Last night I met Candyce at a restaurant on Mill Avenue. I walked Candyce to her car, then walked back to my car. I passed by fumbling drunk college girls, bohemian homeless kids, Latino thugs, and herds of average people looking for fun. The street was roaring with choppers, fast imports, and rumbling Escalades. It was such a show!

I passed by the hotel I stayed at on my first trip to Phoenix. The whole Real World cast was hired to come and give a talk for Arizona State University. I spent most of the night hanging out with my Real World friends, exploring the town and meeting new people. I slept for two hours, then hopped in a limo to the airport. That was four years ago.

Those memories spun through my head as I walked passed rowdy bars full of college students fighting for attention. A girl stumbled out of the alley, tossed her hair around her should and slid her phone against her ear. She yelled, “I told you you stupid bitch, I’m not drunk. I’ve had three drinks. I’m okay.” She snapped her phone shut and dropped it into her purse.

A group of strangers waited at the corner until we could cross the street. There was a thug trying to impress his girl, and next to them were two rowdy drunk hippie kids. The thug popped a cigar between his lips, then turned and asked the rest of us for a lighter. I ignored him as if I assumed he was talking to the other couple. The hippie sifted through his patchwork pants and pulled out a lighter. The hippie held the lighter and the thug cupped his hands around the flame. He puffed smoke and said thanks.

The crosswalk sign flicked and we all marched across the street. Before we made it to the other side, the two couples had become friends. They talked about partying, cursing every other word. They walked ahead of me, and carried this mindless conversation for three blocks. I was embarrassed for them.

I settled into my car and paused before I turned the key, and listened to the throbbing bass in the distance. I am not like those people. They’re behavior is mindless and destructive. They are young and have so much energy and enthusiasm, and they’re spending it on trying to look cool. And they look like fools.

You have fifteen waking hours in a day. How will you spend your time? Your life? A night around town with friends can be amusing, but the nightlife always leave you empty. A night of pleasure-seeking can never satisfy the deep hunger in your heart.

I get more pleasure out of getting up early and going to the studio than I ever got spending a night looking cool.