Tag Archives: heartbreak

Don’t Let Relationships Erase You

I read a really good post recently. So good, that I wish I could just copy and paste the whole thing here because it’s so relevant. Take the time to check it out. It talks about missing someone and not necessarily wanting them to be back in your life.

I’m not quite at that point in my journey, I’d still want them back in my life… There’s a silver lining to the article, or something to look forward to. It talks about wanting the good times again; “Think about it: this doesn’t have to happen with the same person. The history and the feelings can be replicated in part with another person now.

That’s a beautiful sentiment. Knowing that those feelings and emotions you had are not in fact gone forever just because that relationship ended, but rather you will experience them again with someone else. For me, that’s been such a hard part of all this. Mourning the beautiful and endless possibilities of what that relationship could have brought to my life. All the happy moments it did bring to me, along with the inspiration and creativity.

I wrote more poems inspired by this person in the last few months than I have in the last few years. I’m not sure why. It’s ironic how some people can inspire you and others don’t. One of the poems I wrote, I know would have had a great impact on them. I never had the chance to give it, but it was not written in vain. I was able to share it with someone who recently experienced the same thing and it’s been a great source of comfort to them. In a way, maybe I had to meet this other person, in order to be a comfort to someone else.

Life is like that. You meet someone who influences you, changes your life. It can be in a small way, it could be someone you meet once, but you never forget. Moving forward, I would like to challenge myself to only think about the good moments and try not to think about the way things ended. Not forget why, as I will always carry that with me moving forward and apply it to future relationships.

I was listening to a song the other day and it said “people like me are gone forever, when you say goodbye.” That can be so true. I know in previous friendships I’ve had, I’ve been so hurt. I’ve cried, I’ve felt lousy about myself… and some of those people are still in my life to a degree, but a very distant one. You know… the ones you wish happy birthday to on facebook and occasionally comment on their posts.

In order to get to a place of not being hurt anymore, I had to go through a period of shutting them out completely. I had to feel all the feelings and then get to a place where they could no longer hurt me, but also a place where I still wanted them to be happy and well. One person I run into now and again and they’ve mentioned getting together a couple of times. It’s funny, back in the day that would excite me to no end. However, now I don’t even get my hopes up because I know it’s not going to happen. It’s a good thing though, that I’m not upset by this. I kind of just laugh about it… like ok… sure we’ll get together.

I’ve had to stop comparing myself to their other friendships. Stop questioning why they grew close to someone younger than me, if maybe I thought age was a factor or whatever the case may be.

I’ve told myself for half my life already that people are in my life for a reason, and sometimes only for a season. That’s always been hard for me as I’m someone who loves deeply and doesn’t like to let people go.

The good thing is, when we let those people go, we are able to open ourselves up to new relationships, with people who don’t want to erase us from their memories but create new ones.

Keep Your Heart Open

Keep Your Heart Open

I woke up this morning hoping it was all a bad dream
I know it’s real by the tears that continuously stream.
The worst thing imaginable is now my reality
“I’m sorry” didn’t matter, it’s simply a deaf plea.
I asked for forgiveness, but received none
Now my presence, is one you must shun.
I work through these feelings, so that I might heal
One day it won’t be so hard to feel what I feel.
I’m working through the grief and what came to an end
I know in my heart, there is nothing left to mend.
Shattered and broken, not meant to be
Yet I won’t forget what you’ve given to me.
A new found perspective, areas in which to grow
Maintaining boundaries, friendships to forgo.
I can still be blessed by someone’s existence,
Appreciate and respect them from a distance.
Not everyone is meant to be a permanent part of my life
Emotions need to be kept in check and not run rife.
I cannot look to people to provide more to me than allowed
I don’t need their approval, of myself, I must be proud.
I can be a blessing to them, without going over the top
I must set limits for myself and know when to stop.
It will always be hard not to matter to someone you care for
Yet there is always someone waiting, who will love you more.
Trust for whatever reason, that it wasn’t meant to last
Try to move forward and leave that relationship in the past.
Don’t change who you are, just who you cling to
There are others around who will see you through.
Keep your heart open, others love you for who you are
Learn from this heartbreak, don’t let it leave a scar.

~ Jennifer R.W. Vargas

May 2020

Exclusive Interview: Natalie Stovall And The Drive

Natalie Stovall And The Drive is one of those bands that have been around for years but not everyone knows about. Variety Beat had the chance to catch up with Stovall and talk about the band, their music and her tour Three Girls Rock Into A Bar.

It’s important to have a community that supports each other and the fans have been there for Stovall and her band, even helping fund her latest EP. She talks about what inspired her single “Heartbreak” and surprisingly it’s not about a relationship. In fact, Stovall is happily married to James Bavendam who happens to be the drummer in her band.

Vogue 

VARIETY BEAT INTERVIEWS NATALIE STOVALL:

Variety Beat: Can you tell me about your band Natalie Stovall and The Drive. How did you all come together?

“My band and I have spent most of our time on the road – playing over 200 dates a year for the last few years. James Bavendam (drummer) and I met in college and put a band together. When we graduated, James and I were the only members that moved down to Nashville. We started looking for new members, put an ad on Craig’s list, and found Miguel! We met Joel through a former bass player, and that’s when it started to become a real band. After years of touring under just my name, I realized my music didn’t sound like me without them and wanted to give it a band name to recognize the fact that we really are a band. It’s so amazing to tour the world & make music with this band of brothers. They are some of the greatest and most talented people I’ve ever known, and I get to hang out with them every day!”

Vogue

Variety Beat: You recently released your second EP after a successful Kickstarter campaign. Your first EP was also self released. What has that journey been like for you guys as a band and how has it connected you with your fans?

“It was such a bummer when the record label closed down right before our second single was being shipped to radio. But the way the fans have supported us, still come out to shows, and still asked about & bought our music has kept us going. It really is about the music and the people that support us – don’t care whether we have a fancy record deal or not. Making this new music was such a rewarding experience. Our fans funded our Kickstarter goal in a little over a week which was HUGE! The whole process – from what I was writing to working with different producers to playing the songs out live – has been such a growing process for us. We keep pushing ourselves as a band. And our fans have really responded to that! We just want to keep making music and reaching as many people as we can with it.”

Variety Beat: Your current single is called “Heartbreak,” can you explain the inspiration behind the song?

“I was writing with a couple of writers (Maile Misajon and Jason Gantt) in Nashville. It was right after the label had shut down and I was talking about everything I was going through at the time. We were discussing how it’s just like a relationship ending – it’s someone you depend on and makes you stronger and when that goes away it really is heartbreaking. So much of the momentum we had going came to a screeching halt. But it’s what you do AFTER that happens that defines you. So as we were having this discussion and started singing some lines that became the chorus and the song was born.”

Variety Beat: The music video for “Heartbreak” was a ton of fun to watch, was that also self released and what was that journey like?

“HA! Thank you! It was SO much fun to make. We made it with some friends in Dallas that have a production company called Distillery Media. We had come up with the rough idea of the video and I LOVED it cause it made me laugh just thinking about each of the guys being a “bad date”. We all sat around with the director, Randy, the day before we shot the video and just created each of the dates. I picked an outfit for each one and then my sweet friend, Hailey Steele, who is an incredible singer/songwriter, just happens to be amazing at hair and make-up, too. So she came and helped me with glam and then was IN the video as the girl Joel leaves me for AND the girl on the bad date at the end :). I highly recommend making videos with your friends. We shot the whole thing at 3 locations in 6 hours and laughed the whole time.”

Variety Beat: The video also features your band going on dates with you after finding them on a dating app type deal. Your husband’s date, who is the drummer in the band didn’t seem to go so well. Will he be getting a second date? 🙂 The ending was hilarious and everyone will have to watch to see what we are talking about!

“HAHA. If any of our original dates had gone that badly he would NOT have gotten a second date!”

WATCH: NATALIE STOVALL AND THE DRIVE’S MUSIC VIDEO “HEARTBREAK”

 

Variety Beat: I noticed some upcoming shows called 3 Girls Rock Into A Bar with Ruthie Collins and Kelleigh Bannen. How did you all come together to get that set up?

 

“I have wanted to do a tour like this for a LONG time. Ruthie and Kelleigh are 2 of my favorite artists in Nashville, so what better way to go on the road than with my band and friends?! My band plays for everyone and we all sing and play for each other and it’s just a big party of sharing our favorite music on stage. So far the shows have gone really well and we just want to keep growing it so we can take even more girls out with us!”

Be sure to catch Natalie Stovall and The Drive on the road. Dates here.