January 2012
4 posts
1 tag
1 tag
1 tag
I Gave Away My Music
WIWYA Family,
Thank you so much for following When I Was Your Age. You are incredible! On behalf of my gratitude for reading and interacting with my memoir, here is my music written from the same heart. For free.
My only request is if you love it or it affects you in any way; please pass it on to anyone else whom you believe it may affect as well. Thank you again for all of your...
1 tag
December 2011
1 post
It Wasn't You, It Was Me
WIWYA family!
My sincere apologies on the lack of posts lately. I have been storing up the best of the best for you beginning in 2012. I love you all, and hope your holiday goes amazing.
FYI- Santa and Jesus are not the same person. Jesus is older.
Speak soon. Until then, please find me at jasonotoole.com.
With Love,
Jason
November 2011
1 post
1 tag
TELL ALL TUESDAY
Hi!
WIWYA family! Let me know what you’re thinking. Anything. Starting… now
Cheers!
CONNECT
-Jason
October 2011
6 posts
4 tags
1. I Spoke No Other Name
I desire my wife.
I want to meet her and her be here with me. I want her to say everything’s okay, and to be able to hold her whenever I want. My desire is to stare at her like she’s the only woman I’ve ever seen and tell her she’s beautiful. And she lights up.
There’s something about being with one person to grow old with. Someone to share this life with. I...
3 tags
2. I Wrote To Every Other Woman
Dear The Possibility of Every Other Woman,
I can see me with you. Us together. I can picture the life we would share; the wedding we would have; the house and the family… I can imagine the way we would kiss, and the how we would tell jokes. The way we would look at each other from across the dinner table. I know the love you’d give me, and I to you. I can see the beginning, middle, and...
2 tags
3. I Said Goodbye
Goodbye always starts with hello.
Goodbye means many things concerning many situations. The goodbye I’m speaking of is in regards to distance of the heart. It’s the one that says, “we tried, and it didn’t work,” or “you’re not what I need to be around right now.” It’s hard, because these are memories I’m leaving. People life is distancing me from. These are moments in my life that have...
3 tags
4. I Did Battle With God
It’s easy for me to give God things my heart doesn’t really care about.
The hard part is handing over things I believe my heart can’t live without. That’s the true measure of faithfulness. It’s not easy, but it’s one more step towards God trusting me with His ultimate gifts. With His good stuff.
I’m selfish.
But what I’m finding is, what I want doesn’t always matter. It doesn’t matter, because...
4 tags
5. I Believed In Magic
Abracadabra has ruined the art of magic.
That’s because magic isn’t embedded in a cutesy catch phrase, or a deck of trick cards. To me, magic is a force. It is something that weaves itself effortlessly through space and time. In certain moments, this force crash-lands in the bedroom of a young writer. Other times, it may glide through the canvas and capture the eye of a painter; triggering...
3 tags
6. I Stood Outside The Welcome Mat
I wonder what couples do after they’re married?
What happens the moment after the honeymoon; when they get out of the taxicab, walk up the steps and open the door to their apartment? They drop the bags by the door, stand just inside the welcome mat and stare for a minute.
What a moment?
I would assume the question, “now what?” comes into play; and they may freak out for some time. I mean, so...
September 2011
8 posts
3 tags
7. Love Was About Balance
So let me explain how this works.
I believe there are certain personality types that find each other. This is not to say that these types should ever go together, or go against one another—but they do have a habit of ending up always near each other.
The two types I’m talking about are that of compassionate heart and the selfish lover.
It’s interesting seeing these two types interact. Even from...
3 tags
8. My Purpose Began To Make Sense
One day in preschool I got in trouble.
In fact, the teacher felt it was necessary to call in my mother after school, so that she could explain exactly why I was being punished. So, she sits my mom down and says, “Your son hugs people too much.” My mom, waiting for the actual reason I was in trouble, gives a long response of “okay,” then waits for the rest to come out. The teacher goes on to...
2 tags
9. I Took A Chance On Something
I’m best at dreaming.
Dreaming has never been the problem for me—the problem comes in writing out the dream and pushing send.
My heart circles around acting on ideas quite often. Usually I’m out amongst friends or reading something when an idea like a gust of some creative wind sweeps up an idea and blows it right by my face. I’ve had several (thousand) of these moments in the passed few...
2 tags
10. I Did It For The Love
When I was 19 I left everything I knew.
I drove to Nashville in the heat of a summer’s night. When I finally saw the city lights, it felt like my spirit shouting “hello” to me for the first time.
The first summer I spent in Nashville, I lived on a mattress that was my bedroom. It stood about 5 inches off the ground, and if I lied down on it too fast, my back would hit the ground beneath it and...
3 tags
We Launched jasonotoole.com
WIWYA Family!
In 10 days we will be calling jasontoole.com our new home! We will still be posting to Tumblr, but will house all additional content including music, videos, photos, news, and more on the new jasonotoole.com.
For all of my 7,500 followers, you are the greatest people on the Internet and most likely the world. I truly love everything you stand for, and your support and love...
3 tags
I Wrote For Brite Revolution
Brite Revolution is a music discovery platform that connects artists and fans across multiple touch points: digital, print and mobile. But, dig a little deeper and it’s not hard to find our greater purpose – building community around the core principle of music discovery. We accomplish this by fostering community in a socially conscious environment and...
2 tags
She Wrote About Us
We drove.
And then we drove some more. Love seemed like two yellow lines on an infinite road to happiness. To a place where being settled and comfortable seemed just one too many mile markers away. Being in a long distance relationship is tough. He says we shouldn’t focus on the fact that it’s tough, because it really doesn’t help the situation.
I know he’s right, but it doesn’t lessen...
2 tags
We All Had Scars
Everyone brings scars into new relationships.
The problem comes when people feel this new partner can heal these scars, while still not creating new ones. But healing your heart is not their job.
An old boyfriend may have verbally abused you, so you go find a man who speaks gently and uses tender words of love. But this man has his own battle wounds; his own demons to work out.
The key is...
August 2011
5 posts
4 tags
It Was All About Me
“With almost 7 billion people in the world, maybe that’s proof it isn’t about me?”
I am selfish.
I can prove my selfishness, because if I were to tally all the thoughts I had in yesterday alone, the column labeled “JASON” would heavily outweigh the column “EVERYBODY ELSE.”
Thinking of others is great in theory, but so much harder to do when the calendar page turns, and there’s a new month of rent...
3 tags
Love Meant Long Distance
Nashville —-> Atlanta
Atlanta <—- Nashville
Drivetime: 3 hours 30 minutes
Estimated Mapquest drivetime: 4 hrs 4 minutes
Highways: 2
Timezones: 2
Money spent: < $100
Money to spend: < $50
States: 2
Cities: > 6
Average speed on a highway marked 65mph: 80mph
Albums listened to: 3 + 2 Pandora playlists
Starbucks drive-thru’s: 1-2/drive
Wendy’s stops: 1/drive
Foursquare...
3 tags
August 9, 2011 Was The Day I Turned Old
It wasn’t until a five year old elbowed me out of a Wal-Mart aisle that I realized I am getting old.
Her and her holographic Justin Bieber backpack and Dora The Explorer T-shirt—racing to grab the last Hannah Montana lunchbox.
Two things offended me about this situation.
One. Nobody told me Bieber was making backpacks. Cultural advisers—consider this your resignation.
Two. Another school...
2 tags
I Did Battle With Bullet Points
What goes into a great day?
Luck? Hard work with serendipitous results? At what point am I going to stop and enjoy myself? In my time with God this week, He has specifically told me, “Stop moving!” Have I attempted to play out what that looks like? Am I obeying?
Simply put—no I haven’t. It was something I jotted down on a blank page, only to be replaced with a to-do list written on the...
2 tags
I Looked At Life As Little Vignettes
I can’t help but picture my life in portraits.
Little movie scenes showing glimpses of the man I have been, the man I am, and the man I will be. These flashes of a moment happen in my head all the time. It’s often too fast to even notice; as sometimes they go undetected throughout the day. I try hold on to them long enough to jot something down, but it’s never a clear picture. They are like...
July 2011
6 posts
2 tags
I Stood Outside The Welcome Mat
I wonder what couples do after they’re married?
What happens the moment after the honeymoon; when they get out of the taxicab, walk up the steps and open the door to their apartment? They drop the bags by the door, stand just inside the welcome mat and stare for a minute.
What a moment?
I would assume the question, “now what?” comes into play; and they may freak out for some time. I mean,...
2 tags
I Wished For Christmas In July
I want to wake up to Christmas morning.
Christmas morning is so special to me, but it’s bittersweet because I know it’s coming, so I’m prepared. Let’s all have Christmas in July. Snow may have no chance of surviving, but still the magic of it lives. Now, Christmas in my opinion has become overly commercialized with presents and Santa figurines; but no one can deny the majesty that Christmas...
4 tags
I Survived My Writer's Block
I’ve become afraid to write from my own heart.
I have self-diagnosed this recent writer’s block. But I wasn’t blocked; I was empty. It’s been a terrible impedance on addressing what my heart has been crying over. Just hoping some pen will at least bullet point in one of my six free-floating journals. But, out of some momentary and not-so-momentary circumstances from past weeks, I’ve...
4 tags
TellAll Tuesday
WIWYA faithful!
Today I will be answering any and all questions you have regarding love, life, me, you, us. Today, I’m here for you. Just type your question in the Disqus box below this posting on my site. Ask anything you’d like. Starting……. now!
6 tags
We Dated Socially
I text her…
…She emails me
Later, I tweet her…
…Only to find she just posted on my wall
And when I BBM’ed her to see if she was by her phone…
…Her Foursquare said she just checked in near me
So we thought, “This is ridiculous,” then did what any reasonable couple would do…
We Skyped.
-Jason O’Toole
5 tags
I Experienced Altar Planking
Modesty cloths beware.
It’s certainly different for every denomination, but if you attend or have ever been to a more charismatic church, you may have seen some spiritual planking in full effect. I wasn’t raised in the church, so this was incredibly hard for me to justify at first. Because it’s always follows an inspiring message, I’m in this warm state of peace and encouragement, and then I...
June 2011
4 posts
4 tags
There Were Men & There Were Women pt. 1
I stand firmly in the belief that men are built to lead in the relationship. Not by force, but through serving their significant other, and obeying in the instruction of God.
The thing about men: The idea of this sounds good being the Man. Controlling the situation; deciding what’s best for “us;” choosing which Redbox we’re getting for date night. All things that on the surface feel pretty...
4 tags
Hall & Oates Taught Me How To Dance
I always nail my best dance moves when no one’s looking.
It’s a bit tragic, because usually the choreography can’t be pulled of as well as in that moment. Of course I try recreating them, but they just come out contrived. Dancing is a contact sport, and for some it can be embarrassing—mornings when I unashamedly 2-step to my Grooveshark’d playlist of Hall & Oates. Hips ablaze. One would...
2 tags
4 tags
I Was The Variable
I have a working theory that this experiment we title Life is meant to test two things.
God, in His best wisdom, I believe wants to see how two ideas develop over time. The First: How people will interact with Him. He desires to see how we, humans with free will, interact and trust in a God that has created all things for us, and is always there for us to communicate with. The Second: How...
May 2011
3 posts
4 tags
I Thought I Was Worthy
Somewhere in the passed few years I’ve made the self-determination that unless I’m going through hurt, or in the middle of a deep trial—I am actually worthy of the Kingdom. I even felt it on weeks I was “doing really well”—not losing any big battles to flesh or weakness. But some days the scoreboard just reads in favor of hurt.
True humility comes in the recognition that we are never...
4 tags
I Wrote To Every Other Woman
Dear The Possibility of Every Other Woman,
I can see me with you. Us together. I can picture the life we would share; the wedding we would have; the house and the family… I can imagine the way we would kiss, and the how we would tell jokes. The way we would look at each other from across the dinner table. I know the love you’d give me, and I to you. I can see the beginning, middle, and end...
4 tags
I Assumed Everything Was Okay
I don’t like hospitals.
Hospitals make me survey my own mortality. And of course everyone recognizes the fragility in everyone but themselves. So, I avoid them at all cost.
But I carry this belief in people—for people, that they believe in themselves. Either that, or I’ve become numb to not asking happy people if they’re truly happy.
We like to showcase the best versions of ourselves in...
April 2011
3 posts
4 tags
I Went To Disappear
“To create, you must disappear.”
-Violinist Stephen Nachmanovitch
What does disappearing look like?
For me, it’s a necessity to be completely vulnerable. See-through. As I trudge further on into my walk with life, experiences continue to shape me and wisdom begins to whisper more and more. It tells me what works, and what hasn’t worked. And there is this...
3 tags
I Did Nashville Fashion Week
I feel most alive when I’m creating.
Two weeks ago, Nashville held its first city-sponsored fashion week. The idea was given life by one of my close friends, Robert Campbell. He first told me his idea four years ago; an idea that came to him three years prior to that. I say all this to brag on him for a moment, and show how patience and faithfulness leads to dreams coming true—and in his case,...
4 tags
I Tried Living More Like Google
Perfect is an excuse to stay inside the lines.
It’s safe, and after a while, once you have been found out, it becomes a bit boring.
Perfect is a safety zone, in which we do based on what we’ve already seen. The truth is, perfection is usually based on what we’ve seen someone else do well—and then called it perfect.
Failing on the other hand is an entirely different performance. I enjoy...
March 2011
2 posts
4 tags
I Started With Why
For any budding socialite, a common question begins to spark conversation after conversation: “So, what do you do?”
In my opinion, the most uninspiring conversation starter. Not that what people do aren’t inspiring, but the question itself has been so overworked it’s become a part of the handshake. Questions line up as follows:
* What do you do?
* Where...
4 tags
It Took Forever To Wake Up
Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool…
Here a great number of disabled people used to lie- the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there […] he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”
“Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to...
February 2011
2 posts
4 tags
Life Was Day to Day
Kindergarten lied to me.
It told me life was about good jobs and golden stars. But life is far from cleaning out cubbies and checkmarks on dry-erase boards. Life is now in permanent ink. A truly day-to-day sport, especially now. Post graduation, present day real life struggle. Like paying bills, finding jobs, managing time. All the things that happen in the boring parts of books. Moments...
2 tags
I Wrote "WHEN I WAS YOUR AGE..."
Today marks the one year anniversary of my memoirs, “WHEN I WAS YOUR AGE…” And from the most genuine part of my heart I write these pages about my life as a twenty-something in our generation.
This thank you comes from a grateful and humbled writer. Thank you for reading and responding with such inspiration for me to pick up the macbook and say, “okay… I guess I can write...
5 tags
We Were 1 of 1
We are 1 of 1.
Made uniquely and perfectly.
I have been doing some healthy battling with my conscience lately; concerning music and my creating of it. Specifically how to present it. I have this idea. It’s a beautiful idea, one that is cinematic and dreamy. It’s real life at its best (that makes more sense to me right now than anyone else… probably). It’s a work that transports me into...
January 2011
3 posts
4 tags
Jason Meant "Healer"
There is truly meaning in a name.
Jason in Greek means “Healer.” I looked up the significance of it a few short years ago. The word healer I took to mean someone who helps, and brings hope. In my most prideful self-aware moments, I took this as being a “savior” or “hero” of some kind. It wasn’t until reading further into it I learned that a healer is actually an incredibly humbling...
4 tags
I Left Myself Vulnerable
The unknown scares me like nothing else can.
Fear comes with the territory of life. It gives off the allusion that we first have something to lose; then dangles its livelihood in front of us so we remain still… going nowhere.
This new year marks the end of that barrier for me. While others are may make faulty resolutions, holding on to temporary changes they don’t really have a...
December 2010
2 posts
4 tags
Christmas Was A Time For Dreaming
Tis the season!
On behalf of every young dreamer, I hope we all take this season as a time to reflect on what love is, and how truly blessed we are to be here. This is the season defined by the magic of possibility. The atmosphere of Christmas is like living perpetually inside a Disney movie. It’s the best time to explore what life is truly worth and where you fit perfectly into it.
I...
4 tags
I Spoke No Other Name
I desire my wife.
I want to meet her and her be here with me. I want her to say everything’s okay, and to be able to hold her whenever I want. My desire is to stare at her like she’s the only woman I’ve ever seen and tell her she’s beautiful. And she lights up.
There’s something about being with one person to grow old with. Someone to share this life with. I...