Enduring Dedication

What happens when each day feels like a steady diet of epiphanies? Yesterday was signing a hundred books, some eighty of which the participants bought. Back in the good ole U.S.A., I often have an hour book-signing at one of the dealers at the AOSA Conference when a new book comes out. If I’m lucky, four people come by to get a signed copy. 

 

Then today, with one day left to go, the gifts started piling up. An instrument called a Hulusi, various scarves, two beautiful scrolls with profound poems inscribed with gorgeous calligraphy. Alongside, notes from a few people that felt like they captured an essence of me that I’m almost too flabbergasted to claim, but hope is true. With an eloquence that comes once or twice in a lifetime, if that. My cup is running over into flood proportions. 

 

Then today, before breaking for lunch, I demonstrated a jazz-rock drum rhythm for our next blues pieces, Watermelon Man. Coming back into the room, I heard someone killin’ it at the drums and imagine my shock when I saw it was an 8-year-old girl who had been in the workshop! Playing while the 10-year -old boy showed off his considerable hip dance moves. Amazing! When it came time to actually play the piece, I of course, hired her on the spot and him also as the “go-go dancer.” People, it doesn’t get much better than that! 

 

But it might! Given the general energy of the two groups I’ve taught, their fabulous musicality and quick learning, the sincere appreciation for both the music they’re learning and the way they’re learning it, anything can happen. I’m not expecting it— enough is enough. But I wouldn’t be surprised. 

 

The woman who gave me the scrolls gave rough translations of the two poems and compared her experience of my teaching with their meaning. Need I say how extraordinarily touching it is to feel seen and known for what I’ve attempted to be and do in this life? The two meanings:

 

• Lasting impact is not built overnight; it is achieved step-by-step through consistent, mindful and enduring dedication over a lifetime.

 

• The ocean becomes vast because it embraces every single stream, no matter how small. It represents a heart big enough to hold all cultures, ideas and people. 

 

 It seems like my enduring dedication, an effortless affection for that which makes me happy, has indeed paid off beyond my wildest dreams. To which I can only say 谢谢.  Xièxiè.