Words by: Olivia Viana Today we remember the life and legacy of Janis Joplin, who still rocks the world as one of the most influential figures in music. On August 8, 1970, Joplin played an unforgettable show at our venue. Beyond the music that she left the world, she continues to inspire us with her brave and beautiful life story that ended too soon.

1. Follow your heart and do what you love

Janis had a dream, and she never gave up. Even when she struggled time and again to make her music ambitions come true, and even when she felt defeated, she still followed her heart all the way through. Her hopes and dreams brought her through the darkest of times, until her groundbreaking performance at the legendary Monterey Pop Festival of 1967 sealed her career. Janis’ success teaches us how important it is for us to stay true to our hearts and ambitions, and that even dreams are possible to achieve. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1zFnyEe3nE

2. Don’t be afraid to take risks

The road for Janis had many twists and turns, and she took some leaps during her lifetime that enabled her to find her right path. From leaving school to moving across the country, Janis took risks that ended up changing the course of her life. Although she had a successful career, her leaps of faith didn’t always pan out as she had hoped. Not letting the fear of making a mistake rule her decisions, Janis took risks and, in doing so, took ownership of her life.

3. Know who you are, be yourself, and be proud

Instead of being defeated by peer pressure and cultural expectations, Janis was a true powerhouse in loving herself for who she was. Having been labeled as an outcast during her time at school, she found her strength in who she was and not worrying about what others thought of her. This attitude allowed her individuality as a musician to flourish and helped her to become one of the most inspiring singers of the ’60’s rock scene. One of our best strengths is to be proud of who we are as individuals, and her legacy reminds us to embrace this each day.

4. Laugh away your troubles

While Janis’ powerhouse vocals were her most recognizable attribute, her mischievous and free-spirited nature followed close behind. Even when discussing her past troubles, she embraced laughter as her best medicine. Since she had so much confidence in herself, she wasn’t afraid to face challenges head-on, all while grinning and laughing away. Janis’ trademark nature teaches us that our troubles only have as much power over us as we give them, and that we can use our inner joy to overcome them. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pvipz47v8nQ

5. Live for today

Janis made it a practice to cherish each day in her life as it came, and found a lot of joy in living this way. It’s all too easy for us to get caught up in our frustrations and challenges, as we all know, but while we’re worrying about the future we forget about the present. Janis teaches us through the way she lived to focus on the present before it slips away.

6. Anyone can be strong

Janis wasn’t afraid to be strong when she needed to be, even when the cultural expectations for women emphasized passivity as being a more feminine attribute. Having often been chided for being unladylike or too bold, she challenged gender restrictions and helped pave the path for others to do the same.

7. Always remember that you’re not alone

The tragic death of Janis Joplin resulted in the loss of a beautiful and inspiring life. While she lost her battle with drug addiction, she won the hearts of so many fans and still inspires us today. If there’s anything that we can learn from her loss, it’s that we’re better off together and supporting each other through times of struggle. All these forty-seven years later, Janis’ relentless love of life and music continues to live on through her fans--she’s still singing along with all of us. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7uG2gYE5KOs