After nine years at the same job, I lost it. It was a tough time. I was very ignorant about how to look for work. I applied to jobs and got no responses. If only someone would interview me!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With persistence and practice I started getting requests for interviews. At last! That longed-for goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During that job hunt and the others that followed, I developed a policy: say yes. Any interview any time. Yes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This encounter with a hiring manager cannot be simulated or practiced except by doing it. Sure, I can talk to a mirror or even have a friend playact with me. It\u2019s not the same. It cannot be replicated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Last night I fulfilled a dream of playing music with others. I\u2019ve been practicing alone, remembering when I would perform with others. My keyboard, with the guitars, drums and bass.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more than a year I\u2019ve been longing to join some others. I\u2019s gotten an invitation to join some musicians. I was so excited! I packed my keyboard and stand and got there too early.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That\u2019s how eager I was.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There was socializing, eating and drinking. I was having some great conversations but I was tapping my foot to get to the music making.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone started to tune her guitar and I started to set up my keyboard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I discovered\u2026.i forgot the power cable<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Devastion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My friend pointed to the piano. Gulp<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not my instrument. The feel was different. The sound was a bit off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I picked out some notes, then I chose a song and started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And the dam fell. All the musicians around me joined in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I wasn\u2019t ready!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The song was going and I didn\u2019t know my way through it. Was I reading that chord right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It sounded wrong but the song was going, and everyone had joined it. I couldn\u2019t\u2019 back out now, the song was flowing like water down a cliff. I could hear my instrument and the guitar next to me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I didn\u2019t know it but two other guiltars\u2014three!\u2014had joined in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It has happening, I was doing it. I was doing it badly with every wrong note ringing in my ears and it was ok. As long as I didn\u2019t panic and give up. Don\u2019t stop before the end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I didn\u2019t stop. We didn\u2019t stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nothing like that moment. No machine, no simulation. That moment of humans interacting and creating was exactly what I wanted. It was overwhelming and terrifying. It\u2019s what I want.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I want it again and I want to do it better next time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I had to say yes and step off the cliff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This moment, this present is the only one. I am even more committed to the policy of yes.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
After nine years at the same job, I lost it. It was a tough time. I was very ignorant about how to look for work. I applied to jobs and got no responses. If only someone would interview me! With … Continue reading