Over the past 5 weeks, I have successfully drained a large amount of money out of my bank account, gained some ridiculously sore fingers, mailed my very first package, and done so many dishes that my hands turned all pruny, like when you stay in the bath tub for too long as a little kid. All of these things are components of a bigger picture--college life. One might ask why I talk about draining money and pruny fingers as part of it, but I will tell you why. I am gaining a lot from that money lost and fingers gone pruny. I am gaining experience. I came home yesterday for the weekend, and I ended up bringing my cello home with me. When I played for my mom and she cried because I have made so much progress in the past 6 weeks, I was overwhelmed with joy for those sore fingers and lack of money. I am grateful that I have the chance to pay for college, to practice my fingers to death, to mail packages, and to do dishes.
It is hard sometimes to gauge your own progression in life--we live minute by minute, day by day. Our sense of time is so limited. I feel like it was just yesterday that I picked up my instrument for the first time and squeaked out a horrible, nasty first note. Now, almost 10 years later, I am attending a university and studying the trade of my dreams on that same instrument. My progress has been great over the past 10 years. Don't judge yourself on a day-to-day basis. Give yourself a week, a month, a year, 10 years...then see what you have accomplished and what you can do. It takes time to develop skill, character, habits. I think that oftentimes, as is common to human nature, we are too hard on ourselves. Don't get me wrong, forcing yourself to do things that you don't necessary want to and that are hard is good. However, we have to remember that we are not super heroes. We are just simple, struggling human beings here on this earth to be tested, tried, beaten down, and lifted back up again. Progression is essential, but you can go to bed at night having only made a little tiny bit of progress, and still be satisfied with yourself, as long as you did your best that day. Music has taught me this like nothing else. Even if I only have one measure in-tune by the end of my 4 hour practice session, I have made progress. That is enough for me, as long as I tried my best.
All in all, let's just say that college is teaching me a few things.
I have never appreciated a dishwasher more in my entire life. :)
It is hard sometimes to gauge your own progression in life--we live minute by minute, day by day. Our sense of time is so limited. I feel like it was just yesterday that I picked up my instrument for the first time and squeaked out a horrible, nasty first note. Now, almost 10 years later, I am attending a university and studying the trade of my dreams on that same instrument. My progress has been great over the past 10 years. Don't judge yourself on a day-to-day basis. Give yourself a week, a month, a year, 10 years...then see what you have accomplished and what you can do. It takes time to develop skill, character, habits. I think that oftentimes, as is common to human nature, we are too hard on ourselves. Don't get me wrong, forcing yourself to do things that you don't necessary want to and that are hard is good. However, we have to remember that we are not super heroes. We are just simple, struggling human beings here on this earth to be tested, tried, beaten down, and lifted back up again. Progression is essential, but you can go to bed at night having only made a little tiny bit of progress, and still be satisfied with yourself, as long as you did your best that day. Music has taught me this like nothing else. Even if I only have one measure in-tune by the end of my 4 hour practice session, I have made progress. That is enough for me, as long as I tried my best.
All in all, let's just say that college is teaching me a few things.
I have never appreciated a dishwasher more in my entire life. :)
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