Time for a little honesty: there are days, even seasons of my life when I wonder if what I do makes any kind of difference to anyone. Sometimes I question why I had to fall in love with music and writing instead of, say, brain surgery. Music is so subjective; everyone has their own preference and feelings about what they like and why.
Still, music is my thing. It is the thing that I will do if I never make a cent from it, just because I have to make music. But sometimes it can get discouraging when you feel that no one even cares to hear it.
I was having one of those pity-party days last week as I was working at my elementary school job. Thinking to myself, "What if I take all the time and effort to create this music that no one cares to hear?" It was about that time, my 3rd grade class arrived for their lesson. As I greeted them at the door, one precious girl stopped and handed me a bracelet. "I made this for you, Mrs. King." The bracelet has white round beads with a silver treble clef charm. It's lovely.
After exclaiming my excitement over the gift (because, I don't care what it is, all teachers love getting gifts from their students), I asked her if she really did make it. She said yes. I put it on and wore it the rest of the day.
Ok, so maybe millions of people won't be inspired and touched by my music, but that little girl was. Even if she's only heard me sing silly songs. My music impacted her enough to think of me when she crafted a beautiful personalized gift.
The lesson is this: whatever you're doing, whether big or small, matters to someone. Keep doing it. Keep writing, even if you think no one reads. Keep making music, even if you think no one hears. Keep playing ball, even if you think no one cheers. I think you'll find that someone is, in fact, paying attention. Do it for them. And do it because you can't not do it.
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