I have had music in my life from the time I was a tiny girl. Dad's guitar was never put away. We always had the Friday or Saturday night neighbour parties. If they weren't pulling into our yard, we were pulling into theirs. Everyone could sing... even those of us who couldn't! :)
Country and old time gospel were the mainstay of the prairies but throw in Christian Worship, bluegrass, good old rock, bit of folk and the eclectic selection made it impossible for anyone to be left out.
My fingers are tender this week (2007 mission to get back to playing!). It felt strange to pick up a guitar again. I really don't have a reason not to use nylon strings... just my Dad's voice in my head saying... you want to get really music out of those strings... get the nylon garbage off! Steel and callous's are the only way to go! Perhaps, but tomorrow I am heading out to get a pick. I am a suck!
It is strange......the voices that go through our head. Words from when we were younger. Opinions of those we loved, and how they influenced our lives. Decisions we make, because someone hit a softspot and our lack of self-confidence made us think others knew us, better than we did ourselves. Taking too long to learn an instrument meant, perhaps it isn't something I can learn. Or... perhaps it just took a right handed teacher a lot longer to teach a left hander?
Life is like that.......people knock others and try to change people into their fiw of how we should act and behave. Rather than adapt themselves, they try to make others become their norm. Why not just let everyone be individuals? If they are not hurting, taking, infringing on my space... I don't care how they act, behave, or look. I have the choice to walk away.
I think my awesome aunt said it the best. I asked her once why she never rolled her eyes or complained or got upset. Why she never said ,'Oh Kathy!' in that tone that told me I had fouled up again. She told me it was easy for her to see my possibilities and reasons for me doing things. She told me that she only had to love me. My actions were not a reflection of her parenting skills, so she was only blessed with getting to love me. She told me that when people personalize things and try to change another person, it was because they were scared how outsiders would associate them with the person they wanted to change. The person made them uncomfortable and rather than change themselves, they try to make the other change.
Music is a wonderful equalizer. Switch to whatever genre we want, all will express emotion, values, thoughts, goals, dreams, feelings. Money doesn't make the world go round - music does!
Kathy :)
