Sometimes it’s a struggle to be not who you want to be, not who you used to be, not who you’re going to be, but just being right where you are, who you are.
-Vernon Reid
"Right Now I have to use the Bathroom"
Often times we get discouraged with our lives because we aren’t where we thought we would be. We aren’t as rich as we had hoped to become.
We don’t have as many boutique guitars as we pictured we would be receiving after our record went platinum.
We aren’t the rock stars we dreamed of becoming when we were 16.
But you know, if you look way back to before you even started playing guitar, I bet you were quite a bit different. Think about how the guitar has really molded the person you are today. By opening up your creativity, forming a foundation for discipline, and really cultivating your ability to learn, the guitar has really made you quite unique.
Think about all the ways that you have enriched someone else’s life through your guitar. You probably really have no idea how much people appreciate your music and your passion for creating. Look at it from a non-musical person’s perspective. They would give anything to be able to write a song or play a wicked solo.
Take some time out to just think about how much worse off the world would be without guitar. Seriously.
Hopefully you will realize that right now, in this very moment, you are right where you need to be. Be thankful for your musical abilities, or your desire to learn, or your opportunity to inspire.
Don’t worry about becoming the next Satriani and forget about any regrets you have in the past. Embrace the Now and just do the best you can.
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3 responses so far ↓
1 Kenski // Feb 11, 2009 at 8:35 am
I love playing guitar. I’m not great at it, but it gives me a lot of satisfaction and enjoyment.
I’m also rapidly approaching 40 and while I’ve been playing seriously for about 4 years I’m always going to be ‘behind’ some 18 year olds.
At first glance that’s a bit disheartening. Nobody’s going to sign me up to be The Next Big Thing. I’m never going to win a pop talent show and become a media darling.
But, even though I’ve only got a few years of guitar slinging under my belt right now, if I live to be 80 then that’s 40 more years I’ve got to enjoy and learn the instrument.
You never know… I could still get good!
2 Stratoblogster // Feb 11, 2009 at 11:51 pm
Great post Jeff! I think people start playing an instrument because they like it so much that it isn’t enough to just listen to others. They get to a point where they themselves “must do something about it”.
So playing is doing something about music. Others dance, tap their feet, whatever… but a musician is taking on the responsibility of making music.
Everything is that way. A kid sees a great basketball player and loves to watch, but pretty soon he’s gotta have a ball and a hoop over the garage door. Doing something about it.
3 Jeff // Feb 14, 2009 at 1:59 am
Thanks for the great comments guys! I like your perspective on this. Kenski, hell yeah man. 40 years is a long time to get great at something. It really just boils down to your passion and drive to get better and play. Heck you see clips of virtuoso 11 year olds who have played for a few years tearing things up. Definitely an adult has advantages with knowing more what he/she wants out of music.
I like your take Stratoman. It drives you to a point where you HAVE to play. Nice!
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