...don't know when I'll be back again...

Have you ever assumed that you’re a natural at something? Like you just knew you had a certain ability. Like "I bet I could…because… “. Then lo and behold you weren’t really good, maybe even awful but still somewhat surprised that it somehow didn’t click? I do it a lot. Overly confident I guess. Then you’ve got the people that excel at everything. Husbands are really good about that. They are like instant pros at everything they attempt, but I digress.

 

Right now my "thing" is learning to play the guitar. I didn’t expect to be Esteban but I expected something. Honestly, I planned on easing into some basic cords with a cool Ingrid Michelson groove or rock a Jason Mraz lullaby. Not so much. My talents are far more limited than I was giving myself credit for. I love music. It speaks to me. I get it. I’m “instrumental” but this is tricky. My thinking all these things is an insult to musicians because this is a skill, a craft that has been practiced and honed in on but I really, really wanted to be awesome.

In elementary school we learned how to play one song on the guitar, Runaway Train by Soul Asylum. Excellent song, but looking back not sure it was really age appropriate… I had all the songs arranged that I wanted to learn to play first, not exactly how it worked out. I had to put them aside and find a basic, less cool anthem for myself. Turns out Leaving in a Jet Plan by Peter, Paul, and Mary, let’s face it people attribute it to John Denver, would be my jam, ushering me into my craft. There’s only three cords but I still struggle. If my piano teacher was able to tame and guide these sausage fingers successfully for years I will eventually pick this up.

It’s not all a wash…it’s something I’ve been planning on doing for years and it’s creating a new discipline in me. It’s exciting to still try new things, to seek the challenges, to earn those stripes. I’m realizing life is funny, despite what we convince ourselves directly or about others or their situation(s) there are more truths and struggles and opportunities for us to be brave and progressive if we’re willing.