Germán had always dreamed of being famous. Since he was a child, he liked to play the drum or a piece of furniture that served as a drum, imagining that he was a music star, a drummer.
When he grew up, his parents enrolled him in drama classes, and music theory (theory and solfeggio) and he participated in several talent contests, but he never managed to stand out from the rest. Until one day, his life changed completely.
A music producer discovered him in one of those gigs he was doing for free with friends in the block where he lived and offered him to audition for a possible recording of an album in the capital city. Germán could not believe it. It was the opportunity he had been waiting for all his life. Without thinking twice, he accepted the offer and moved to the big city, leaving his family and friends behind.
The album was a resounding success. He recorded an album playing drums with very well-known orchestras in the music scene and shared the stage with great singers and groups of the moment. Everyone sought him out for his impeccable way of playing, for his passion, and for that special way of moving the drumsticks. Some said that he had a marked influence on Ringo Starr.
He became the idol of millions of fans who followed and adored him.
Germán enjoyed the fame and money his career brought him. He bought a huge house, and a high-end vehicle, and dressed in brand-name clothes. He hobnobbed with other celebrities and attended exclusive parties. He felt like the king of the world.
But there was also a dark side to his new life. Germán began to feel lonely and empty. He realized that he had no real friends, only interested and flattering ones.
He felt pressured by the demands of his producer, who forced him to follow an exhausting work rhythm, to change his image and his musical style to adapt to fashions. His personal life was invaded and he no longer enjoyed privacy.
He had to comply with everyone but himself.
This led him to seek an outlet for the worst. Drugs and alcohol were his daily bread.
One day he received a call from Carmen, his mother. She told him that Germán el Viejo, his father, was sick. His father had sent for him to see him before he died. Germán felt guilty for being so far away from his family and decided to return to his hometown to visit them.
When he arrived, he found a desolate panorama. His parents' house was in ruins, they barely had enough to eat and his siblings had to leave school to work. Germán realized that he was the only member of his family with such acquired wealth and that he had never shared anything with them.
He felt ashamed and remorseful. He hugged his father and asked for forgiveness for having abandoned him. His father, who was always understanding, smiled tenderly and told him not to worry, that he loved him as he was, and that the important thing was for Germán to be happy.
Germán felt like a stab in the heart. He remembered the happy moments he had lived with his family as a child. He remembered his youthful dreams and illusions. He remembered who he really was.
Then, he decided to change his life radically. He went to his producer and told him that he was quitting, that he didn't want that empty life anymore, and that he didn't want fame. He didn't care that he was rained with lawsuits for scheduled commitments (shows, recordings).
He sold all his material possessions, part of that money he donated to charitable causes, and the other part he used to create a small business for his siblings. He moved to a simple and modest house, where he lived with the bare essentials. He dedicated himself to making music for pure pleasure and discovered that he also liked to write without expecting anything in return.
Germán became a minimalist. He learned to value the simple and essential things in life: love, friendship, nature, creativity... He felt freer and happier than ever.
As a good father, he instilled the values of minimalism in his children from a young age. He taught them to be humble, generous, and respectful of others and the environment. He taught them that happiness does not depend on what you have, but on what you are.
Note from the author:
This has been a tale of a fictitious Germán, but one that bears a strong resemblance to the real one and how he once exchanged the sumptuous life for a life of peace, love, and minimalism.
You can be very happy with very little.
Original content is written exclusively for #KISS Blogging Ideas Week 60
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All rights reserved. © Copyright 2023 Germán Andrade G.
It is my responsibility to share with you that, as a Spanish speaker, I have had to resort to the Deepl translator to share my original content with you.