We jokingly say that Yanni is the background music of our lives. In a way, he is. His soft piano ballets are constantly playing in the background of our home. If you don’t already know, we are big fans. That’s right, the Greek guy with the long hair, mustache in the 80s, playing two pianos at once. Being fans of Yanni might date us even though we aren’t that old. In fact, Yanni has been writing music since before we were born. While we have always been a fan of his music, it’s Yanni’s story that turned our enjoyment of his music to enduring fans for life.
One Man’s Dream
Yanni was born a poor boy in Kalamata (just like the olive!), Greece. He grew up poor and without a formal education. Growing up he took an interest in playing the piano which is parents encouraged him to do at his own pace because they couldn’t afford to send him to school. One day, Yanni’s parents took him to a concert at the Acropolis in Athens. In Greece, all the famous musicians play at the Acropolis. From there Yanni’s dream of becoming a musician bloomed even though his odds of ever playing at the Acropolis were very slim. Yanni never gave up on that dream as a kid teaching himself his own form of musical notation which he still uses today. Without any formal training or money, Yanni just a dream and the belief that one day he would play at the Acropolis. In 1980 Yanni recorded his first album and nearly 15 years later, the poor Greek boy was invited to participate in his life long dream of performing his music live at the Acropolis in Athens
The Dream Never Ends…
The first time we saw Yanni in concert he spoke of his story. Still to this day, 25 years after his dream became a reality he still looks back on the first time he played in the Acropolis, his dream, in awe. His message to us was simply, “You can do it. Whatever it is, you can do it. You can do anything if you believe it enough. Never give up on your dream. Dreams are the most beautiful gift life has to offer us. It is a flower that will grow if you only nurture it and give it time.”
We’ll never forget that because we also believe that. And we believe that you can too. For us, our Acropolis was to become successful Grand Rapids wedding photographers that strengthen the marriages of the couples we serve. For you, it is something entirely different. So wherever you are, whatever it is, you can do it. Never lose sight of your dream and continue to grow it. And if you do, one day, you will be invited to your own Acropolis.
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