Joyous Abandon
It’s back to school time now that summer vacation is officially over! For me, it means returning to school after almost two years.
I look forward to being back in school, and actually speaking with my teachers and friends. It makes me realize that I missed the small moments of human interaction, the most, be it at school or the senior-care facility I volunteer at. I missed saying hello to the person sitting next to me in school or participating in the occasional impromptu sing-along at Cokesbury. I felt as if I was kept from an entire realm of possibilities and joys that these small moments of human interaction can reveal.
It will be hard to get back in the game, and open up to others. So, I am sharing a story close to my heart that will remind me to open myself to new experiences and take the time to form meaningful connections with the people around me.
When I played music for the residents at the senior-care facility, I didn’t think about what note I missed or the rhythm I messed up, because I knew I would never be judged. I could see how my music changed the focus for the residents. Residents who couldn’t recall their own names remembered with fondness old songs. Seniors who were normally taciturn, brought out with beaming pride, their own musical instruments to share with everyone. COVID-19 kept me away from these experiences; the only way I could keep in touch with the residents at Cokesbury was through virtual interactions. This experience too, taught me about the importance of personal connections and just how much I myself have missed them!
To me, music has always represented freedom and healing, and sharing that joy gives me true pleasure. It helps me form connections and overcome my own shyness when I meet someone new. As such, I was incredibly excited to participate in my school talent show and share my music with others. On opening night, all of the performers had gathered in the cafeteria for last-minute preparation. At that time, I noticed a slightly younger girl who appeared sad rather than happy. I asked her what was wrong and she quite readily revealed her stage-fright to me.
The next 15 minutes were stuffed with conversation around music and liberal doses of self- deprecating humor about my botched performances, including the time when my guitar pick fell inside the guitar, at the beginning of a performance!
I remember us laughing a lot! I did make it onstage soon myself, albeit minus my flute tune-up!I never got to see it but my mom told me later that the girl placed third with her performance; that it was her “joyous abandon” that truly made her performance memorable!
The girl whose name I never learned, actually gave me so much more than she will ever know - a timeless and priceless sense of happiness that I shall always cherish as I imagine her performing with “joyous abandon” on stage that day.
At times, it is the small moments of human connection that truly touch your heart and give you a timeless joy.
