Growing up, I learned early that life does not always hand you the easiest path. My story started in Oakland, California, born into circumstances that came with both beauty and complexity. I was adopted into a big, loving family who believed in music, sports, and faith. At the same time, I was a brown kid trying to understand where I fit in a mostly white community. My father struggled with alcohol until later in his life, and those years were not always simple. But here is the truth I carry with me today. Our challenges do not define us. How we respond to them does. Joy is not something you stumble upon. You build it from the inside out, especially in hard times.
Growing Up and Learning What Really Matters
My earliest memories are filled with things that had nothing to do with careers or accomplishments. I think back to fishing trips with my family, laughing until we cried at the dinner table, and learning how to show up for each other even when things felt messy. That was the beginning of my understanding that joy is found in connection.
At the same time, I had moments when I felt like the odd kid out. I stood out in my neighborhood. I had questions about identity, belonging, and what it meant to be part of two worlds culturally. My mom always reminded me that being human is not about having every piece of life figured out. It is about showing up as your full self. That lesson shaped the artist, father, husband, and human being I am today. The truth is that we all have complicated chapters. The magic is learning to love yourself through them.
Turning Pain Into Purpose
As I got older, I learned that adversity is not something to fear. It is something to learn from. I have been through seasons of confusion, heartbreak, loss, and self doubt. I have questioned my abilities and my purpose. I have stood on stages in front of thousands and still felt unsure of who I was. What I discovered was that vulnerability does not weaken you. It strengthens you. Every painful moment has given me more empathy, more grit, and more clarity about why I get up every day.
Music became my outlet. Songwriting helped me turn pain into poetry and confusion into clarity. On stage, I saw the way music brought people together. Strangers holding hands. People letting go of fear. People remembering they are not alone. That is when I knew. Hardship can break you down or build you up. Your choice is what makes the difference.
Choosing Gratitude in Hard Times
Joy does not always show up loud and obvious. Sometimes it comes in tiny pieces that look like morning light, a quiet moment with someone you love, or the soft relief that comes when you finally let yourself cry. I wake up every day choosing gratitude. Not because every day is perfect, but because gratitude turns what you have into enough and then more. It turns fear into energy, stress into growth, and pain into compassion.
In my family, we always tried to find light even when life felt heavy. My father eventually found recovery. Watching him change taught me one of the most powerful lessons of my life. Anyone can evolve. Anyone can rise. No one is trapped by their past.
Movement, Music, and Mindfulness
Today, joy for me comes through movement, creativity, and presence. I start my day with exercise, whether it is basketball, yoga, padel, or lifting weights. Moving my body keeps my mind wide open. Music remains my daily medicine. Writing songs is how I process life. And being with my wife Sara and my son Taj fills my heart in a way that only family can.
Creating Soulshine Bali was another part of this journey. I wanted to build a place where people could breathe, reconnect, and find joy in themselves. I have seen people arrive weighed down by stress, heartbreak, and exhaustion. I have watched them walk away with lighter hearts and fuller spirits. That is joy through adversity in action.
Giving Back as a Path to Joy
Years ago, Sara and I founded Do It For The Love, our nonprofit that brings people facing life threatening illnesses, kids with special needs, and veterans to live concerts. We started it because we believe joy is healing. When you see someone who has been through so much light up from the inside at a show, you understand that joy is not optional. It is a lifeline.
Service keeps your soul grounded. Helping others through their challenges reminds you that you are not alone in yours. Joy grows when you share it.
Choosing Joy Every Day
The world can feel heavy. We all face moments where we wonder if we are enough or if we can keep going. I have learned that joy is not about avoiding pain. It is about breathing through it, learning from it, and growing beyond it. Every challenge is a chance to become more compassionate, more present, and more connected to what truly matters.
You do not have to be perfect. You do not need to have everything figured out. Just show up. Stay curious. Keep moving. Sing loudly, even if your voice cracks. Love deeply, even when it scares you. Let yourself feel it all. Because somewhere inside the struggle, there is always a seed of joy waiting to grow. And when you nurture it, that seed becomes strength. It becomes purpose. It becomes a life you are proud to live.
Joy is not just the destination. It is how you walk the road, even when that road gets tough. You are stronger than your challenges and brighter than your fears. Keep going. The joy you build on the other side will be worth it.