Choosing What to Play

Let me start this by making a public apology… 

To my fourth grade music teacher, classmates, my parents and anyone else whose ears had to suffer through my half-hearted attempts at playing the recorder, There’s no good reason you should have had to endure that.   

My ineptitude at playing Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star taught me something that has proven true on countless occasions since then: without some degree of inspiration, learning how to do something new or challenging can be pure drudgery.

Nope, I didn’t care one single iota about playing the recorder, let alone playing it well enough to keep those within earshot from cramming their fingers in their ears. 

Thank God that learning to play the recorder has had nothing to do with my long term quality of life, and that nowhere in my journey was I required to play the recorder again beyond that music class.  

But what of the things in life that aren’t as optional as playing a recorder?  

So often we do things that don’t inspire us.  We rationalize our decisions to stick it out with tales of “I need this job.”, “The benefits are good.”, and “It has to be done.”  Even though whatever “it” is, bores us to tears on the best of days.

But there are numerous ways to create a life besides working that one monotonous job or approaching that one task in that super tedious way.   You and I are made for so much more than tedium.

Now, I’m certainly not saying that you should quit that job you hate immediately or abruptly stop doing that task you find mind-numbing.  

But why not at least start the process of searching for a new job or a new way to do the dreaded task.  

There’s absolutely no reason to go through life playing the recorder if it’s just not your jam.  Search for another instrument that does bring you joy.  And If you exhaust all the instruments on the shelf, try pottery making, stamp collecting or fishing.  

I found my jam in writing, podcasting and public speaking.  Sure, on some days it might well have been simpler were I a professional recorder player, but I love what I do so much that I’m willing to take on the many obstacles that come with it.  Many times I find even the challenges invigorating.  

You deserve to live an inspired life.  Drudgery is for the birds.  Find the things that inspire you. And. Do. Them.

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