I have never been one of those people who was "naturally good" at anything.
Okay, that's not true. I'm really good at stopping the gas gauge right on an even number, alphabetizing spice racks and laughing at fart jokes. But hey, everyone has their talents.
And in this world, some people are just.. naturally talented. We all know them, those people who can pick up anything and be an expert at everything from chess to water polo. I'm not sure why my examples of leisurely activities are based in 19th century England, but it is what it is.
Exhibit A:
I started learning to play the ukulele about a month ago. For the first two weeks, I tirelessly scoured the internet for tutorials and chord charts. I was consumed with learning to hold it, learning to strum and painstakingly memorizing chords. After about 2 weeks, I knew maybe 5 chords and one or two rudimentary songs. But hey, I was proud! That was more than I'd known two weeks before!
Well, one morning, my older brother Cameron was over at the house. He noticed Luella (my uke) sitting in the living room and asked if he could play it. Excited that he noticed, I acquiesced. He picks up the instrument and music just POURED out of it. I was shocked. It was like he was fucking Israel Kamakawiwo'ole. Now, I know what you're thinking: HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE!? Well, you see... Cameron is 0ne of those. Oh yes, Cameron is naturally good at everything.
I started learning to play the ukulele about a month ago. For the first two weeks, I tirelessly scoured the internet for tutorials and chord charts. I was consumed with learning to hold it, learning to strum and painstakingly memorizing chords. After about 2 weeks, I knew maybe 5 chords and one or two rudimentary songs. But hey, I was proud! That was more than I'd known two weeks before!
Well, one morning, my older brother Cameron was over at the house. He noticed Luella (my uke) sitting in the living room and asked if he could play it. Excited that he noticed, I acquiesced. He picks up the instrument and music just POURED out of it. I was shocked. It was like he was fucking Israel Kamakawiwo'ole. Now, I know what you're thinking: HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE!? Well, you see... Cameron is 0ne of those. Oh yes, Cameron is naturally good at everything.
Our mom disagrees. She says we all have our unique talents. But somehow Cameron's natural propensity towards music, sports, etc. has always seemed far more marketable than my rather impressive ability to pull out the correct amount of aluminum foil to cover a baking sheet.
Have faith! My central idea is not that there are two kinds of people in this world: The talented & the untalented. That would be a bleak fact to have to accept, no? Talent, my friends, is only half the battle.
AND THE NAME OF THE OTHER HALF!? DETERMINATION.
Ahahah, if only you could hear the moviefone voice in my head in which that statement is written. That big font should help.
Anyway, here's a video of me playing the ukulele. Because I was determined to achieve a mediocre, off-tempo version of an Ingrid Michaelson song with a too-long intro. AND, BY GEORGE, I'VE DONE IT.
Maybe some day I'll learn to sing and play simultaneously. Baby steps.
