People Inspire People

“People Inspire People” - David Grohl

After just finishing David Grohl’s stupendously amazing and freakishly inspiring audiobook The Storyteller, I was left in awe. I was at the gym during the final official chapter and his gratitude-filled closure to his life story was so heartfelt. I did my hardest to blink away a tear or two. It would have been funny to have passers-by at the gym think I was crying over my weights. But really, I wouldn’t have cared because I had just finished listening to what was a very life-affirming book that will stay with me for a while to come.

This audiobook was so enamouring I literally couldn’t put it down. I listened to it every single moment I could. I listened during the short rides for daycare drop-off, car trips to the station, at the gym, on my train commute, as I hung clothes, and whilst I cooked. This audiobook was not on my radar at all previously and came as a book recommendation from a work colleague. And for this reason, I am always open and deeply grateful for recommendations of books or texts from anybody and especially close friends.  

I couldn't just close David Grohl's book's final pages and move on. The only way I felt I could close the final page of his book was by writing this post. To celebrate an amazing story shared by another human, I tip my hat to David by putting down my own thoughts and feelings on this page.

I knew very little about The Foo Fighters and even less about David Grohl. I never knew how much of a people person, a doting father, a loyal son, a grit-fueled rock star and most of all someone who took many leaps of faith and backed himself to be where he is today. And now without a shadow of a doubt, I am one of his biggest fans. I absolutely blast the shit out of the song “The Best Of You” in my little hatchback car each night during my short drive to the gym each night and sing along. I soak in the words of the chorus every single time. "Is someone getting the best, the best, the best, the best of you?" Is something getting the best of me I question myself. And thanks to my circle around me, I can shout a resounding yes.

For you the person who is reading this now. I am putting forward the best of me. For you.

People Inspire People. This was repeated several times throughout his book. And whilst I don’t remember the exact words he uttered afterwards, it’s reaffirmed my love of people around me and the infinite energy it gives me. So in the meantime, I’ve made up my own version of his quote. “People Inspire People. It is my life’s mission is to give my best to myself and those around me, so that one day I can too be a source of inspiration.”

Every single one of his stories was centred on people. Each adventure, trial or tribulation had a line back to either his parents, his friends, his family, his band members, his team or his fans. David had all the resources to hang up his hat, but instead, he recognised that whilst he no longer needed to produce music, he still WANTED to. And from that point, even more magic pursued this realisation.

"When the student is ready, the teacher will appear" - Buddha Siddhartha Guatama Shakyamuni

This book was a beautiful tapestry of David’s life from when he was a child running amock, to going to Jazz clubs with his mum, to when he formed The Foo Fighters to winning the music industry's most revered awards. Unexpectedly, this book became an invaluable source of life lessons mixed in with unforgettable stories of luck, hope, perseverance and deep relationships. It’s come at a very opportune time in my life as I take deliberate steps to carve out the paths in my life.

David's stories have become a champion for why I should trust the feelings I have and acknowledge the tireless energy I have within. To own the feelings of my absolute want and need to break away from the norm and the crowd. I do not want to be limited by a 9 to 5. I want to connect and create things for the world, I want to be a titan in business, I want to be the initiator and partaker in all of life's experiences, I want to love and laugh as hard as possible and most important of all, I want to do it all alongside my friends and family.

David had a pivotal moment when he had a choice between joining one of the biggest bands of the time (The Heartbreakers I recall) or taking a chance to go his own way which meant trusting that a brown box that contained 100 copies of his own music on tape. He chose his brown box of tapes which unknowingly was going to form the basis for many of The Foo Fighter's first songs and this formative decision was key to where he is today. So I too must find my brown box of tapes and place my faith in it.

People inspire people. David inspired me. I too want to inspire.