A few days ago, my daughter Alanna and I were talking about her eleven-year-old son Christopher who is learning to play the trumpet for his school band. She told me that there were first, second, third, and fourth "chairs." Of course, everyone aspires to be first chair.
I remarked that there can be only one first chair. That is a lesson we must all learn, whether we are eleven or decades older (like me). Many times, I have denied myself opportunities because I think that if I can't be "first chair," then I don't want to do it at all.
The truth is, I am rarely first chair at anything. Sometimes I am adequate. Sometimes I am totally inadequate. Does that mean I shouldn't participate or try something? Of course not. But there it is, that belief that if I can't do something perfectly, I shouldn't do it at all. It is a crippling condition, one I am trying to overcome.
Joy for today: being second, third, or fourth chair. (Or even fifth.)
I like this post a lot and there is a lot of truth in what you said regarding us maybe not wanting to try something because we won't get first chair.
ReplyDelete