Tracey Alley's Blog - Posts Tagged "making-a-contribution"
I can't dance....
Well actually I can dance, quite well I've been told, but I woke up with that Genesis song in my head and as it relates to what I want to chat about I thought I'd leave that as the title. [man I'm long winded sometimes lol] Anyway to get to the point. For as long as I can remember I've wanted to learn how to play the drums. We were very poor growing up though so it had to remain nothing more than a longing while I was younger.
Then I started working when I was 12, baby sitting and taking in ironing from the local working women in the neighborhood. Between school and work there was no time and that's the way it stood for many, many years. First I was working two jobs, then when Mum got sick I quit my night job to take care of her and looked after her for over fifteen years until she died. So no time there to even think about lessons or buying a drum kit to even play on.
Then my niece J bought that game Guitar Hero or something but the one that also came with a drum set. Bam I thinks to myself - this is my chance to show everyone what a kick a@@ drummer I could be.
Instead - oh the shame. The bitter humiliation. The huge dent in my somewhat overlarge ego ;) I couldn't play. Could not hit a single note. I even scored lower than my then 5 year old niece Britney.
I couldn't believe it. I loved music. I truly believed I had 'rhythm in my soul' and just needed the chance to prove it. Instead it turns out, not so much. In fact lousy. And of course all my family & friends are laughing their @ss off because I'd been bragging for years about how great I would be if given the chance. I was a little red faced to say the least.
So what's the point? Well, nothing really except that life is a journey meant to be enjoyed. You might not always be any good at that one thing you think you would be excellent at if given a chance, like me. Or maybe something else, a little more serious than a game, will knock you down a bit. You have to learn how to pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start all over again, as my dear Mother used to say.
Life is too short not to try out the things you'd like to do, whether you succeed or fail. So if there's something you've been wanting to do or try, no matter what it might be, give it a try, make it happen and see how it turns out. Most of all though remember it's the relationships we form while we walk this road that are really important. Besides forming lasting relationships with people, be they relative, friend or lover, the only other really critical part of living is your contribution to the world.
Try every day to make the world a better place, even if all you do is smile at the cashier in the supermarket and wish him/her a good day. As they say in the Buddhist tradition 'walk softly and leave no footprints'. I also add making time to spoil yourself a little every day, even if it's only a quiet cuppa by yourself or with family or friends, or perhaps just a bubble bath or a long, hot shower. Just make sure you're being at least as good to yourself as you are to others.
Live long & prosper :)
Cheers,
Trace
Then I started working when I was 12, baby sitting and taking in ironing from the local working women in the neighborhood. Between school and work there was no time and that's the way it stood for many, many years. First I was working two jobs, then when Mum got sick I quit my night job to take care of her and looked after her for over fifteen years until she died. So no time there to even think about lessons or buying a drum kit to even play on.
Then my niece J bought that game Guitar Hero or something but the one that also came with a drum set. Bam I thinks to myself - this is my chance to show everyone what a kick a@@ drummer I could be.
Instead - oh the shame. The bitter humiliation. The huge dent in my somewhat overlarge ego ;) I couldn't play. Could not hit a single note. I even scored lower than my then 5 year old niece Britney.
I couldn't believe it. I loved music. I truly believed I had 'rhythm in my soul' and just needed the chance to prove it. Instead it turns out, not so much. In fact lousy. And of course all my family & friends are laughing their @ss off because I'd been bragging for years about how great I would be if given the chance. I was a little red faced to say the least.
So what's the point? Well, nothing really except that life is a journey meant to be enjoyed. You might not always be any good at that one thing you think you would be excellent at if given a chance, like me. Or maybe something else, a little more serious than a game, will knock you down a bit. You have to learn how to pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start all over again, as my dear Mother used to say.
Life is too short not to try out the things you'd like to do, whether you succeed or fail. So if there's something you've been wanting to do or try, no matter what it might be, give it a try, make it happen and see how it turns out. Most of all though remember it's the relationships we form while we walk this road that are really important. Besides forming lasting relationships with people, be they relative, friend or lover, the only other really critical part of living is your contribution to the world.
Try every day to make the world a better place, even if all you do is smile at the cashier in the supermarket and wish him/her a good day. As they say in the Buddhist tradition 'walk softly and leave no footprints'. I also add making time to spoil yourself a little every day, even if it's only a quiet cuppa by yourself or with family or friends, or perhaps just a bubble bath or a long, hot shower. Just make sure you're being at least as good to yourself as you are to others.
Live long & prosper :)
Cheers,
Trace
