239. Derick Sebastian | Daydreaming With Purpose

Hello, Book Thinkers family, and welcome to our personal development podcast, Book Thinkers Life-Changing Books. During each episode, we interview one of the world's top authors, and as a listener, you can expect to discover new books, new mentors, and new resources that you can use to achieve more and live better.

Hello, Book Thinkers family, and welcome to our personal development podcast, Book Thinkers Life-Changing Books.

In today's episode, we have the pleasure to interview Derek Sebastian, author of Daydreaming with a Purpose: Self-Leadership Strategies to Manifest Your Passion into Your Profession. Derek is a bestselling author, keynote speaker, life coach, and internationally acclaimed ukulele artist from Maui. Known for his heartfelt performances and spirit of aloha, he has captivated audiences worldwide, earning recognition as one of the world's greatest ukulele players. His career spans songwriting, producing, and educating, blending passion, resilience, and purpose. He has performed for major names such as Oprah Winfrey, Jason Mraz, and Boyz II Men, as well as for NBA and MLB teams, including the Lakers, Clippers, and Diamondbacks. In this episode, you'll learn how Derek turned his childhood passion into a thriving career, the importance of self-leadership, and the mindset shifts necessary to manifest your dreams. We'll also dive into overcoming imposter syndrome, embracing the power of aloha, and how small moments can change the course of your life Forever. Now get ready to learn and enjoy this incredible conversation with Derek Sebastian.

Derek Sebastian, welcome to the Book Thinkers Life Changing Books Podcast. I am excited to do a live unboxing with you in a minute, but first I'd love to have you tell everybody about how you found your calling at the age of eleven.

Oh, you you know, Nick. First of all, thank you so much for having me, brother. I appreciate you and and your what you do for our community, and you're such a you. Such love and light to us all, so I appreciate you. So thank you, thank you, thank you. You know, my my journey started really at three years old when my dad passed away, and obviously I was at a young age, but I was just trying to process it all. In the beginning, it wasn't really a I shouldn't say a thing, but it I just couldn't understand. You know why he you know mom was saying that. Dad was going to be sleeping for a long time. Dad passed away in a bad industrial accident. So, you know, growing up, I did not like— I was just, oh man, I just kind of miss my dad. And it really hit me when I started to hit like maybe 8, 9 years old when going to school, going all these open houses and, you know, school functions and only my sister or, you know, maybe my mom, but she was just busy working. Uh, but, you know, she was— I was basically like just questioning life a little bit, like why did my dad have to pass, a little bit. Um, and then, you know, uh, 11 years old, um, I was just a little lost, I guess you can say. Um, just not doing much, brother, you know, just having bad asthma as well. It was just kind of like going through the motions, going to school, you know. Um, can't play baseball because of my bad asthma and 11 years old, man. I was just cruising through the halls, um, as a 6th grader, uh, junior high intermediate school, and I saw my— our good family friend, um, and he was a school security at that time, Mr. Sam Ellis. He was jamming his ukulele on the bench during recess, and I kind of like stumbled upon it. I was like, wow, this is cool. And Mr. Ellis was singing and ad-libbing and just kind of like, you know, just having fun. And I just— I was just drawn to that vibe, that energy. And that's the day I was introduced to the ukulele. And I sat down with him that day and that changed my life, man. Every single day I found Mr. Ellis and we started to get closer, not with just the ukulele, but as, you know, as with a relationship of he became my father figure, my closest mentor. So.

Yeah. It's funny how a little moment like that, walking past a door, you hear some sounds that interest you, you walk in and it changes the rest of your life. I, I've got kind of a goofy question next. Why do, uh, why do Americans in the lower 48— and I'm guilty of this— why do we say ukulele instead of ukulele?

Well, there's nothing wrong with saying ukulele, brother. So, um, the correct pronunciation is ukulele in Hawaiian, right? It's like O-O-K-O-O-L-E-L-E. Ukulele. And that's the correct pronunciation, uh, in Hawaiian. But at the same time, you know, everybody has their own twists and sense to it. And hey, as long as it keeps you smiling, man, you can pronounce ukulele the way you want, you know. So it's all good, man.

What is the history of the instrument? Do you know the history of the instrument? I mean, when was it first introduced? And how long have people in Hawaii kind of taken that up?

Well, the history of the ukulele is actually interesting because it's not a Hawaiian instrument, to be quite honest. The ukulele was actually— it's a Portuguese instrument. So back in the late 1800s, Uh, a lot of Portuguese migrated here to Hawaii to, to basically work in the sugarcane fields. There was a sugarcane boom here, and, um, you know, a lot of ethnic groups came to Hawaii, not just the Portuguese, but, you know, Japanese, Chinese, Koreans, Filipinos, Asians, Caucasians, everybody, Polynesians, they all flocked here. And, um, you know what happened was the Portuguese came here with a good intention, man. They needed to entertain themselves, so they brought their instrument called the breguinha, and Hawaiians got really inspired by that instrument. So the Portuguese ended up gifting some of them to the Hawaiians, and the Hawaiians just simply renamed it ukulele. So you're playing pretty much a Portuguese instrument with a Hawaiian name, man. So, and ukulele translated into English means jumping fleas.

Oh, wow.

Yeah, uku means fleas or head lice. That's basically what it is. I didn't make it up. And lele is to jump. So jumping fleas, jumping head lice. And really what it is, is when the Hawaiians strummed the strings back then, because the tuning was a little lower, the strings would jump up and down really quick. And then they were like, oh, that looks like jumping fleas. So they named it ukulele. So that's the story.

You learn something new every day. I bet, I bet there are thousands of people now who are going to go home today, or maybe they're at home right now. And at the dinner table, they're going to say, I learned something interesting about the ukulele is that it's actually a Portuguese instrument just renamed by the Hawaiian people. That's so cool.

That's it, man.

Now let's bring you back to 11 years old. So you start finding him each day, you start playing a little bit, learning about the instrument. At what age did you get your first instrument?

I would say maybe a year after playing You know, I was really into that instrument. I played every day when I got introduced to that. So literally, like, I would practice 5, 6, 7 hours a day. My mom saw it. She knew that I had a very deep interest. My passion was growing for it. It was just inevitable. But I was really lucky because my brother, older brother at that time, He was taking an ukulele class in high school, so I would have a free ukulele to practice on because he would bring it home to practice, and I would kind of snatch it from him and practice even more. So the routine was, man, just bring that ukulele home even though you're not practicing. I would just practice on it, you know, and it became this routine, and my mom just gave in. And, you know, back then, there weren't like much good, quote unquote, entry-level ukuleles. So a lot of the ukuleles that was made back then, 20+ years ago, it was all premium ukulele, koa wood and all this fancy stuff. So the ukulele that I got was nearly $1,000, and that was way beyond, you know, what we could afford at that time. But my mom put it all together, got my ukulele. It was a Kamaka, which is one of those historic ukuleles nowadays. and one of the best instruments made there. So, you know, I, I was real stoked, man, at 11 or 12 years— 12 years old, I should say— getting my first, um, premium ukulele, if you will.

Yeah, well, shout out to your mom for, uh, working to purchase that for you. That's amazing. Now, because your father had passed away, did Mr. Ellis in your eyes sort of become a father figure in a way? I mean, were you looking at him in that way or no?

You know, at first, he was a very close family friend because he knew my older siblings through school and through this program called Junior Police Officers. So, they call it JPOs, you know, these kids that help cross the streets and all that good stuff. So, he knew me as a toddler. But when we connected with the ukulele when I was 11 years old, that struck another chord, man. At first, it was all ukulele, having fun. But as the years went on, you know, ukulele was just an instrument per se, or like a bridge to talk about life, to talk about guidance and encouragement and love. And it was because— I mean, I'm getting all goosebumps right now just thinking about it. But, you know, now reflecting, you know, he activated a lot of, you know, purpose and intention in my life where it wasn't just about the ukulele. Ukulele was great. Uh, we did some amazing things, but I think he was building this foundation under me where despite of the circumstances, the journey, the ups and downs, the trenches, the top of the mountains, whatever I was going to do or accomplish, you know, I had a solid foundation. So, um, you know, he's, he's passed, uh, back in 2013 now, but, you know, it's, it's a beautiful thing to reflect on him like that. So.

Yeah, it's a beautiful thing to give him credit in 2025 in front of thousands of people and And help his legacy live on through you and through the music that you play. So, okay, now what happens next? You get your first instrument, you continue to lean into it. How do you go from an 11, 12-year-old who just is having fun to where you are today?

Oh, that was a journey, brother. And it still is. You know, I just— the ukulele gave me an opportunity to dream. and to have hope. And back then, the ukulele was not a popular instrument when I started to play. I was getting teased and mocked and this and that, whatever, which is all cool, you know, but I really believe this instrument saved my life, man. It gave me hope where when things weren't going good and life was boring, you know, this instrument made me smile and it gave me hope. And Mr. Ellis always used to ask me, what are your dreams? You know, like, what? Like, seriously, let's just talk out loud. And I said, I wanted to travel the world and inspire people through the ukulele. And how it's going to play out, I don't know. And, you know, long story short, I started to travel to the Bay Area, ukulele festivals, house concerts, workshops. And that really, you know, gained momentum. And then I started to get connected in the sports world. I started to You know, play halftime shows for the NCAA, working with ESPN. And all of a sudden that kind of, you know, gained momentum in playing the national anthems for the Arizona Diamondbacks. They're the one who gave me really the first opportunity. And it did kind of, you know, just, you know, transcended into like just a lot of more opportunities. Lakers, Clippers, a bunch of NBA stuff now, MLB, a bunch of other teams, spring training to seasons to— Um, and then I started to travel internationally, you know, also touring, teaching. And, you know, Australia was my first tour back in, geez, maybe 2010 or 2011. And that kind of spiked a wildfire of branching out where I started to, uh, reach out to, or actually touch down and tour into, um, geez, Australia, Thailand, Philippines, Korea, China, Europe, Finland, Canada, I mean, just all over, man. And it's just been a beautiful journey. And that led me into like creative writing and music licensing, writing music for film, television, and all that good stuff. And now publishing a book, I guess.

Yeah, which I definitely want to focus on in just a couple of minutes. But you're a very humble person, so you wouldn't bring up any of these names yourself. But I want to bring up a couple of names for you, names like Jason Mraz and Boyz II Men, uh, even Oprah Winfrey decided to hire you for a private session. Is that right? I mean, can you tell us about what that experience was like?

Yeah, you know, it happened, um, you know, Jason Mraz and Oprah thing, it happened so close together, it's like a blur. Um, I don't know what happened first, but all I know is I, I got a call, um, from Oprah's producer who, who in Chicago who wanted to purchase a couple ukuleles as a gift for Oprah. And, you know, she wanted me to take it up there and gift it to her and play a private concert and an ukulele lesson. And that happened very well. Uh, it was fun. It was fun. It just, it just became like this whole party up at her house, man, up right up the mountain here on Maui. Uh, that was kind of cool. Um, and, you know, Jason Mraz, um, Man, it's just a small world where, um, I am friends with his friends, and we just started to cross roads, and his best friends are now almost my best friends. And, you know, they said, hey, you gotta link up with Derek, and this, and vice versa. And all of a sudden, um, he was coming to Maui, uh, I think one of his last stops of his— one of his crazy tours that he does all the time. And he called me up and we ended up playing on stage on this sold-out concert on Maui. And the rest is history, man. I got to link up with him several more times and keep in contact. And he's helped me into like more of a writer per se, not just a musician, but more emoting, writing, not judgmental on your writing, just writing free-flowing through your heart. And just so when it's time to create, You can at an inconvenient time, you know. So yeah, it's just a beautiful thing, man. Small world.

What was more nerve-wracking? Was it your first performance, let's say the Diamondbacks national anthem, or was it sitting in Oprah's house playing and having a party? Like, what moment gave you the most nerves?

All of them was nerves, man. I still get nervous right now, you know, today, just sometimes. Yeah, I think I always get nervous. But to answer your question, the Arizona Diamondbacks was definitely something that gave me wet palms and just shake. I mean, it was just, it takes a lot to block everything out and focus on exactly what you gotta do. And that transpired into bigger opportunities playing for the Lakers. The Arizona Diamondbacks was cool. But I think the Lakers national anthem at Staples Center for Kobe Bryant and LeBron James and all these sold-out audience because it was a historic night. Kobe Bryant's last time playing LeBron James before he retired. So there's a lot of hype on that. And it was just crazy. Too loud, too many people.

Did you get a chance to make eye contact with either one of those 2? Did they give you like a little nod like, that was pretty cool, Derek?

You know, to be honest, Nick, I did not look for them at all. Um, I, I— we saw each other, obviously, there on the court. Um, but after the— well, during the anthem and after it, rather, I just, I just needed to get back to that room because I was so nervous and it was loud and I just, I couldn't process anything, man. It was just making sure I did my job and get the heck out of there.

So. Yeah, well, listen, thanks for sharing that because I think sometimes— and, you know, we've had a couple of professional musicians and athletes on the podcast, and I'm always curious what What it looks like behind the scenes, because I think oftentimes when you're at a game and you watch somebody perform the national anthem and then the game starts and you kind of forget that they exist sometimes, but like that human being just had a very, very intense moment. And what does it look like to decompress? And do you run right back to the room as fast as possible and just breathe or meditate, or do you go party? And I think people are curious about that kind of stuff. So thanks for sharing.

No, no, it's all good, man. You know the process. I get really, really nervous. I pray a lot. I stretch a lot. I breathe a lot. I tune my ukulele like 50 times, making sure it's on point. And I have a team that— so I usually have at least my tech with me. So we talk about it. Even though it's a 90-second performance, it takes so much energy and time to just block everything out. And just focus note for note. I mean, it's the national anthem, man. You just don't want to screw up that song. You know what I mean? So there's a lot of pressure that I put on myself. And then, you know, we go through the, you know, the logistics of walking up. I mean, they're talking to me in my in-ears. You know what's going on? Thirty seconds, fifteen seconds. Start walking this and that. And you know, I just pray that you know I get a good performance. I get to inspire through the ukulele at a sporting event or arena or stadium, whatever it may be. And You know, when I get back to the green room, there's a— I take a lot of time to kind of decompress, you know, and just to be grateful for that opportunity. I try not to take it for granted. It's thousands and thousands of people that I don't know, but to spread the ukulele love to them via a sporting event, I think that, you know, that's my purpose and that's my calling. And, you know, if they got to smile at that, I did my job.

So, oh, you're such a, you're such a genuine human. And for anybody that's just listening to the audio version of this podcast, Derek has the best smile. I told him that when I met him a few months ago for the first time, and I told him that when we jumped on today. And you could probably even, you could probably picture it even if you're just listening to the podcast today. I just had a vision of, uh, you know, if, if your life gets played as a movie at some point, uh, which I hope it does. You know, there's that moment you're 11 years old, you walk over, you sit down next to Mr. Ellis, you know, you touch the ukulele for the first time, and there's like a vision of you playing for a stadium, you know, or something like that. And then it zaps back and you're 11 and you're like, whoa, I had no idea that's where my life was going to go. And it's just so cool to hear you talk about it. It really is.

That's deep, man. Thank you. I appreciate you, brother. Yeah.

Oh, I appreciate you too. So Now we'll get to the meat of this thing. I had never done an unboxing live on the podcast before. The book is still in its packaging. And so I'm going to open this up for everybody and we're going to talk about it. Oh, you know what? Look at this. We've got, we've got a, got a nice little card. Much love and blessings. And here's the book. I'm going to lift this up. I've got the nice hardcover edition. So yeah, it feels, you know, every once in a while you pick up a book and it feels dense. It feels like this, this provides a lot of value. So I haven't had a chance to read it yet, but I certainly will, especially when I come visit Hawaii at some point. So tell everybody a little bit about the book. At what point in your journey did you feel like it's time to put pen to paper or maybe fingers to the keyboard and start telling my story?

You know, this book journey, uh, that seed was planted years ago. You know, I was just thinking, wow, that would be so cool to, to be an author. But the, you know, that, uh, thing that, uh, what do you call, um, just not feeling good enough, you know, that, uh—

Imposter syndrome.

Imposter syndrome, that's the one. I'm sorry, I'm on Hawaiian time, Nick. But yeah, that imposter syndrome, not feeling good enough, it was a lot stronger than I expected. So My question— I mean, my thinking was, who am I to write a book? You know, what is it? What is so special about my story? Everybody has amazing stories. So, I always swept that idea under the rug. And, you know, just along the years— and that seed was planted, I would say, easy 7, 8 years ago or whatever. But I became a good friend with a book publisher and a book coach and a speaker. And he lives right up the street here on Maui, Patrick Snow. We became good friends, and he was trying to tell me, hey, you need to write a book, you know. And I said— every year I'd say, nah, no need, uh, who am I, whatever. And back in 2024, last year, early last year, um, we were having coffee, and he said, hey, seriously, it's time to write your book. I said, no thank you, we'll just focus on something else. And he got kind of upset, man. Like, not upset, but he kind of got a little like ruffled and stuff. And, and I was like, oh my gosh. And then he said, listen, if, you know, if you want to keep your story away from the world and not share it with me or whatever, that's fine. But at least write a book for your 3 boys and your beautiful wife and the generations to come, because they need to know, like, literally down the line where, where they're from, uh, where their father came from and the foundation that he would, you know, was built under him. And because right now they're teens, you know, they're doing their own thing, but one day they're gonna reflect on the, you know, your dad or whatever, and when he's long gone, and the book is him. And, you know, that's when I really stopped and I said, holy smokes, man, that was like straight to the heart. And I was like, okay, I gotta write the book. And that inspired me to start to reflect on stories. started to write. We developed this template of what the book was going to be about. So our idea was, okay, I'm going to tell the story, but I didn't want it to be all about me. I wanted it to be about the reader. So how can I inspire the reader through my story? So it became a memoir with a message, a personal development book. So I would refer to quotes. I would write my story. And then at the end of each chapter, It would reflect on what I've learned. And then there's tips, there's summaries, there's questions, there's call to actions after every chapter. And then, you know, we started to divide the book in sections and each section has QR codes so they can scan and reflect the music that I wrote. And it would be on landing pages and lyrics and whatever. So it became very immersive. And It was a long journey, man, a 10, 11-month, uh, journey of writing intensively, early mornings, late nights. And, uh, but it's a beautiful thing, man. It is definitely a journey.

So—

Yeah, it really is. And, uh, I just noticed the Patrick Ewing, uh, testimonial on the back that says, listening to Derek Sebastian play the ukulele is truly an exceptional experience. He plays With such clarity and heart that it's truly remarkable. How cool is that?

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What, what surprised you during the process of writing this book about yourself? Did you learn anything about yourself while you were writing it?

You know, I did, Nick. It's almost indescribable. And to be transparent, I've never thought being an author was that deep, like that experience was going to be that deep because I was thinking, hey, people are just going to write their story and just publish it and put— but, you know, for me, my book coach encouraged me to go deeper in the story. Um, so he encouraged me to write as if I'm— I was reliving the moments. And each chapter brought me to tears because I would be literally, uh, you know, setting up the room, you know, darkening it up, lighting a candle, putting some, you know, Einstein study music in the background. Everything would have to be very perfect in the frequencies and all that stuff and the vibe. And I would go deep into the stories and It really, it was very emotional, very emotional to reflect on the stories. And I've, you know, I don't realize how, you know, in today's world, you know, we try to accomplish things, we do it, and it's the next one, the next one, the next one. And, you know, we forget on, you know, the footprints that we leave or, you know, we forget the accomplishments or the milestones of how hard we've worked. And, you know, throughout my music and especially the relationships that I've developed along the way, It's a big thing, man. It's a big thing. And I got— I was able to reflect and grow as a writer. And I think that's the success right there, when you can reflect and know that, you know, you are fulfilling your purpose in the best way you can. And it's not your accomplishments that matters. It's really how you make others feel. And if you can be that love and light to them, And, you know, that was the whole intention behind the book. And, you know, it's already getting great feedback. Surprisingly, it made Amazon bestseller already the first day it was launched in 4 different categories. I'm blown away, man. And you've been part of it, Nick. You've been that encouragement. And yeah, man, I appreciate you.

You're giving me too much credit, but thank you. Yeah, listen, the right book at the right time can permanently change somebody's life. And so, So you wrote the book for your 3 sons, right, originally. And so, you know, the younger version of yourself, you're really well positioned to help that person, right? But who is the target reader in your mind? Who listening to this podcast today should buy a copy? Or if it's not a good fit for the person listening, who should they be thinking about buying a copy for?

You know, that's a great question. And I have several really good friends that in my mind, I was writing for them. And basically, you know, the main person I was just thinking of for this book that fits well for them is any person who is dreaming to become that person they, you know, they think of becoming, but they're too scared of it. You know, that imposter syndrome or, you know, I'm not good enough or, you know, the world says no or my friend says, you know, this and that or, you know, Daydreaming with Purpose is really about it's being okay to be uncomfortable and going after it. You know, daydreaming is one thing. Anybody can daydream. But if you start to daydream with intention, where you start to make those baby steps, making maybe reading about your interests or making that little phone call, even though nobody answers and you gotta leave hundreds of voicemails or whatever, maybe, um, you know, DMing somebody or just going out and going conferences and just researching or going out and doing a performance. And, you know, it was— that was my journey, was nobody really taught me how to do things. I just enjoy, you know, I just really wanted to make a difference. And, you know, Daydreaming with Purpose is that book that reveals the, the behind the scenes of how things worked and how it played out and Uh, but yeah, this book is to help, you know, help that one person to manifest, manifest their passion into their profession, really. So yeah.

Really well said. I love that, uh, you know, you use the word purpose and intention interchangeably. I think a lot of people today are living with intention deficit disorder. They don't know why they're doing what they're doing, or they don't have a clear vision for where they're headed in the future. And sometimes it stems from fear or imposter syndrome. And your book is a good solution to that, it sounds like. So, uh, thank you for highlighting that. And listen, you are a great representation of somebody who was able to take a passion that they developed at a young age and turn it into a full-time career and a way to positively influence other people. And I pinch myself all the time as well. I mean, listen, I read books.

Yeah.

And get to talk about books for a living and impact people in a positive way by connecting them with books like yours. And so we're 2 very different but very similar examples of people who went for it, embraced a little discomfort, figured it out, and turned their purpose, their passion into something that provides a sustainable lifestyle, which is important, right? We can't ignore the money piece, but also allows us to provide a positive impact and enjoy what we do. And I just, just like you, I wish everybody had that chance.

Ah, amen. But everybody does, you know, they do have that chance.

True.

Yeah, you know, everybody's blessed with a gift regardless if you believe it or not. We all have this, this gift that we're blessed with, and it's really up to us or that individual to accept that and just try, see where— because everything leads to something, man. And if you keep trying, you'll find your way, you know, eventually. So I mean, that's really what I was encouraged to do. I made a lot of mistakes and we're here today.

So, Derek, you also sent me these Hawaii Host Island Macs, and I would like— I'm going to try one right now. But the backstory here is that I've visited, I think, about 45 or 46 US states, and unfortunately Hawaii is not one of them. So I will definitely be hitting you up and visiting Maui when I do have a chance to visit. Um, but why'd you decide to include this in the box that you sent out? Is this a personal favorite of yours or anything?

I am a sweet tooth junkie, Nick, and I, I, I love apple pies. I love anything apple. But man, you start throwing in that chocolate thing, macadamia, brother, it's a whole different vibe, brother.

So I'm known for, uh, doing book reviews but not sweet reviews, although I will say that macadamia nuts Are, uh, and chocolate are 2 of my favorite things, and I don't ever think I've had them together.

So go for it, man. Let's see if you enjoy it.

Very good. I'm going to hide this from my wife. I'm happy we're recording the podcast today too because I just finished 75 Hard, and so I wasn't allowed to have any sweets or desserts for the last 75 days. Um, and I only just stopped it a couple of days ago. This is right up my alley. This is perfect.

Well, it keeps you smiling, Nick. That's the main thing, man, you know?

Yeah, it really does. So pardon everybody, I'm, uh, chewing at the same time. These are very good. If the book was deleted accidentally, Derek, but you could leave the world with just one message from it, What would that message be?

Hmm, it's a great question, Nick. Um, I would say to, to continue to love, you know. Um, it's a powerful thing, and, and to me it's that aloha spirit that I'm born and raised with. Love is to accept. Love is to, to forgive unconditionally. Love is hello, goodbye, you know. But to me it's a little deeper. It's this It's a lifestyle. And I, you know, I really take that to heart because there's a lot of aloha and love to me that helped me to move forward in not just what I do, but who I've become. And just, yeah, in Hawaii, we call that the aloha spirit. And if you can embrace that regardless of your life circumstances, your trials, your tribulations, or whatever, I think if you carry that law of spirit, knowing the fact that everything happens for a reason and the best is yet to come, and it's okay to not be okay, or it's okay to make mistakes, it's okay to forgive and be forgiven, you know, I think the world would be a better place, you know. And that's my real intention behind the book, to teach my kids that, you know, I didn't live a perfect life. You know, I questioned a lot, and I still question, but at the same time, I still have perspective where It's okay, you know, and to to to have that in the back of my heart and to live by that, it's a beautiful thing, man. You know, you don't worry too much. You embrace it. You appreciate. You don't take nothing for granted. And yeah, just love, man. Just have that aloha spirit.

Yeah, it's a beautiful message. When I have a chance to visit Hawaii, maybe I'll like get an aloha spirit tattoo or something like that because that's a that's something I'd like. You know, I get tattoos oftentimes when I'm traveling. traveling as a reminder of like what that area of the world brings to the universal consciousness, something that I find interesting or important or something that I want to constantly remind myself of. And that sounds like a beautiful one right there.

It is, man. You might not want to leave. You might be living in Maui but vacationing back in Massachusetts.

I don't think you're wrong. I don't think you're wrong. Um, I wish I met you a few years ago too. My wife and I, we got married 2 years ago in Aruba. And, um, funny enough, we had hired a violinist that didn't show up. Um, so it would have been so much better to have an ukulele player come down to the Caribbean. And, uh, I know you would have showed up.

Automatic, dude. Absolutely. Absolutely.

Well, listen, it was a, it was a pleasure having you on the show today, man. You just, you bring so much positive energy. I want to spend more time around you. So when I say When I visit Maui, I will absolutely do my best to make sure that you invite me over for an ukulele lesson. And yeah. Oh, so much fun. Before I let you go, where can people learn more about you? Grab a copy of the book, listen to your music, watch some of your performances.

Where can people go? Yeah, thank you, Nick. The best place is my website, man. dericksebastian.com. D-E-R-I-C-K Sebastian dot You can find all the information there, social media, all that stuff. Instagram, it's all @dereksebastian. So, no stress. Keep smiling. You get up on that page, brother, just enjoy and you'll find me somewhere.

We'll include all of those in the show notes.

Yeah. Gotcha.

You have one final message for the Book Thinkers family. It could be related to your book. It could be related to your life philosophy. One final message for everybody.

Book Thinkers, Nick Hutchinson. He's the man. He's the guy, man. His team is amazing. I listen to his podcast every week. I wake up about 4 in the morning and I do my daily runs or walks, whatever, 3 to 5 miles, you know, every morning. And Nick, you're amazing, brother. Whatever you're doing, keep doing it. You have a beautiful team, awesome, inspiring team. I think your brother too, he's awesome. And Yeah, brother, I appreciate you guys big time, and it's a pleasure working with you guys, especially that podcast program. I've yet to try the other ones, but yeah, Book Thinkers, they're, they're the real deal, man. No joke.

Oh, well, thank you for showing love back my way. And, uh, listen, keep daydreaming with purpose, and, uh, until next time, my friend.

You got it. Aloha.

That is a wrap. Thank you so much for listening to today's episode of Book Thinkers Life-Changing Books. It would mean the world to us if you could write a review and share this episode with a few of your friends. I mean, these books truly have the power to change people's lives, and by reviewing or sharing our podcast, you're helping us make an impact. If you have any recommendations for future guests or any constructive feedback for us on how we can improve our show, Please feel free to submit a form on our website, www.bookthinkers.com, or send us a direct message on Instagram @bookthinkers. With that, I am signing off, and I hope you have a wonderful day. Don't forget, go read something.