Week Four in My Musician’s Creative Journey
Opening Thoughts – A Musician’s Creative Journey
This post is part of my ongoing Musician’s Creative Journey, a weekly practice of reflection through music, writing, and daily life. It’s been a hard week in America, and our struggles are heard around the world. I found comfort in these words as they came to me. They serve as a reminder:
It’s about hearts, not politics.
It’s about love, not judgment.
It’s about hope, not fear.
It’s about light, not darkness.
It’s about listening, not talking.
It’s about kindness—it’s not complicated.
How we love shows us, and others, who we are.
— k
You Don’t Have To Be A Writer To Write: January 22, 2026
A Piece of Paper Always Listens…
I’ve always turned to paper and pen to sort things out—to lay things down and capture the dreams in my head. I’ve kept everything I’ve ever written: loose pages from childhood, spiral notebooks starting in junior high, journals as I got older, and now my laptop, where I can save, edit, and print.
I’m dyslexic. Growing up, writing was hard. Fast forward—I grew up. I took responsibility for my destiny. As a musician and creative artist, growing up sometimes felt optional. It’s not.
I got sober in 2010. I’d been running from shadows most of my life, hiding behind my guitar. Why? I’m an introvert. An only child. Resilient. Vulnerable.
You don’t have to be a writer to write. I always encourage people to write—because who you are matters. Writing is an invitation to connect and an opportunity to reflect. Your thoughts, feelings, and dreams matter.
Kelly Richey – A Piece of Paper Always Listens | Guided Writing Programs
Musician’s Creative Journey: January 23, 2026
A new keyboard.
A familiar feeling.Returning to the place where creativity listens
and sound begins to take shape.
I grew up playing piano, then drums, and when I was fifteen, I discovered the guitar—and I never looked back. After decades as a blues-rock guitarist, I’ve slowly been returning to my roots, the place where I began. In 2019, I discovered the handpan, and most recently, I incorporated a new Osmose keyboard.
This keyboard works as both a standalone synthesizer and a MIDI controller. What sets it apart is the way it’s built. The keys move left to right, allowing for a true vibrato experience, and each key is pressure sensitive. Depending on how firmly you press, you can trigger different sounds and effects. It’s fun and deeply inspirational.
As I dive deeper into recording handpan and guitar, having a keyboard fills in the gaps for a more complete sonic experience. From electric blues and folk-rock to new handpan compositions, the ambient soundscapes this instrument allows feel endless.
Music is medicine. It’s what drew me in as a child—and it never let me go.
Kelly Richey – Keyboard | Osmose 49
Everyone Has The Potential To Create: January 24, 2026
Solid.
Steel.
Simple.Sometimes, that’s enough.
My mom gave me this in my late teens—a stick figure with a guitar, made from nails. Ironic.
We are all just stick figures until we discover what animates us, what awakens the voice inside. There’s no amount of money that can buy what music and the arts offer society. Whether you play or listen, create or explore—life is the ultimate art project.
Everyone has the potential to create. Now more than ever, let’s rise above the chaos and create the world we wish to live in.
Stick Figure Made from Nails with a Guitar – Kelly Richey
The World Is Quiet: January 25, 2026
Coffee at 10:46 PM
Thirteen degrees.
Snow falling.It feels like a snow day when I was a kid—the world quiet, something warm as I begin to write.
I know I shouldn’t drink coffee at night, but sometimes it makes me happy. I drink good coffee and take long walks at night. I play music and write until 3 a.m. I teach, listen to audiobooks, read, study, think, reflect, and write.
Some days feel hard—but that’s okay.
Kelly Richey – Coffee at 10:46 PM
The Air Is Cold And Crisp: January 26, 2026
Cold.
Crisp.
White.
Knee-deep powder.
Dark sky.
The world feels heavy with silence after it snows. The ground glows—undisturbed. The air is cold and crisp.
I found the perfect coat this year. It’s warm, light, lined, and waterproof—not the same as water-resistant. Who knew? A dear friend gave me my first official pair of wool socks. I’d never worn wool socks before—they were too hot for rock ’n’ roll.
It’s the little things—carry on.
Kelly Richey – Snowstorm Photos
Peace By Peace: January 27, 2026
The time for critical thinking is upon us all.
I don’t know where to start. I’m not sure if it comes before or after learning to count change. We need to wake up, get a grip, and snap out of the trance that feels ever-present.
I’m preaching to myself as much as to anyone. We need to set down our phones, reconnect, and think for ourselves.
Peace by peace—it’s possible.
Kelly Richey – The Thinker
I Cherish My Space: January 28, 2026
The Space You Create Is Sacred
I cherish my space—it’s my sanctuary. For years, I lived on the road, sharing a tin can on wheels with a drummer and a bass player.
Life on the road felt like an alternative universe. I’ve watched the world change from blue Walmarts next to Radio Shacks to Super Walmarts, from thriving Main Streets to abandoned factories.
After three decades, I found my way back home.
I cherish my space—it’s my sanctuary.
Week Four Wrap-Up
This wraps up week four of my Musician’s Creative Journey. I continue to stay committed—one day at a time. Each image serves as a thumbnail, reminding me to pause, reflect, and stay the course.
This Musician’s Creative Journey continues to evolve, one week and one reflection at a time.
Bye for now…
Week Five (Coming Soon)
— k
P.S. I’m launching my Substack—a place to go deeper and build community through connection.
An Invitation to Write
Set a timer for ten minutes. Write without stopping. Stay ahead of your inner editor. Don’t overthink—just write.
Writing prompts:
What moves you, inspires you, or gives you hope?
What has changed in the world around you—and what has stayed the same?
Resources
Recently, I’ve been listening to John O’Donohue (Anam Cara, The Invisible World), Aldous Huxley (The Divine Within, The Perennial Philosophy), and Meister Eckhart (Living Wisdom, by James Finley). I recently finished Just Kids by Patti Smith and subscribe to her Substack—she’s brilliant, funny, and the essence of “real.”
