John, I know where you are coming from, a lifetime of trying and crying, seems to be wasted, but at least you tried your best and that is all that can be expected from anyone. It's better to have tried and failed than not to have tried at all. Those that don't try have failed already. When you look at the long shot that making it in music is, it is a wonder that anyone ever tries.

Sometimes success is so hard to see that we miss the success that we've had. You may never know whom you may have touched with your music along the way. I've had just enough feedback to know that I've touched at least a few people. If one person goes to the trouble to get in touch with you to tell you what a song meant to them, how many more thousands did not bother or know how to get in touch with you to say the same thing. We are made for a purpose and if we follow that purpose, we have not failed, we just don't know how successful we were. Some people measure success by money, but money is not the only yardstick to measure success by. Happiness and contentment is much better than money. Love and joy brought to other and yourself is better than money.

My life is further spent than yours and I have had little success in money, but helping others makes me rich and contented knowing I am doing what I was born to do. Earthly rewards are temporal, heavenly rewards are forever. Something to look forward to.