One time at my new job, I was given a bldg. and room name that needed help right now. The buildings were laid out roughly in a circle and the rooms were named after characters.

I had no idea where I was supposed to be, but the conference started in 20 minutes and I had to set it up. The clock was running and I made a choice:

Pick a direction and go fast. The faster I discover that the next room is the wrong one, the faster I’ll find the right one.

It was a near certainty that I wasn’t going to find what I was looking for right away, even if I took time to try to figure it out. Silicon valley business leaders call it “fail fast.” Start, keep going and then figure out what worked and what didn’t. Sometimes making plans will waste time.

I started a fail fast plan for myself this summer. I want to sing and play songs, and I felt unskilled and incapable. That seemed a sign to plow ahead and do whatever I can. I would love to have a cool band to play with, but why would anybody want to play with the aforementioned unskilled person I am? Plus, scheduling people is challenging.

The easiest thing was just to play and sing by myself. Personal goal: play and sing 100 songs. Do I even know 100 songs? I guess I better learn them.

I’ve been keeping up with it. I thought I had 33 done, which is one third the way through. It’s been a delight to talk with my family about the songs, and the things I’ve learned about the music and myself.

I took the time to make the list. I had to go through my Instagram and listen so capture the names. Two things were immediately apparent:

1. I had finished 35, not 33. Further towards the goal than I thought!

2. I am not happy with my performances. Cringe! Would that I could do justice to this music I love!

But what is not so immediately apparent? With these 35 songs, have I found a theme? Do I have a style? From my seat of cringe, I am judging that I only do easy songs. And maybe serious ones.

Since I chose whatever songs I thought I could learn quickly, easy makes sense. Don’t know about the serious part. Maybe serious songs are the ones that are easy.

Or maybe serious is what does well on piano. I am seeing I would like to practice my skills more and get better. Then the happy songs might come to me.

On the other hand, maybe I should assemble a playlist of tearjerking songs. That would be within reach. I’ll take requests or suggestions. Here’s the list of what I’ve got so far:

1. Someone like you by Adele

2. Rocket Man by Elton John

3. The Luckiest by Ben Folds

4. Piano Man by Billy Joel

5. Baker Street by Gerry Rafferty

6. Pennies from Heaven

7. Looking out my back door by Creedence Clearwater Revival

8. By the Waters of Babylon

9. By the Rivers of Babylon

10. Chasing cars by Snow Patrol

11. Nothing else matter by Metallica

12. Broken Wings by Mr. Mister

13. Vincent by Don McLean

14. Wicked Game by Chris Isaak

15. Hotel California by the Eagles

16. Star Spangled banner

17. Have I told you lately that I love you?

18. Riptide by Vance Joy

19. Iris by the Googoo dolls

20. Part of your world from little Mermaid

21. Sam Stone by

22. I’ll follow you into the dark Snow Patrol

23. I know there’s an answer by The Beach Boys

24. Nothing from Nothing by Billy Preston

25. Horse with no Name by America

26. Where the streets have no name by U2

27. Ordinary World by Duran Duran

28. Fields of Gold by Sting

29. Pompeii by Bastille

30. Reason to Believe

31. Missing by Everything but the Girl

32. People Get Ready

33. Love’s Divine by Seal

34. Hurricane by Neal Young

35. Let it Be by the Beatles

AND

36 Joy to the world by Three dog night

37 Silent night

38 HOly NIght

39 It came upon a midnight Clear

40 Rockin around the christmas tree

41 One by U2

42 Last Christmas by Wham!

43 Wonderwall by OASIS

44 Its Friday I’m in Love by the Cure

45 verything I do I do it for you

46 Raining in Baltimore

47 Last breath by Plain While Ts

48 Losing my Religion by REM

49 All of Me by John LEgend

50 Dont it make my brown eyes Blue

51 ‘ll be there for you (THe friends Song)

52 The River Knows your name by John Hiatt

53 Round Here by Counting Crows

54 Always on my Mind

55 Never been to spain by three dog night

56 Close your eyes by James Taylor

57 Drops of Jupiter by Train

58 high hopes

59 don’t stop believing

60 hand in my pocket

61 follow the sun

62 The Reason

63 Babylon by David Gray

64 Sound of Silence by Simon and Garfunkel

65 Where have all the flowers gone

66 istanbul not constantinople