Broke My Wrist. Still Showing Up.

Hey everyone,

Welp, today’s newsletter is about a freak accident I just had—fell off a chair and broke my left wrist, sprained my right. at the time of this writing I’m about 24hrs into this very fresh injury.

It’s wild. My guitar hands—both of them—are out of commission. My fretting hand is in a sling, and my picking hand is in a brace, sore and strained. I’m typing this one finger at a time, but here I am… still showing up.

The pain’s real—an 8.5 out of 10 even with Tylenol in my system. But so is the purpose!

As songwriters, creators, and humans—we all hit walls. Sometimes it’s heartbreak. Sometimes it’s burnout. Sometimes it’s falling off a chair and watching your main creative outlet evaporate in an instant.

But here’s the truth: limits don’t have to shrink us—they can rewire our brilliance.

After the initial shock, I started thinking about all the half-finished songs I have. Songs that just need lyrics. Or a final vocal. Suddenly, this injury became an invitation—not a punishment.

An invitation to:

• Pull back from starting and lean into finishing.

• Stop strumming and start refining.

• Stop running and start reflecting.

It reminded me of a conversation I had with my friend Alex Callenberger—he called to check up on me & told me about some of his past injuries that pulled him away from playing music. But in that space, something else awakened. Perseverance became power.

Then this morning, I came across a story from a Japanese millionaire who said there’s one word that will change your life:

Arigato — thank you.

In it he told the story of his mentor who had challenged someone to say Arigato it 3,300 times a day for 30 days, and how this person was completely transformed because of his commitment to gratitude. To wake up, walk around, and whisper “thank you” through the pain, through the waiting, through the chaos.

I’ve decided to take him up on that.
Maybe it’ll heal my wrist faster.
Maybe it’ll heal something deeper.

So today, I want to pass that challenge on to you:

Say thank you through the adversity.
Say thank you before the breakthrough.
Say thank you until it rewires your creative core.

I’m still here. Still showing up.
Even doped up on pain meds and moving like molasses.
Even if I can’t play the guitar…
I can write.
I can sing.
I can still reach for something beautiful.

And so can you.

If you’re struggling, I see you. Drop me a comment on YouTube or reply to this email. I’d love to hear what you’re going through and how you’re using it to shape your art.

Thank you for being here. Thank you for reading. Thank you for still creating.

—Josh
THOUSAND ECHOES

🎥 PS — I posted a raw, unscripted studio video sharing the full story of the accident, my recovery mindset, and how I’m keeping the creative fire burning.
👉 Watch it here 
📕 Also, don’t forget to grab my new eBook for songwriters if you haven’t yet.

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I'm developing something revolutionary - the complete Thousand Echoes Songwriting System. This isn't just another course. This is the ultimate toolkit for songwriters who refuse to be replaced by AI.

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You're already on the inside track by being here. When the system goes live, you'll be the first to know.

📺 Watch the video version of this story → Here (on Youtube)

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Stay inspired everyone!
Josh Schroeder
Founder, Thousand Echoes

P.S.S. If you've read this far, you're definitely my people. Like and subscribe to my YouTube channel for more unfiltered conversations about songwriting, creativity, and building a sustainable career as an independent artist. Can't wait to see you in the next video!