Talents

You might recall me telling you a bit about my mom's piano the other day. Well, this piano wouldn't be anything special except for the fact that it was hers. One of my fondest memories of her and the piano is how she'd faithfully practice daily when I was young, working most specifically on Mozart's Rondo Alla Turca--over and over and over.  I thought it was a little crazy actually. Why would anyone play the same song over and over? She would mess up in the same spot pretty much every time. No lie. The same spot. Like, every time. Sometimes, when this would happen, she'd bang the keys, and we'd laugh because mom was being so funny.

What I didn't realize at the time was the lesson she was teaching. Mind you, my parents didn't really do any traditional sort of teaching (except where pulling weeds and putting new roofs on the house go). The bulk of their parenting was done by example. This piano represents to me the perseverance it takes to develop any talent. Practice every day and a willingness to face defeat are two main ingredients. 

My mother allowed me to quit my piano lessons a couple of times. She rarely reminded or even made me practice. So, I don't really know how to play this piano. There are many talents I have let go to the wayside because I never was guided to stick with them. My young mind couldn't hear her example louder than my desire to play. I wish I could really play this piano though. Maybe some day.

For now, I take action in my other areas of talent. I like to write. I have found that others like what and how I write, so to develop this talent, I write every day. I write on my blog, social media, in my journal, and even letters from time to time. I have also been cultivating a few other talents such as baking, gardening, and photography. None of these are performed fantastically--yet. I plan to keep at them though even if I make the same mistakes over and over and over because that's just how it goes.

For your listening enjoyment:

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