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Can you play an instrument proficiently?
Can you speak another language fluently?
Are you an expert in chess? Backgammon? Jujitsu?
If you can answer yes to any of these questions, then I’m a little bit jealous.
(But we can still be friends.)
If you can answer yes to all of these questions, then I’m not entirely certain I can work through my jealousy to establish a friendship with you.
STORY ONE
One day, back in high school, I rocked up at the door of the Music Department.
Me: “I’d like to learn the flute please.”
The Head of Music: “I’m sorry, Shannon. We have no more flutes available.
What about a french horn?”
Me: “Sure!”
The french horn came housed in a handle-less case. The case was held together with masking tape and I had to cradle it in front of me, like a baby.
My coolness levels clearly soared.
The celebrity associated with being the orchestra’s first french horn player in a veeerrry long time, just became too much to bear.
So I quit. (It was really because of that cumbersome case I had to lug around.)
And I started learning the clarinet. (Oh that sweet, sweet, compact, rectangular clarinet case. Complete with handle, it was just so convenient to carry around.)
By the time I finished high school, I was no longer playing the clarinet. I can’t quite remember when or why that career went down in flames.
STORY TWO
In between my musical celebrity appearances obligations, I also spent my high school years learning French.
I then went to uni where I had to choose a language to study.
It perhaps would have been a smart idea to continue with French to reach a level of ace fluency.
Instead I chose Italian.
Interspersed with my years of Italian and French, I’ve tried to learn Cantonese three times. Asian languages and I just don’t mix well.
I am currently fluent in English. (Although this is debatable and dependent on levels of sleep deprivation.)
STORY THREE
My sporting career has involved stints as….a swimmer/ volleyball player/ field hockey player/ AFL player/ touch footy player.
My current sport of choice is running.
So these stories clearly demonstrate a few things about me.
I’m easily swayed… from flute to french horn… what the?!
I have varied interests… so many things to try! Not enough time!
I get bored easily… or as I like to diplomatically call it “I enjoy trying new things.”
I am a Jack of all Trades. Master of None.
I could have been touring the world as a famous French Horn orchestra rock star by now.
Or living in Provence passionately (and fluently) debating the merits of one camembert over another in flawless French.
Or rolling in sponsorship money as an Olympic swimmer.
If only I’d stuck with one thing.
Instead, here I am, writing on a blog that covers a random array of my interests, slightly concerned that I don’t have a niche.
But variety is the spice of life, right?
That’s my story and I’m sticking with it.
Are you a Master of one particular thing? (I promise I won’t hold it against you!)
Or are you a ‘dabbler’ like me, and try a number of things without really being specifically good at any particular thing?!
Linking up today with Essentially Jess for IBOT
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I’m impressed! I’d like to think I’m just an all round creative type constantly trying new things and that’s good enough for me – which I think is much like you too! (Except you’re sportier and can make food. But that’s cool, we can still be friends lol)
I’m so excited that you’ve popped by, Myra! All-round creative types are my favourite xx
Well, I learnt guitar for a fortnight and then gave up. I aced French at school but can only order a cooked breakfast in Spanish and i’m not sporty at all! So it’s all relative, compared to me, you have mastered a number of trades. I am “5 minute wonder” personified, my attention span is so short, if you blink, you might miss it. I get bored super easily but there are three things I never get tired of, baking, blogging and running, so I guess that makes me a Jack of Three Trades!
You just reminded me, Sammie- I tried to learn guitar once too. Man- it made my fingers hurt so! Nothing wrong with being a 5 minute wonder, I say!
Oh my gosh! We could be twins! LOL…I did end up playing the flute in middle & high school, but dropped it after high school. I also studied French in high school and college, but dropped it after college. Now, I work with people in Paris and even travel there once a year or so and I SO wish I had kept up with it! I can rock the ‘bonjour’, but that’s about it ;). As for sports, I have NEVER done well with sports, but I’m front and center at Zumba, LOL. I, too, have numerous interests and hobbies and feel like if I could just limit myself I could really become really good at SOMETHING, but alas, doesn’t seem like it’ll happen. So…I like to think of myself as really good at experiencing all (well, a lot) of what life has to offer :). Great post!
Snap, Vicky! We could have been an awesome clarinet-playing, French-speaking duo. I do like the fact that sampling lots of different things means that you have LOTS of experiences to draw upon!
Sounds like one of my children at the moment! He likes to try new things… once or twice and then move on. Very annoying!! I was a bit the same, piano lessons for a year, karate for a year, a bit of netball, basketball and touch football thrown in for good measure. #teamIBOT
Change is as good as a holiday, right?!
There was a bounce to reading this that I really enjoyed, must be your humour!
I started playing violin, and occasionally impress friends who notice my two dusty cases, out of reach, on the highest shelf in the house. I lived for sport in high school but they usually liked me for defence because I was very aggressive and passionate. I love to sing. LOVE it. My moments of fame include singing solos in front of a crowd of about 500, singing at 4 different weddings, and singing in the church choir. Lalala. The only person who really hears me sing now is my son, every day 🙂 This makes me happy.
Thanks so much for your kind words!
I wish I could sing! And play violin! Adding them to the list! (Not sure if I could do them in front of 500 people though!!!)
I played flute and clarinet too! Not well, but I did it!
I think if you’re enjoying what you learn each time you learn it, then you haven’t lost anything, and instead gained a lot. 🙂
PRECISELY! xx