On Belief, and What Makes Dreams Possible

Before I ever met Justin, I'd heard stories about his "Only Music" trips. He and his band would travel thousands of miles with no food or money, trading music as they went. I thought it was one of the craziest, coolest ideas I'd ever heard — though, if I'm honest, a little skepticism crept in too. It sounded like it could just be a creative way to have a great adventure without spending a dime.

Then I met Justin in person, and that skepticism evaporated. He's as genuine as the day is long — a man with a big heart and a deep love for people, especially the ones who are a little lost and a little lonely. The Only Music trips aren't a travel hack. They're a vehicle for sharing the most life-giving, joy-producing things he and A Brother's Fountain have spent years creating: music, laughter, friendship, community. An extreme practice in giving and receiving. A reminder of our shared humanity.

When the idea of this next Only Music trip surfaced, along with the idea of making a documentary, my inner critic showed up right on schedule. Am I really going to ask everyone I love to help fund a passion project? What if they don't get it? What is they think it’s just a travel hack, like I used to?

The words were barely out before friends came rushing in to carry this precious project forward. The pitch was simple — here's a future documentary about music and kindness, and we're not entirely sure what else yet — and the response was immediate: Here's some money, because we believe in you, your hearts, and your music. That is enough.

That kind of belief is a rare and extraordinary gift. It made me braver. It made all of us braver, and it made the impossible feel not just possible, but inevitable. We were going to do the trip anyways, and make a documentary with whatever funds we had in the bank. But because so many people showed up, so many of you, our friends, family, and community, we pulled off something incredible. A documentary that is good enough to submit to film festivals, good enough to earn us business sponsors, and pay so many of us back for the labor we put into it.

I just can’t believe my lucky stars that I’m a part of a community of dreamers and optimists, of people waking each day with new hope because they know it is the only tried and true life raft we have. I thought that the 21-day no food, no money rafting trip would be the ride of my life, but turns out, bringing this film to life has taught me so much more. Stay tuned for where to catch it at a film fest near you or when we publicly release it, next year!