Use it or lose it

I have a vocal music degree and yet I never use it. Aside from the music history trivia that I love I am losing some of my other bits of education but mostly my skills. Now, I am not the most talented singer and have a never cured mental issue with stage fright (it is a big issue) but that doesn't mean I have the right to get rusty. I started to notice this a few months ago when I was singing in our church choir and realized that I was losing some very important notes......namely anything above E5. Yeah that was a big blow since I was quite capable of more than that when I was in school and I am not old enough for my voice to have changed that much. That only means one thing. I have neglected one of my prized possessions. My music. My piano skills are basic and my singing is mainly nursery songs so I have not been continuing my education or maintaining my talents the way that we were taught in the parable to do. I guess I took my one talent and buried it without letting it grow or adding to it.

Last night after correcting Beau in his piano practice I decided that I needed to put a stop to my neglect. I needed to teach my children by example on how even when you are old you still need to practice and protect your talents so that they are ready at a moments notice. After he got done I pulled out my Italian book of songs and chose an old favorite. (I will not admit that I did not warm up my voice) I sang the song and it sounded weak, flat and not at all like Italian but I will say this....... it felt wonderful. Not only because I had that feeling that only an artist can understand. You know, the one where you know you are part of something or that you are creating something that is wonderful. No, it wasn't just that feeling. It was one little princess. She was playing with her brother when I started my first song and I noticed that she was standing and staring at me. By the second song she had pulled a chair up to the piano and after the second time through the song she was looking at me like I was the most wonderful singer in the world. She never uttered a sound just sat there staring at me with a smile on her face. I realized then that I wasn't just hurting myself and God by letting my voice die but I was not letting my kids see a part of me that I love. Sure I sing to, with and at my kids all the time but there is a difference. I didn't realize how big a difference it was until I saw the look on my daughters face when just for that moment her mother was the best person in the world. I am still unable to sing in front of others comfortably but I will sing for her whenever I can and with my real talent not a diluted version of what it once was.

The moral of this story is to find your talents that have started to fade and bring them back. You never know who might need to feel its touch and you don't want to wait until it is too late.