Yay, it’s Monday! And let’s face it, we all need a little Monday Motivation. I know what most of you are thinking… Blah. True, Monday’s can be hard to get through and we’d rather just stay in bed, pull the covers over our head and not face it.
Even so, Monday’s are inevitable. So why not make the best of it! For me, I’ve found the BEST way to make the BEST of a bad Monday is to start it off with positive thoughts!
Because of that, I’m going to bring you a positive thought every Monday, #mondaymotivation, just to help you get in the best mindset you can for the rest of the week!
So here is this weeks Monday Motivation!
Many of you don’t know that I’m a songwriter. I travel to Nashville 4 or 5 times a year to pursue this amazing, daunting, roller coaster ride of a career. There have been some ups… and a LOT of downs.
Until about 10 months ago, I’ve always written my songs on the piano. Now, I’m not saying I’m an amazing piano player, quite the contrary. I know my way around the chords and can usually play by ear, but ask me to read music and you will be disappointed.
I love to play the piano but, it’s pretty near impossible to travel with one. Even a full key board is a pain to lug around.
For that reason, about 10 months ago, I decided to learn how to play the guitar. After all, it’s a breeze to strap that baby to your back via guitar backpack case, and travel. Most airlines will even let you carry your instrument on for free. I’ve even had some of the flight staff help me safely stash my guitar in the coat closet before anyone else has boarded the plane.
Now, some may not feel this way, but I feel the guitar is SO much harder to play that the piano. Not only do you have to learn all the notes, the chords, and how to embellish with hammer on’s and such, but it takes months to build callouses on the tips of your fingers so that you can tolerate holding the strings down against the fret board. There are some days that my fingers literally have began bleeding.
However, after months of practicing for at least an hour a day, and sometimes more, I’ve found that I can accompany myself to a certain degree.
Then came the challenge of playing for PEOPLE. Ugh. Believe me when I say that the first time I played for a small group of songwriters or even that first time I played for a publisher, (a music publisher is like a label for the songwriter. A label represents an artist, while the publisher represents the songwriter. It’s not at all like “publishing” a book in the music world) My hands were shaking like that last frail leaf just hanging on to it’s tree in the first cold winter breeze. It. Was. Terrifying!!!
But do you know what, I got through it. Yes, I messed up like crazy. Yes, I wish I could have played better and I don’t believe I represented my songs well, but If I’d have never gone for it and done what I was afraid to do, I would never have played my songs for a large group of people in one of Nashville’s most historic venues just a few months ago. Again, I messed up, but it’s Okay! I’m doing it. Here I am, traveling with my beautiful spalted maple Teton guitar and I’m DOING IT! I’m playing my songs, living my dream and I’m loving it!
So don’t be afraid to do what you are a afraid to do. You might just find that a new faucet of life begins at the end of your comfort zone!!!
