I just finished watching And So It Goes, the HBO documentary on Billy Joel. I expected to enjoy the music—I’ve been a fan for years—but what surprised me was the honesty of his story. It wasn’t just entertainment. It was a window into struggle, relationships, and man’s search for joy.

Three things stood out to me. 

First, struggles have to be faced.

Joel’s story is filled with them. Some self-inflicted—like his battles with alcohol and depression. Others were dealt to him, like a father who left when he was young, or a manager who quietly drained his bank account. Add to that a string of marriages that began strong but didn’t last. What I was reminded of is this: struggles don’t just go away. If we don’t face them, they turn into strongholds. Joel didn’t escape the scars, but he put the pain into song—and that was his way through.

Second, relationships matter. People matter. Trust matters.

What gripped me most was the story about his father. After Joel had already found success, he so...