"I never got into sports at all until I was in my early 20s, after my music career got going"

Neal Schon’s words reflect a personal journey of discovering interests outside his primary passion much later in life, specifically after achieving a certain level of success in music. Implicit in his statement is the idea that, during his youth and formative years, he did not participate in or perhaps even appreciate athletic pursuits, likely because his focus was elsewhere. For musicians like Schon, early years often demand intense practice, dedication, and immersion in their art, at times leaving little room for other activities. It is possible that while peers were involved in team sports, Schon was investing his time learning instruments, composing, or performing, activities that required solitary dedication or collaboration in different contexts.

His reference to his “music career got going” hints at a milestone: reaching a position where he felt established, secure, or was able to look beyond the relentless drive to succeed. Often, the pursuit of a creative career demands singular commitment, leaving other interests unexplored until a sense of accomplishment or stability is reached. Once he achieved his initial career goals in music, Schon might have found himself with more freedom, financial, emotional, and temporal, to look elsewhere for fulfillment or new experiences.

The implication is that certain passions or hobbies do not have to be lifelong pursuits; it is both possible and enriching to develop new interests at any stage. Schon’s narrative challenges the notion that people must identify or cultivate all their interests in childhood or adolescence. For him, sports became appealing only in adulthood, demonstrating personal growth and an openness to change. His experience exemplifies how life, success, and maturity can open doors to new worlds, and that satisfaction in one domain can create space for curiosity and enthusiasm in others, enriching one’s life unexpectedly.