misfortunes make giants | Jesse Santoyo

Category: misfortunes make giants

Zion gave me the Bird.

Written by jessesantoyo
Friday, 29 April 2011 08:28
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It’s so easy to get stuck in the world of routine. Getting by to make it another day, another week, another month. Sometimes I have to stop myself and disconnect from everything in order to remind myself of the work that still needs to be done in pursuit of our dreams and passions and the reasons why we are here in this season.

As I wrestled with the idea of leaving my hometowm Chicago in 2007, my Dad’s words were the deciding factor. He said, “just close your eyes and go”. The only way I was going to find out if there was more to my life and my family was by taking a chance, and I did.

Yesterday when I picked up my boys from school Zion met me at the door of his classroom and showed me the amazing work of art he made. In “that moment” It felt as if Zion’s simple art piece spoke into my soul. There is always more! There is always something new to be made! There is always a brand new day!

I am learning to stop measuring my future by my past. I am learning to stop comparing myself to who I was 5 yrs ago, to who I am today. I am learning to think with a fresh approach, work with a blank canvas, and work my a$$ off for the life of my dreams, the life God designed for me and my crew to live. We can talk all day long about how screwed our past is, and why we don’t deserve _______________, and for what!? But we can talk about, where do we go from here?

So today I remind YOU! Your routine is temporary, but you gotta work for your dreams! Your past is done and over with. You were created for more than that. So because of that I give you the Bird! It is a new day.

Has anyone given you the bird lately? Tell me about it!

-fuser+

Honest and Random…

Written by jessesantoyo
Wednesday, 12 January 2011 16:36
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Many times we are driven to surround ourselves by talent rather then passion. As if being around talent, will make us talented. I always get star struck when I meet people I am a fan of… Until I am up close and realize they are just like me, a human being with wrinkles and pimples. The only difference between them and me is probably millions of $ and tons of fame. Not much eh? Ha! Some of them are not approachable at all. Some are just letting me live in their world… I always thought, how cool would it be to be friends with ______________. You are a total liar if you have never thought the same thing or said the same thing! We just don’t ever admit to it. A year ago I was hoping to meet certain people in town. I wanted to connect in a new city. I wanted to meet “cool” people…That got old really fast! When you are new, nobody cares about what you do, other then you and maybe a few of your family members. It’s the unwritten culture of a town that breeds innovators and visionary’s. Don’t get me wrong, this is where I belong…Why? I am constantly challenged! From being a better artist and innovator, to being a better husband and Dad. To starting a life here and everything else that follows. I learned the hard way that if anything was gonna happen it had to come from me. Nobody will pave the road but me. There is no way around hard work and dedication. At this point, the best thing I could be, is ME. I have a story and a journey. I have a voice and an idea. I have tons to offer and tons to give. Until then, let the journey continue…

So be confident and know that, nobody can succeed and fail, the way YOU do. Someday down the road, someone will take notice of the noise you are making…

-fuser+

Familia…

Written by jessesantoyo
Friday, 07 January 2011 13:46
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Last week I got to spend some time with my family in Chicago. Some of the things I love about spending time with my family is that everything is real! My family is not perfect in no way, shape or form… We are the “function” in dysfunction. It’s beautiful! My parents, brothers, my sister, my inlaws, my nephews and nieces…even our pets… I wouldn’t change a thing about us all. The fact that we are artists, teachers, detectives, students, pastors, accountants, and everything else, means nothing…All that goes out the window when we are together…We are just family.

Sometimes I get so caught up in my life and in the pursuit of my dreams that I forget where I come from. I get all wrapped up in creating music, writing songs, acting, performing and all the other creative chaos I am involved in and become part of a whole different world… But then I take the journey back home to Chicago where my brothers bust my chops and make sarcastic remarks of every single move I make…The more I am away from my siblings the nicer it is… WHAT? WHY? Because I miss them more and more. It creates that space and room for everyone to grow and appreciate who we are and who we are working on becoming… This new year in Chicago was Epic…We had a blast together. My kids loved it, my wife loved it… And it never fails there is always some type of argument and misunderstanding that usually gets resolved at the end of our trip… It’s the beauty in family, in its greatest form possible. Until next time…

(Here are a few snapshots of some (there are tons more) of my family and Jon Allison..(our white adopted brother)