I relearned how to play the guitar this weekend.
It's not that I forgot how to play the instrument, I just forgot how to allow myself time to play. For the past four years, guitar has been a very big part of my life. Some people read or play video games to escape stressors and relax. I have tried these and many other activities for leisure, but they have never been able to fill my needs. Finally, I discovered the guitar. I found myself being able to sit down and lose myself in the fretboard for hours instead of the five to ten minutes that I was able to read a book.
Up until this semester, I was always willing and able to adjust my schedule to allow for this special time. Whether I stayed up an hour later than I typically would or decided to wing a biology lab quiz, I understood the benefits of this alone time and made these sacrifices. Unfortunately, in my attempt to take 17 hours this semester, I forgot to allow myself this time. Each day, I would walk into my room and see my guitars on their stands and think to myself, "If only I had time." It had been so long. I had not even had time to find new songs that I was interested in learning.
Finally, this past Sunday, I decided to make room. I am a big Washington Wizards fan, so I was sitting in our living room watching the game on mute while filling out flashcards for my organic chemistry lab final. At the half, I turned the TV off and really started to focus on these flashcards. Then I thought to myself: if these professional athletes get a break, maybe I deserve one, too. I went in my room, grabbed my guitar and tuner, and moved the flashcards off of the table. It had been so long that my nice guitar, which can go several hours of playing while staying perfectly in tune, was a whole step (2 frets) flat. I eventually got it sounding nice again and began picking. The first thing that I noticed was that the calluses on my finger tips that develop after months of playing were completely gone; it felt as if my fingers had never touched the strings before.
I played for a while and then turned the TV back on because I thought that halftime would be over. To my surprise, there were 2 minutes left in the third quarter. I was finally able to lose myself in something again. It felt so reinvigorating.
Losing yourself is so refreshing. I still struggle to find time to do the things I love. That's really cool that you can play the guitar; I kind of taught myself when I was a senior in high school, but I was never good. I remember when my callouses began to form I thought it was the coolest thing in the world, and I couldn't stop touching my finger tips! Good for you for losing yourself in the strings again.
ReplyDeleteI really relate to your post. I have always loved music. I can play piano and drums and I can't remember the last time I played on an actual drum. I used to could sit in my basement and play drumset until I was sweating and so out of breath I could not continue.
ReplyDeleteThis post has inspired me to get back into the things I love. I feel free when playing drums. I can do whatever I want and create whatever I want because it is my beats and my hands and feet playing. Thank you.