When a personal milestone didn't bring the happiness I expected...

When I lived in New York, I played for a Big Band with the New York Jazz Academy.  It was basically a community-based education setting to get experience playing with the Big Band.  We were set up to play a concert at Carnegie Hall.  I was super excited and felt like I was well on my way to bigger gigs after I had finally played there.  Well, the concert came and gone and once it was over and done, I didn't feel all that different after.  I could now say that I had done it and put it on my bio on my website and on my musician's resume, but it wasn't as satisfying as I was expecting to have that show under my belt.  I enjoyed it whilst I was experiencing it with my bandmates, but it didn't give a lasting happiness that I was expecting it to give me.  I realized that I could not rely on individual big gigs to provide me the happiness I desired.  I needed to make it a life-long pursuit until I could be in a place where I was booking shows that were of my own creation while also seeking happiness in the simpleness of life that I am lucky enough to enjoy.  I'm still learning to do that today and don't think it's ever going to be a place that I reach fully..... It's more about enjoying the ride.