Again I feel honoured to read your words here. 
I’m so happy that you had the insight and wisdom to open the door of this subtle thing that occurs in Open Mic so when you did your Top 5 post and began with your detailed explanation I became enveloped in the love, support and acknowledgment that we entrants all have become accustomed to from you. 

Your words inspired me to open up a bit about what’s important for me as a musician and it felt so great to know that *you ‘get it.’* - that no matter how experienced or professional a musician is, there’s still this little child inside of us that seeks acknowledgment, love and support. 

I mean, I play and express music because I love it, first and foremost, but when I share my music and the decades of hard work that’s gone into it, I don’t do it to be ignored or dismissed or cast aside. 
How could I attain and maintain a professional music career if people just went, “ah he’s great and he knows it” and then swept it aside? 
I mean, I’m a confident person (most of the time), but I’m not telepathic (hmmm. Well, I am, but only when I’m blowing a didge on your heart chakra!). Haha.

And we all want to be loved. 
It’s an intrinsically interwoven part of the social evolution of our species. 
<h3>You understand all that and you have compassion for that, which is why you were compelled to write your top 5 the way you did and this post too.</h3>

You know, I have to confess, the only thing I miss when I don’t rank in the judges’ Top 5 lists is the wonderful comments from you and the other judges. I’d assume that most others feel this way too. 
Not that I’d expect myself or anyone else not in the top 5 to get comments too. I mean, it’s exhausting just thinking about the amount of work all of you judges have to put in each week just to listen, let alone writing comments as well. 

That being said, I don’t personally do it for the validation (well, a little bit, if I’m honest. Haha). My career has provided me with lots of validation and meditation gave me the rest of the validation I was seeking. 
<div class="phishy">Playing Music is a gift to myself first. It is my therapy. 
Then sharing it with others is my soul purpose. 
I have to do it!</div>

Open Mic is another fabulous community in this beautiful world where we artists can give. 

Anyway, you do ‘get it’ with all we’ve discussed so it was refreshing to read in your top 5 post. 
Thanks so so much, mate. 

By the way, I loved the segmented layout of this post here. It made the whole journey flow so much better as a reader. 

Oh, I should mention that I do see Open Mic as an opportunity to share my music and message to new audiences. I hadn’t really put any concerted action to actually sell it here yet though (even though I encouraged Darren Claxton to do so months ago), so that’s really a great suggestion. 
Thanks bro!

<h2>@passion-ground is an inspiring, big-hearted, beautiful, supportive bruthaman and all round legend!
All who agree say “aye!”</h2>
<sup>I mean it. Say “aye” below!</sup>