Expectations

Growing up I was allowed to follow my heart. 

When I wanted to play the piano, or saxophone, violin, or oboe, nobody said you must become very good so that you can make a living at it someday.

The same was true of learning a foreign language and sewing, riding a bike, playing tennis and reading books. I was never encouraged to focus on just one thing because it would be financially profitable.

Once I was grown up and married I thought I had been short changed. Someone should have made me play recitals and continue on when I wanted to switch interests. Then perhaps I would have been a great pianist, or world class seamstress.

Or not.

As it was I was pretty happy with myself until my husband began pointing out all the people who could do things better than I could. He was good at making money and making people feel badly about themselves. I was only good at enjoying my life.

For a long while I felt terrible about that, but now I don't.

Not everyone will be Yo Yo Ma, but nobody will keep Yo Yo Ma from being himself. I think that is true about most of us. If we are exceptional at something, it will pan out. 

Being able to bounce back from sadness, loss, or abuse time after time speaks to a skill that makes life worth living. There is no big paycheck on your deathbed that validates giving up everything in order to successful, but there is a sense of satisfaction and well being that comes from doing what you love.