Truths about learning the violin

(from my diary)

Few have asked me how it's like to be able to play the violin and I'm always without an answer...Because I didn't expect that question.

So here are the lessons or truths I've learnt on my journey while learning to play the violin. Though, it can be applied to most musical instruments and other creative hobbies as well. (Yeah, because all hobbies are difficult to maintain and improve)

1. You will injure yourself and/or other people with your violin unintentionally. 

2. Random jealous people will tell you directly or indirectly that you won't be able to do it or that you'll "eventually give up".

3. You will make excuses to not practice.

4. You will spend days and weeks and even months sometimes without practicing at all.

5. But when you practice daily, you notice clear benefits and improvements. 

6. You will become a perfectionist.

7. Many young people who play way better than you will get on your nerves. 

8. You may feel really competitive or entirely demotivated to play sometimes.

9. Your neck, back and fingers will hurt as you keep pushing yourself to different techniques, longer time durations and new pieces.

10. You will learn to appreciate napping/lying down more.

11. You will feel like you can't do it and consider giving up several times.

12. But you will never quit.

13. Because you know that with the strength of God that powers you to practice, be patient and persevere, you can do anything.

14. Even if it is, playing the violin. 

What are your hobbies? Tell me in the comment section. 

Fears and Phobias

Everyone is scared of something or the other. 
But one shouldn't think less of a person who gets scared of things you don't particularly consider scary. 

Because we're all human here. We need to support each other. It's simply stupid to judge or make light of someone's fears. 

I know, because, fears can paralyze you. Fears can make you feel small and helpless in certain situations and like all humans...We need help. And we won't get that help if we're being constantly ridiculed of our fears.

Support people. Give them the confidence, courage and opportunity to get over their fears.  Don't make them feel like the only one feeling that way about something. We all have our fears. Some may have more or less. Some may react differently to fears. 

But please do always attempt to control and vanquish your fears. Or at least make the personal decision that one day or another, you're going to be freed from this fear. And I hope, with all the hope I have in my heart...that one day...You'll conquer your fears...before your fears take over your life.   

Please see that you- Don't force people to face their fears without their approval, that's kinda rude. Let them decide for themselves how and when they want to do so.

Indian Independence Day

It's time you'll know....I'm Indian.

And as much as most of my life I've dreamed about leaving my country in search for a better standard of living, pollution-free life, and so on....I'm pretty proud of my country today.

Taking up Humanities  surely helped change my perspective about India being a terrible country in which human life is unsustainable.

India is one of the only countries in the world with a history so rich with culture and art. Our social structure too is so complex and beautiful.

Yes, we have had our share of problems and still do till date. But the government is trying its best to turn things around and to develop the country.

But because there are are so many differing social and religious groups existing today in India...there will surely be a lot to change before India becomes a fully developed country that values the happiness of its people and its environment.

The population of the country keeps growing. And the news papers these days have forgotten what good news really is. There's religious extremism seen in many places in India....despite the fact all religions here have super old origins of converts in the past. 

These all are true. But I have faith in my country that someday....we will succeed in our efforts to evaluate poverty, corruption, high crime rates and make our industries flourish while caring and nurturing our ecosystem and raise our standard of living as much as possible.

Happy Independence Day, my fellow Indians!

Auditions

Although you can say I messed up my audition for a music competition a few weeks ago...I still consider auditioning a good thing to do.

For starters, I made new friends. In my normal regular routine life, it's pretty difficult to differentiate and know who's a musician in class. (mainly cause musicians don't have a certain look)

It's amazing to have friends who share a musical passion and have the commitment & the long enduring patience it takes to learn music.

Secondly, I finally completed learning a piece that I always wanted to, but lacked the motivation to do so. Keeping the auditions as the "deadline" to finish mastering the piece, it surely helped me find motivation to do it. I honestly have been putting this piece on a constant hold before signing up for these auditions.

Thirdly, It gives you a reality check. Many a times, I tend to think I know it all in music. But the truth is....I don't. And even the most skilled and professional musician needs to be humble enough to realize that they can't know it all when it comes to music cause of the ocean of musical knowledge that keeps extending as the number of compositions keep accumulating.

I came to know about the brilliantly talented people around me and basically how much I still need to learn and I still need to practice to get to that level of expertise. 

And the thing about learning is that...it never can be fully accomplished...but that is what makes it so attractive and daring.

Next, is the fact that I never challenge myself enough and that's what holds me back from becoming better. It takes courage, okay? It takes courage to walk in front of a crowd and play a piece on an instrument by-heart, fully knowing that they may not like it, they may hate you, they may judge you for it and you may not live up to their standards. But do so anyway. Why? Because it helps you build yourself some confidence and courage.

Now, by all that I've expressed to you right now, you maybe thinking that I got selected for the main event...but the thing is...I didn't. And I know I avoided playing my instrument for about a week after that cause I couldn't stand the memory of my auditions. 

But then, I'm glad I didn't give up because I gained experience, I went out of my box for once, I achieved something that I normally wouldn't do. 

I won over my fears of embarrassing myself that day...and that for me...is a great reward in itself.

What makes you happy?

It sure has been quite hectic lately...college life is really busy...All  the travelling, socializing, studying, practicing, thinking and choosing.
There's so much to do and only so many hours in a day. 
Apart from hurrying to the next place I have to be at, there's always something in my path that makes me smile or giggle somehow. 
In a world that destroys people who are vulnerable...in a lifestyle that has no time for having emotions...it is all the more important to find something or someone that makes you happy.

Last week there were many times I found things in my surroundings waaayy too funny....like the cow who found himself stuck in the middle of the traffic and the chicken that crossed the road behind me (which made me think "Why did the chicken cross the road?" Before laughing about it)

Many things make my day. Even the parrots I saw the other day flying around coconut trees and drinking water from a baloney's birdbath...and the thunder and lightening, oh so loud, with flashes so bright that it made me rethink my entire life!

Incense sticks whose smoke make patterns in the air so beautiful that I can only watch and see the currents of the wind. 

The silence of the night when I'm trying to sleep... so peaceful, nostalgic and magical as another busy day meets it's completion. 

Looking over to my friend as she laughs hysterically to one of my terrible jokes...and realizing how much more beautiful she looks right now as the light makes her eyes twinkle in a way.

Many things make me happy, many things make me feel life is worth living...despite the dark nightmares and the momentary unreasonable sadness I feel from time to time.

So as I end this post...I want to ask each one of you (whoever even reads these posts).....
What makes you happy?