I am re-learning how to play the cello. At mid-life this is not so easy. My fingers are not as pliable as when I was a child and I forgot how to read music.
After more than 30 years from the instrument this is not surprising. What is surprising is that in the first lesson I recalled what the notes were saying : Oh yeah! Now I remember! But actually playing the notes has been very difficult. I don't have perfect pitch but I do know when something is not right.
My cello teacher tells me that I need to hear and feel the tone of each note. Okay....what does that mean?
Did you know that when you hit the notes correctly the vibration of the bow to the string causes the other strings to vibrate? And then the wood of the cello also will vibrate and hold the tone. Sometimes it last so long I have to actually touch the wood to stop the movement. So even if I do not know what the note is 'supposed' to sound like...I know I have hit it when I can feel it!
That is exactly how it feels when you are doing something that is in your inherent talents. You may not know it prior, or have difficulty 'finding yourself'', but when you do --- you can FEEL it! So many times we focus on what is missing, what we don't have. It is truly astonishing when you are guided to your strengths and actually have an opportunity to use them.
Take the time to hear it. Take the time to FEEL it. Take the time to appreciate YOU.
