Jim Gaven

'To get clean. To stay sober.' These are common phrases used to describe someone who is battling a drug or alcohol addiction. It sounds simple, right? Well, it's far from it. For some people, all it takes is an intervention, if you will, by caring family members to seek help. A few months of group/individual sessions and drug/alcohol free living will do the trick. For others, it is a life-long battle to not use drugs/alcohol on a regular basis, or, at all. Some get clean, but aren't able to stay sober for that long. Some get clean, are sober for a while, and fall back into the same patterns of behavior of using never to return to sobriety. A relapse, we call it. Fortunately, some are able to make it out alive and return to a somewhat 'normal' state of being. What is 'normal' anyway these days? Is there even such a thing? And, some just aren't able to kick the habit, and leave us way too soon. These cases are the hardest to swallow. Family, friends, and other loved ones are left behind with the memory of their sister/brother, parent, friend, or spouse.

A little over a year ago, I met with Art Ackerman of City of Angels Recovery Radio (COARR) at their studio in Hightstown, NJ to talk about the latest happenings with my music service company, Key of Awesome Music. Not only did we talk about the company, but we talked about difficult decisions we all make in life, the education system, following your passions, and original songs.

Juggling Life-a non-profit organization who puts on free events for kids with Crohn's, Colitis, and Cancer. Also, a fun and meaningful play on words for what we have to do throughout life--juggle many responsibilities at once. Sometimes it can feel overwhelming. Sometimes we feel we have it covered. Most of the time we teeter between chaos and order. Do we let it get the best of us or do we accept it for what it is?

Sing for Peace is a book written by yours truly, Jim Gaven, published in October 2019. Living in today's world can be a daunting challenge. From the everyday distractions of various social media sites to all the battling news outlets, it can be hard to decipher what is good and what isn't. 'Sing For Peace' is a call to action for the human race to utilize our voices for good...all day, every day, and in every situation. With scientific research backing the physiological and psychological benefits of singing to famous saints who were for peace to popular peacemakers of our time to the various symbols and signs signifying peace, I make the case that if we were to sing to each other all-day long, there would be no need for war...ever.

Finding Your Own Tempo, written by yours truly, Jim Gaven, is about finding your own tempo in life. Leading your own life instead of following in someone else's footsteps takes faith, hope, and courage, and 'Finding Your Own Tempo' sheds some light on ways to do that, specifically through faith, music, and exercise, particularly, soccer. Designed to inspire others to take action to live the life they so desire and be more at peace with themselves, I hope to light a fire under you, the reader.

"Manic Music Manifesto", a book written by Jim Gaven, takes a deeper look into the obsessed mind of musicians and why music is so important to their well-being and essence as well as non-musicians alike. With several clinical research studies bringing to light the powerful effect music has on every day life mixed with first hand experiences of musicians caught with the music 'bug', this book is poised to make waves in the industry and beyond.