That’s Lyle Lovett talking about Willie Nelson.

That’s Lyle Lovett talking about how you feel whenever you are around Willie Nelson.

He also said this about being around Willie, “it’s ok to be yourself; he allows you to be yourself.”

I heard Lyle talking about Willie on the phenomenal podcast called “One By Willie.” John Spong of Texas Monthly talks with prominent country music artists about the Willie songs that mean the most to them. It’s a knock-out podcast with intimate stories and feelings about the impact Willie has had on these artists and the world at large.

I also heard Leanne Womack say that the lessons she learned from being around Willie was to, “be yourself; that’s your power; that’s your magic.”

Rosanne Cash went on to say that, “nothing is original anymore, but Willie comes close. Nothing is contrived about him. It’s just him.”

These are just a few of the overwhelmingly overwhelming comments people make about Willie the Man, not necessarily the artist.

It’s a great podcast. It’s a great looking glass through to a mirror... if you want it to be.

He allows you to be yourself.

Be yourself. That’s your power.

Nothing is contrived about him. It’s just him.

Those are different humans that Willie has encountered sharing the same expression of him that they have experienced, that they have interpreted as a lesson, wisdom. To hear them say the words, you would think that he provided them answers. Indirectly. Implicitly.

What a gift to give and to receive. The gift of being yourself and being able to make others feel compelled to do the same. This is the end justifying the means. This is the mark to leave on the world.

These are things I want people to say about me. This is where my head has been for the past few years. I’m teetering on the edge of being myself in the truest sense. 49 years is a long time to figure out how to be yourself. Too long. But, it’s never too late.

Everything’s alright.