My First Lesson

Today marks a new beginning.

Today marks the day I became a guitar teacher. It's been a long time waiting. It's been one of those things you realise one day and keep in the back of your head. It's one of those things you say you'll get around to. Something you'll do later.

Screw that. I did it now. And I had one of the most fulfilling experiences today when I spent 30 minutes with a young kid who wanted to learn how to play guitar.

I won't go into details of how the lesson was conducted. But it was great to be able to relate to a child (being childish myself), and him understanding me. His biggest issue with guitar lessons was how boring they were. So I told him we won't be doing boring stuff. But we will have to cover some key elements on how to play guitar. How to hold it properly. How to strum and pick.

He asked me some great questions, like why does the note go higher when you play closer to the sound hole? And, what are the dots on the fretboard?

The most fascinating part about the lesson was the ending. Instead of me saying "Thanks for today, see you next week" Which is what I usually tell my clients in IT.... who are generally not pleased to see me because me being there means they're spending too much money. I have to say it to them only to hear it back. Otherwise I'll just get a "bye"

Today, this kid said to me "Thanks for the lesson, I learnt a lot. See you next Wednesday at 6PM"

I give him and his mother a "You're welcome, it was my pleasure, see you next week" and I walked to my car..... with the biggest, cheesiest grin. I thought to myself, "Why am I smiling like a dork?" Why shouldn't I? I just enjoyed the best work I've done since, well.... since I can't even remember.

I can't wait for the next lesson.

I'm full

A lot of people in life drift around, going to work, coming home, eating, showering, sleeping and repeating it all over again the next day. I wonder, do these people ever look at something and say "I wish I was doing that instead"?

Or are they happy where they are, despite the fact that on the outside, and maybe to everyone else their life looks a little dreary, a little vague?

From previous posts, my small but dedicated friends who read this will notice that I have been looking at a career change and a life change. It's mostly due to the fact that I'm just not into dealing with the problems I face these days. I'm kind of over it all really.

So, the other day when I started on a small project at home, I felt total fulfilment, and I wasn't even finished. In fact, I'm not even half way.

Is it just because I'm doing something different?

I had a look at what it was exactly that I was feeling and why. I think it came down to one or two things. Maybe three things. I'll see how I go, this is after all, me thinking out loud... my brain kasploding.

One thing that I figured was that I was fulfilled because what I was doing was getting an immediate result from the task. I did something, saw the end product. I'm happy. No bullshit, no what-if's, no questioning, no justification. Just what you see is what you've got.

The other thing I felt was enjoyment from doing something where I didn't have to think too hard. Here's what I have to do.... Auto pilot on... and away we go.

And the last thing I though of, most importantly was that I was being creative.

Each day I've been working on projects around the house, I have felt more fulfilled than a whole years worth of achievements running my business. Sure the soon to be opened webstore is great, and it's the right step in helping me get to where I want to be. But I'm not feeling fulfilled.

Some people might tell me to grab my nuts, have a spoon of concrete and harden the fuck up. Well, I've had enough hard times to reject your spoon of concrete. I'm at the point in my life where I think hard times aren't necessary. For the first time I'm actually thinking very hard not just about now, but the future. And if you can't be happy what you're spending the majority of your living days doing, then I don't see the point at all.

At this stage, mowing my lawns provides me with that satisfied fulfilment I'm looking for. Though I don't think I'd enjoy mowing everyone else's lawns that much. Mine's big enough thank you.