The phone rings.
“Hi. I’m calling about taking guitar lessons.”
Linda talks about herself: how she took a few beginner lessons back in her college days but now her guitar’s just sitting in her closet gathering dust; how marriage and family and the busyness of everyday life took over. And now, years later, how she’s been feeling the need to do something different – something for herself that she can enjoy and grow with. We talk about the instruction: about my style of teaching and what she would like to learn. It seems to feel right for both of us so we set up a first lesson. This is good!

We hang up and I sit and wonder about what it takes to make that call – to start on a new adventure like this. How many considerations (e.g. the money, the time, the commitment) and “yeah buts” (e.g. what if I have no talent; will my husband be okay with it?) did she have to go through? From the sound of her voice it was quite a few! But when I asked Linda if she wanted to think about it for a few days or shop around some more, she came out with a vehement “No, it’s time to get started! Let’s do this thing!”
That kind of intention is music to my ears.

Wondering about these kinds of things helps me. It gives me back a connectedness that comes from a respect for Linda’s process. It’s the going through ‘this and that,’ and more ‘this and that’ to finally take action that matters.

I think Linda’s going to enjoy playing guitar! And I’m ready if she is.