The music that helped me find my HAPPINESS

The music that helped me find my HAPPINESS

When I was young I moved from the city of Boston (Dorchester, Ma) to the suburbs (Norwood, Ma). There were several differences from living in those two very different environments. One of the biggest was the music that the kids listened to. In the city is very rhythmic and in my neighborhood, it was all about the New Kids on the Block! Man, I loved NKOTB. I wanted to be in a boy band more than anything in the world, (still do btw) but when I moved, the love for singing and dancing boybands wasn’t exactly the same! It was about sports and rock music.

Music has always been an important part of my life. I love music and how it can impact any moment. I have used music throughout my career and firmly believe it is my love of music that has helped my career in sports. As sports evolve into entertainment experiences, I have been challenged to use music and video to change the way fans engage with the game. It has worked really well for us in San Diego as we continue to get recognized for the experience we have created. We even slip in some boy bands along the way!! 😉

I wanted to write about boy bands today, because I tried for many years to hide what I loved because it wasn’t “cool”. I tried to become who I wasn’t. I tried listening to a lot of rock and actually really enjoyed it and I eventually became an on-air personality at WAAF a major rock station in Boston. BUT my love was still pop, dance and hip hop music.

Things changed for me when I doubled down on me! I learned about confidence when I was in the police academy at 19 years old and that lesson changed the trajectory of my life(I will tell that story on another day). My confidence has been tested several times over the last 2 + decades, but it continues to be the key to my happiness. Knowing who I am, who I want to be and what makes me happy has allowed me to attack every day, every interaction, every challenge with CONFIDENCE.

Back to the New Kids, I never got to see them in concert when I was a kid and when they announced they were touring again when I was an adult I made myself a promise. “I will never miss another NKOTB concert!” If they are touring and I am in that city I will be there. At all costs!! I have fulfilled that promise thus far and even getting the opportunity to hang out backstage with band during a show in San Diego, I gave them some Padres jerseys and they actually all wore them on stage that night. Are you kidding me?!?!? But the coolest part was Donnie invited my friends and me to join the band and the crew in the pre-show prayer circle and that nervous, shy 12 year old kid in me had never been happier!!

Whatever your “NKOTB” is, embrace it. Love it. It’s what makes you, you and to be honest it’s what makes you... HAPPY!! Once you can truly love what makes you happy the rest is easy!!

#MusicIsHappiness #NKOTB #Happy #Confidence #FindYourNKOTB #BeYou #DonnieWahlberg #NewKidsOnTheBlock #GaryVeeChallenge #Wahlburgers