"I Did What It Took To Get By"

As I went to write a blog post last night to express some thoughts that have been on my mind lately, I found a blog post that I started to write a year ago. The funny/weird/coincidental thing is that these are some of the same thoughts that I have been having lately.

The following is what I had written a year ago:

"Sometimes you don't realize how blessed you are at a young age.  Tonight I was reminded of just how blessed I am.

I have been very fortunate to have many wonderful people as role models throughout my life-even when I didn't realize it.  As I stood talking with three of my four trumpet teachers tonight, I realized that I've had some amazing teachers. I realized that I have the ability to be an amazing trumpet player and musician...

I've been very blessed that for the 10 years that I have played trumpet, I have also been able to take private lessons.  I never realized how lucky I was to be able to study privately until I went to college..My parents provided me with the tools to become successful...but I didn't take advantage..I did what it took to get by."

My, oh, my.  How true these thoughts are still today. I have really been thinking about the last line: "I did what it took to get by."  Sometimes life gets stressful, and we aren't able to practice like we want to...but if we have a sense of control in our life, then does life have to pan out this way??? I think this statement applies to how I have approached things the past few weeks..I did the minimum of what needed to be done, just to survive and get by. But I'm not happy with 'just getting by'...so I need to remember this as I finish out the semester.

In regards to the statement mentioned above, I started thinking about how one of my teachers would remind me that even though I did what it took to get by, I always put in the work when it was needed...I mean, I guess that's good in a way..but why would I want to be average...because as another teacher once told me: the world would be boring if everyone was average/normal.

The last two weeks before break were extremely busy, but also very motivating.  Motivating in the sense that I have been super excited about music therapy...but then, in-turn, I have pushed the trumpet more to the side..and I don't like that fact..because both music therapy and the trumpet are important to me. These two things make me who I am. I know that I don't want to be great at one or the other...I'm an over-achiever, and I want to be great at both..

The problem with wanting to be great at both is that I have to find a balance between the two..but to be honest, I don't think that I will ever fully have the 'balance' of the two figured out. In a way, this is what keeps me intrigued, interested, and motivated. But in another way, this is what makes me frustrated and want to quit...

SO, here's to me continuing my adventure of attempting to find a balance between the things that I love. I want to say thank you to everyone who has supported me and continues to support me as I follow my dreams. I couldn't do it without all of you.