09/08/2026
A lovely patient actually convinced me to bring this piece back out of hiding!
I talked to a patient this past week who was a retired pianist. Though she kept on complaining of how her hands were too slow now and that her ability to read music was fading, I saw someone completely different. It was obvious to me that this woman was profoundly talented in both music theory and technical skill, and it surprised me how she refused to create music if she thought it was imperfect. After convincing her to start playing again without judgement, I realized the irony of what I had said to her.
As we were talking about our favorite composers and old hobbies, I realized that I too no longer played clarinet because I deemed my skills imperfect, and I had a graveyard-like closet of old drawings and paintings I thought were not fit to be framed or put on a wall for similar reasons! After talking to her, I knew it was time for change.
This is my portrait of Gustav Holst, the original, untouched and unframed drawing, made 7 years ago in charcoal. He’s remained hidden in my closet because, as my skills improved and my eyes changed, I couldn’t stop criticizing his forehead symmetry and facial features. I kept it hidden because I didn’t feel like a “master” yet.
But I’ve learned that you shouldn’t give up because you’re not a master yet. And you also shouldn’t shy away from the progress you’ve made either. Art is fun! Music is fun! Life is too short to deny yourself the jollity of being a beginner in something you love. And who knows? Maybe someday it’ll amount to something beautiful, not just in the final product, but in the time spent creating it.
Here’s to more art in our lives.
