this is it

April 13, 2024 | Michael Schneeweis

As a performing musician…

Some songs I write, play once, and mostly forget about.

Other songs I keep playing—not because I love playing them necessarily, but because other people form a connection to the song and it feels right to give them the experience of hearing it live.

But there’s a few songs that I wrote a long time ago and keep playing because they still feel good to play.

‘This is it’ is one of those songs for me.

I wrote it after a breakup. But the meaning goes way beyond just that one painful experience, and into the core challenge of being human:

Facing loss, facing heartbreak, facing illness, and choosing to continue on the path.

What path?

The path of caring. Of not devolving into cynicism. Of not seeking numbness over depth, meaning, connection.

That’s a theme that will carry through for the rest of my life, so I keep singing it.

In case you’re interested, I just designed a brand new t-shirt that says “This Is It” in big letters.

Check it out and let me know what you think?

See you next week!

Love,

Michael