Today I’m
going to tell you a story about two guys, Alex Crowhurst and Joe Gibson. They
come from Essex, U.K. and they’ve done something that many people would say is
crazy. Let’s go a bit back first. Alex was a General Manager in big and
successful pub companies for 6 years and he was earning very good money from
that. Joe has been a professional performer for the last 7 years and he was
also doing great, which means he was making very good money, too. I think it’s
safe to say they both had full and happy lives. But one day they left their
home and came to Crete, Greece, to work as a band in a hotel. Now they are 'The Avenue'.
Why? So
many people here have asked them this question! Well, Alex had a dream, being a
guitarist in a professional band and he decided to chase his dream. Joe, on the
other hand, needed to get away from always following the ‘right choices’, doing
what everyone thought he was supposed to do and also he needed to get out of
the easiness, the ‘comfort zone’. He was feeling that there are greater things
in life besides career, success and money, so he came here to experience all
that.
I have
spend endless nights with them at the beach, always with their guitars,
watching them value so much what they have here. Countless times they’ve said
‘’Life’s not about the money or the easiness, it’s about being at a place like
this, at the beach, with the sea and the stars and good people around you’’.
They valued every single day or night they spent here and they’ve made other
people appreciate what they have been taking for granted. This should be the
way we always see life and not wait for a couple of English dudes to remind us
what it’s worth!
Recently I
asked them how they feel about their decision to come here, after all these
months. They both gave the same answer with absolute confidence; ‘’I wouldn’t
change anything!’’ And you know, they did have some hard times here too, but
they dealed with them and what I saw was that they managed to take something
good out of them. For me, this is what being a positive person means.
Asking them
what was the best thing they have experienced here is, I got this; ‘’I have
found someone that when I play my music can relate to it. Someone that makes me
want to play for him. I have always loved to play guitar, but playing with him,
having the understanding that we do when we play, takes it to another level.’’
(Alex). And this; ‘’I have come out of singing solo and I’ve learned what it’s
like to be part of a duo. Now I’m not singing on my own and this means that
whatever I do affects someone else too. And having a very good friend and great
musician as the other part of the duo, who appreciates everything that I do, it
all makes me appreciate it even more. All of this made me push my limits more
and find potentials of my voice that were there, but I didn’t know it. I found
new aspects of singing and playing music and if you add the whole experience of
this summer, it all made me love my job again’’ (Joe).
A person
that dared to follow a dream and now is at the beginning of an amazing career.
Another person who realized that he needed a break from everything he had, in
order to love and value it again. Two friends that grab life from the balls. A
living example that not everything in this world is about money, not everyone
is cynical. No matter how hard the times that we live in are, it’s never too
late to reconsider the way you see life and revalue your dreams.
P.S. Many,
many, many thanks to the boys for letting me write this and answering my
questions. Joe, Alex, you are both amazing persons and I really feel lucky to
be your friend. My best wishes from the bottom of my heart to get what you
deserve in life, which is the best!
