Music for Music’s Sake!

The evening was full of anticipation and excitement. The hall was beautifully decorated, seating was roundtable. As we sat down, my friends and us, the waiter appeared from nowhere with tall glasses of refreshing lemonade. The singer had already started his initial numbers, invoking the Gods and Goddesses. As the concert moved along, the anchor of the show, who also happened to be the lead singer, started singing. I knew of her singing abilities, and also her shortcomings, beforehand as I had heard her before. I sat there, a little disappointed at the points where she was repeatedly going off key, wondering how I had paid for this off-tune singing, while I myself could have done a better job, etc. I glanced at my lovely friend sitting next to me. She was totally engrossed in the music, with a smile on her face, she seemed to be extremely happy to be there. I gave her quick looks when the singer went off-key. No. Nothing seemed to change her peaceful countenance. I turned back to the singer, not being able to tell her my point of view. I turned to the friend seated to my right. All I heard from her was, “She is a very good singer. Really good”, and I went, ‘Don’t you get it, AG, didn’t she go off tune just now, look! Now, and now! Every line where there is a not-so-high note, she is missing it!” Again, no agreement.

It was then that the lesson for the weekend dawned upon me.

Well, she did miss the notes. But while the others are enjoying the beauty of the music in its entirety, you are sitting there, calculating her misses? Wasn’t it an enjoyable experience in spite of some bad singing? Isn’t she confident enough to stand there, hold everyone in their seats and continue, despite mistakes? And your friends are enjoying the moment more than you! Look at the smile on their faces and look at the wince on your face whenever there is a flaw! In spite of your learning, you are sitting there hearing her, while she, in spite her shortcomings, has the floor to herself!
So, life’s lessons learnt –

(1) Ignore the flaws in things or people, enjoy them as a whole!
(2) If you are looking to showcase your talent, don’t wait to be perfect, just do it and improve your skills along the way!