Between a Heart and a Rock Place (30 page)

And that's what I tell young musicians—female or male—who are trying to make it today: create your own music. Don't listen too much to what's out there. Don't try to follow a trend or fit in with what's selling. It may not be fashionable next week. Don't try to sing like anybody else but yourself. Hone your songwriting skills. Practice those guitars. Practice your instruments. Make sure that you're the best you can possibly be at what you do. And own
everything
! I'm proud that we made our music and never tried to remake the previous record. Don't be afraid of criticism. Don't be afraid of taking a chance, of switching your musical direction. One of the greatest things about getting older is that you care far less when someone uses you as a target. Stay open to the world around you. You never know where inspiration will come from, or what form it will take. It may be a journal or a blog entry—or it may turn into a song.

And girls—stand up for yourselves. Demand respect and then return it. The world has changed, but not all that much. Evolution is a slow process, but that's what intellect is for. You can bypass what's been hardwired in by being smart. You'll still screw up here and there, but at least you'll know what to do afterward. No one made more mistakes
than me, but sometimes I think that was the point. I believe that every step, good or bad, has been a step forward. People much smarter than I am have long agreed life's not meant to be perfect.

I've nothing left to prove, which is probably the most liberating feeling in the world. I'm not holding on for dear life, trying to recapture some fleeting moment that's long since evaporated. Over the past thirty-one years I have been a singer, a lover, a businesswoman, a daughter, a friend, a wife, a mother, and yes, sometimes even a rock star. In my journey I tried my best to honor all of these things. In the end, I suppose that's all that's really required.

At night when I close my eyes, I don't see myself back onstage at Catch, thinking back to where it all began or some romanticized version of that past. I don't revise history that way, and I don't forget that the great times were never as great as they seem in the rearview mirror. Instead I see the road that's led me here to this moment, and how now after thirty-one years, I am exactly where I want to be. The only clock that I punch is the one that I built myself.

Thank you—to all my friends who cheered me on and to my family for putting up with my absence, and take-out.

To my assistant, Lindsay, who found the answers to all the questions and still laughed every day. To Brad, Gary G., Gary H., Clair, and Johnny M. for taking care of business. To the countless fans around the world, new and old, you're the reason we're still here. To Newman, in the end a leap of faith is still a beautiful thing. To my bandmates for every note, we've had some fun, haven't we? To my crew for making it all roll. To Georgia, in your loving care I learned to fly. To my parents, for bringing me into this world and teaching me all about unconditional love. To God—for trusting me to be the steward of this amazing gift. To Andy—boy, crazy, huh? Miss you, every day. To Matt, editor extraordinaire, for wrangling all my thoughts and turning them into a wonderful book. You Rock. To Patsi, for being such a gentle teacher, your humor and talent inspired me every step of the way. To everyone at William Morrow, I'm thrilled to be working with such an amazing team…Shelby, you're a doll!

To my darling daughters, Haley and Hana, your beauty is surpassed only by your loving hearts. Being your mother has been the greatest pleasure of my life. And finally, to my husband, the best man I know…A lifetime will not be enough.
Ti amo.

PAT BENATAR
is one of the most accomplished female rock musicians of all time. She has won four Grammy Awards and sold more than twenty-two million records during a career that has produced nineteen Top 40 singles. Currently touring and performing around the country, she lives in California with her husband and two daughters.

www.benatar.com

www.myspace.com/officialpatbenatar

www.benatarfanclub.com

Visit www.AuthorTracker.com for exclusive information on your favorite HarperCollins author.