I think the main reason people don’t get what they want in life is because they give up too soon. You may have given up on something before, but let’s just apply this to your dulcimer playing..

• You didn’t understand what those tabs meant – so you gave up.
• You can’t figure out how to tune your dulcimer – so you gave up.
• Your hammered dulcimer goes out of tune too often – so you gave up.
• You went to a jam session but couldn’t keep up – so you gave up.
• You tried to play a solo for your friends but froze – so you gave up.

If at least one of these “excuses” struck a chord in your heart, you gave up too soon. You may have called it in, packed it up and headed home – but it doesn’t have to be the end.

Here’s my suggestion. STOP STOPPING and start playing. Just decide that you’re not going to quit. This is so simple, you’re probably wondering why you didn’t think of that yourself. Tell yourself, “Quitting is NOT an option. No excuses … no matter what. Period. End of Story.”

• If you get laughed at  – join everyone in laughing too.
• If you strum some wrong notes – shake it off and keep strumming.
• If your instrument sounds weird – try tuning.
• If you can’t keep up – keep playing anyway. You’ll catch up.
• If you freeze – thaw out and try starting over again.
• No matter what – keep on keepin’ on with your jamming.

Be relentless. Pull out all the stops. Go all out.  You can do it. I KNOW you can.

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I started a new diet about two months ago.  And so far, all I have lost is 2 months and 8 pounds.  Now you may want to pat me on the back and say, “Way to go! You didn’t put it on in a day, and if you take it off slowly – it will stay off. But that’s discouraging for me.  I want to git’er done.  I want to reach the finish line, and I want to reach it TODAY.

That’s not going to happen but I have grit, and I plan to watch what I eat until the day I reach my finish line. But then what happens?  Can I go back to eating the way I used to?  Can I put aside everything I learned about good eating habits and just go back to “normal”?

The truth is … I will never actually reach the finish line with regard to watching my weight, because this is a life commitment.  The magic number can’t be the only goal for me.  I have to resolve to maintain that weight.  I will need to eat right from now on (for the most part).  AAAARRRGH!!!

Now let’s apply this to your music.

Is there a finish line for your dulcimer playing?

I say, “NO, you will never reach the finish line with your music.”

If you have any questions, always feel free to ask Steve or myself.Happy dulcimering,
Linda

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