I don't often share private messages from friends, nor do I share many of the physical challenges I face day to day from the brain tumor I survived so many years ago. But the fact is that tumor, besides leaving me blind, and with no sense of smell, both selling points I used to convince my wife, Jennifer, to marry me because, to me at least, she would always look and smell perfect, the tumor also left me without a thyroid, adrenal function and a entire host of other problems.
Normally I don't talk about this—I just do what I have to do to live and get on with it. However, in 2002 I lost a hip to a latent issue from that brain tumor. And now, I am losing my right shoulder. Yeah, I am going to have to have a total shoulder replacement.
The pain is such that I have been getting only about 2 to 3 hours of sleep a night and still having to work full days, 10 hours or more.
That is why, honestly, I have been a bit tired and a little stressed.
I got two emails this week that renewed my spirit and I want to share those with you.
First, a very talented young lady, who credits me with inspiring her to do music for a living, Hannah Zale, wrote me a super sweet note. I was emailing her about her band's appearance at my second annual "Joey Stuckey Alive Day" music festival in down town Macon on 9/29/18. Please visit www.joeystuckeyaliveday.com for more info about this event.
This is what Hannah wrote me and it made my day—"Sending love and support. Keep fighting...the world needs you. We need you!"
Hannah's note means the world to me and was just what I needed to hear.
Second, my new single is out—"You're So Wrong". You can find on iTunes and Amazon and (soon) on www.joeystuckey.com to download at no charge.
I sent this single to my dear friend and long time musical heroine, Sue Wilkinson.
We often share new projects with each other as I am a fan of Sue's. She is as good as anyone in the biz and better than most! At any rate, here is what she wrote me back regarding my single—"Can you spell H-I-T????". Coming from such a talent like Sue, this comment really means something and again helped boost my lagging energy!
So why am I telling you this?
It is simple. I believe that it is incumbent on us as beings of compassion and of love to remember that no matter what we are going through, we don't know other people's journey. Something that seems like a small kindness to you, might just be the thing that makes a difference in someone's day, week, or even life! So, take a minute to remember to be kind and supportive even when you don't feel like it. You don't know how that extra tip you leave a server at your favor restaurant or smile you give a stranger will bless that person!
Thanks to Sue and Hannah for doing that for me this past week. I promise to pay it forward!
Joey Stuckey