Today, I faced fear. I surprised a lucky stranger by singing “happy birthday” while strumming away on my ukulele. This occurred in a public place, orchestrated by her wife.
It was scary for me. Music performance has been tangled up with my perfectionism for many years, and I’ve long subscribed to the story that I have a terrible voice. I only know a scattering of chords on the uke, hardly an expert with the skills to make an audience go “wow!” And the combination of singing and strumming.. oy!
I don’t know when I stopped having fun performing. I recall feeling confident and calm at my harp recitals as a child. But as I became more self aware, I disappointed myself. I never could quite be the musician I wanted to be, even though I tried in my studies to be perfect, to hit every note just right. Problem is, I’m just not that good. And I’m kind of lazy, and have many interests beyond music that called to me with a siren song. I wanted to be, want to be, a great musician, and to become this way effortlessly.
I studied harp from the age of 10 all the way through college, and didn’t have the fun as I could have. I squandered years with performance anxiety and by telling myself “I can’t.” I squandered the benefits of my hard work by focusing on what I had not accomplished, how I had failed myself or my teachers in some way.
I’ll never get that time back, but when my coworker asks me for my presence and my song I can say yes. I can shrug my fears aside like an ugly, too-small jacket that clings across the shoulders, and just do it. I can sing and I can smile. To quote the Hokey Pokey, isn’t that what its all about?
born by a river 
Those years were not squandered. Fighting battles like that, even if we think we loose them, is what shapes us as people. I think to study music and then say, hmm maybe this isn’t my path, takes enormous courage. As long as you keep playing your harp! You were a killer harpist, don’t let anyone, including yourself tell you otherwise!
Brian, you are clearly as kind and thoughtful as you were 13 years ago. And a hell of a sax player too!
Yes! That is what it’s all about. I bet you made her day special!
Oh, that whole performance/perfectionist quagmire……does it ever finally let us go? Congratulations on claiming your right to have fun with music and to share it with others, just as it happens, and on doing it even though you were scared. That’s the best way I know to tell fear to go take a big leap off a cliff!!!
You look adorable!!! Who cares what you sounded like. lol 🙂
You look some much like your mom…..When you have a chance email me, I have some things to share with you about your mom, from the time we spent together back in the 60’s.
In the meantime, keep strumming:)