“I believe the key to happiness is someone to love, something to do, and something to look forward to.” ~ Elvis Presley

I have often spoken of self indulgence and the likes of celebrating my own birthmonth for years. It’s more so about celebrating a history of any sort, especially one you want to relish and rejoice in the time to come. For as they say, time is the only luxury, for you cannot get it back.

Which is why I am inspired by Elvis Presley, and his way of retaining an aura, a happiness, and timelessness to his very identity. When in Nashville, I visited his iconic Studio B where he recorded the majority of his songs. And tourism aside, it truly evoked the feeling of doing what you love with a passion, and celebrating an indulgence. In his case, it was his indulgence in music.

Unlike his studios in Memphis or homes in Graceland, the studio visit was part of my luxury stay at Omni Nashville and the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Studio B is the very location where country music has been recorded for years. Portraits of history’s icons like Willie Nelson, the Everly Brothers, Carrie Underwood and Dolly Parton are all over the walls, sequencing the successes, affairs and smiles across the years, with viewers to piece together the stories.

The dominant imprint is that of Elvis, with over 200 songs recorded at the location. With many of his works on display, alongside vintage old tape machines, mixing boards and instruments from a non-digital era, it is startling to think how much we take for granted about efforts of production in today’s digital day.

The focus is the largest room in the studio, where the recordings took place. Alongside a piano touched and played by the man himself. With a quaint, old-worldsy odor and a subutlevibrancy in the air, it was easy to imagine this being the home of a creative genius who suspended his thoughts into lyrics, far from the shutterbugs of society.

So, what makes us cling to past notions and a general passing of time? Just like shopping for our favorites, it’s a distinction of our needs and wants. In its most naked form, we live, breathe and create memories, without necessarily any needs or wants. A memory gains substance when something beckons to be remembered , often without a particular want. And if the latter exists without a need, it’s a whiff of nostalgia. And inspiration is born when a memory is both desired as well as needed, for clinging to it will mean inevitable progress.

Elvis’ work and music is probably a segment of every quadrant in the matrix, but for me it has elevated itself to an inspiration.

I always try to create positive memories. Because once again, as Elvis said: “When things go bad, don’t go with them.”