Dear Nudgers,
Carrie contacted me over the summer when I put out a call for guest bloggers. She shared with me that she was inspired by my 52Nudges project to start her own, which she calls “Me & My Quite Contrary Life.” I’ve since picked up ideas from her nudges, and I hope you’ll visit her website and do the same.
Meanwhile, this week she is our Guest Nudger! I will be following her lead (possibly tickling the ivories on our old piano), and I encourage you to do the same by picking up one of the joys you’ve left behind in your childhood.
Thank you, Carrie! — Kathleen
Backstory: As I was creating my own list of nudges, inspired by Kathleen’s 52Nudges, I brainstormed what activities I used to enjoy but stopped doing as an adult. Instrumental music was at the top of the list.I started playing the flute when I was in 5th grade and continued playing regularly until my early 30s. I was in marching band and concert bands throughout high school and college (eight years total), took private lessons, played in a flute choir, and played for church and nursing homes as a soloist or with a group. My dad is a talented, life-long musician, so it was in my blood and was something I excelled at with countless hours of practice and perfectionism. Music was a big part of my life and shaped who I am today.
A serious picture from my high school band days–with the same flute I have today.
The music stopped abruptly one day about five years ago. It was a combination of factors that produced my “retirement” from playing the flute and piccolo. My flute teacher/mentor/friend Jan died suddenly of cancer several years before, and I had never completely gotten over it. I was devastated by her death, and felt I couldn’t play without her; the joy was gone. In addition, I changed churches and wanted to explore other areas of my God-given talents. I packed up my flute, my constant companion for decades, and haven’t touched it again.
…until this week.
The purpose of this nudge is to play my flute for my benefit only. I won’t be playing along with someone else or because someone asked me, but because I want to play for my enjoyment.
I have many questions going into the week: What will I play? Will I remember how to do it? What will the dog think? How will I feel as I play?
“Music has healing power. It has the ability to take people out of themselves for a few hours.”– Elton John
What Happened: I sat on this nudge for most of the week and did nothing. Finally, on a quiet Friday night when my husband was gone and I was alone (with the dog!), I found my instrument in the back of a closet and challenged myself to play at least one song. I did it! I ended up playing for about an hour, and experienced many thoughts and emotions during that time.
I was happy to see my flute again as I opened the case. I was reminded of my excitement to play as a 5th grader. It felt like seeing an old friend again. The happiness soon gave way to guilt as I saw some rust spots on the instrument from age and neglect. I felt like a bad friend.
It felt very familiar to assemble the pieces and get the instrument properly aligned. All the dents and dings that I remembered were still there, evidence of our times together. I started playing and discovered I remembered all of the fingerings—just like riding a bike! I played an old hymn first, then moved on to other flute solos from my past. The joy of playing slowly came back.
The dog ran into the room as I hit a high note. She sensed my joy and thought it translated into a treat for her. She anxiously wagged her tail and looked at me with big brown eyes. When a treat was not produced, she quickly lost interest and returned to the couch. Her soft snores were occasionally heard as a musical accompaniment.
I soon realized how out of shape I was—my mouth hurt after one song. I kept going.
After about an hour, I pulled out some old pictures of my band days and reminisced about my musical career and about Jan. I wish she was still around so I could have more conversations with her. I have no doubt we would still be great friends today. She never married or had children, but she was a mother and mentor to me when I was in high school. I am grateful that her parents mailed me a stack of her flute music after her death. As I was feeling sad that I wouldn’t talk to her again, the next piece of music I came across was her music of “When We All Get to Heaven”. WOW! What a reminder that I will get to catch up with her again someday.
The most talented flute player I have ever known, my mentor and friend, Jan. She is so missed.
Ah-Hahs: I enjoyed my evening of music for just my benefit, my private concert. It was fun to read music again—I didn’t realize it had been so long! In church, all the words of worship music are on the screens, so I don’t read actual sheet music often. I miss it.
My flute will always be an important item that I will never get rid of, but I don’t feel the need to play it often. It served its purpose in my life, and I am grateful.
It was fun to look back on my musical career and see all the benefits playing the flute brought me: quality time spent playing music with my dad and sister, good friendships with bandmates, marching band trips to Florida and California, confidence to perform in front of many people, staying in shape with marching band, and it kept me out of trouble as a teenager. It was definitely time well spent!
With the same flute in college marching band for four years.
I am really enjoying my nudges project. This is just one more example of how I am rediscovering joy and getting out of my comfort zone. I never would have played again without this challenge. Thanks, Kathleen, for your inspiration!
Get better acquainted with Carrie and her 52Nudges-inspired project through her blog, Me & My Quite Contrary Life.