Most of us take our systems personally. We're proud of our achievements. We've worked hard learning, listening, and setting up. It's the rare music lover that doesn't feel a sense of pride and accomplishment. I think that's awesome, and I'll be the first to bust my buttons over the performance of Music Room One.
But taking things personally comes with a certain amount of risk. Risk that what you've done might be criticized, or talked about behind your back. Sneered at. Worst of all laughed at. That kind of fear can be debilitating, drawing us back into our protective shell, sharing what we have with only selective "safe" friends.
And that is too bad.
It's taken me years to rise out from under the protective cover of selective sharing for fear of critical comments. And still, I am nowhere near immune. But at least I happily share the experience with anyone and everyone that comes our way. And that's good enough for me.
I know it's hard not to take things personally because it's the personal care and attention that makes our systems what they are. The trick is to find a way to generously show and share it with as many people as possible.
Why? Because what we have, what we do, what we love, is rare and special.
It's music and that has always been better when shared.
