalized my beloved cat Sparticus in a coffee mug.
Spartacus was a 15.5 pound tabby who Sami and I adopted in California. He traveled the South and North American continents with us and lived his last days with us in Querétaro, Mexico. This cup features one of my favorite pics ever of him.
This mug design was originally a gift for Sami – now it’s an homage to the most gentle cat we’ve ever known.
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Related Episodes
332 Eli Lev – Spiritual Growth: From 250 Shows to Finding Sacred Space in Music
Resources
The Unstarving Musician's Guide to Getting Paid Gigs, by Robonzo
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