Hoyt Axton was a big gregarious guy who acted, sang and wrote songs in the 1970’s. Songs like ‘The Pusher’ made famous by Steppenwolf and ‘Joy to the World’ were some of his huge hits. He acted in hit TV shows and wrote iconic jingles for McDonald’s, Busch Beer and others. He also was a fixture on the talk show circuit busting up audiences with his style and humor. Axton positively touched a lot of human beings. He was also an addict. Cocaine mainly. Axton was married four times and divorced three. He died early, at 61, after suffering a series of strokes. He had immense talent and touched millions with his songs and acting so, why did he drown himself in cocaine and other drugs? He made boatloads of money and had a ton of fame. Why?
Karen Carpenter was another off-the-charts talented entertainer in the 70’s. She sang some of the most moving songs ever performed. Songs like: Close to You, We’ve only Just Begun and I Won’t Last a Day Without You are some of the songs that to this day, people listen to and quite often, play at weddings. She too, like Axton, positively touched millions of people. Carpenter also had had a monkey on her back. She had the eating disorder, Anorexia Nervosa, which killed her at the young age of 32. She struggled with her self-image for decades while trying to come to grips with her life. Even after being so important and making such positive influences in the lives of millions of people she was a miserable wreck. Why?
Fast forward to the present and the same kind of thing happens every day. People who have done great things in their lives whether in business, art, family or entertainment are quite often unhappy and down on themselves. For some people, nothing they do is ever good enough. Many forget their positives and only see their faults and the problems of the day. They trudge through depression, anxiety, self-hate and self-doubt not remembering that they’ve done some good and in some cases, great things in their lives.
They don’t realize that once they’ve tapped that special place inside themselves that touches the very fiber of someone else, they matter. They don’t realize that when they’ve touched and positively moved an organization, movement, business or person they’ve done something grand. They’ve reached the talent inside themselves that all human beings have and they made a positive difference in the world. The ripple effect of what they did will stay in one shape and form forever and it will stay with them as well—if they let themselves remember it. And when times get tough and life turns into an uphill battle people need to remember what they’ve done and that they’re as much of a rock star as anyone else.
When we’ve tapped our inner self and made a true difference in a child, adult, group or the world as a whole, we are as grand and royal as anyone. We should remember that. If Axton, Carpenter and countless others would have only realized that they mattered enough and were good enough when they tapped into themselves and touched the world their lives would have been much different. No one can tell us, do it for us, or teach us to be satisfyingly good, special or fantastic. It’s already inside of us. We’re all rock stars if we would only believe it.
Steve's a three-time survivor of violence in his youth, a former police supervisor and a graduate of The Police Executive Leadership College (PELC) and was also an award winning part-time college Criminal Justice instructor.
For several years, Steve did written and radio political and current event commentary and was the former host of the long running 'The Kovacs Perspective' Internet radio and TV talk show.
Steve presently owns a small businesses in Ohio--The Mayfield Academy of Self-Defense.
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