What’s something you’ve always wanted to try but haven’t? Maybe it’s learning a new language. Maybe it’s getting up on those tricky water skis. Or maybe it’s writing the novel that’s been brewing within you.
For me, it was learning the violin. My small-town school didn’t have an orchestra, so the clarinet and piano were my staples throughout high school. But I’d always wanted to learn how to play the violin. There was just something about its lyrical tone and enchanting vibrato that drew me to it.
But here’s my next question: What’s stopping you from trying that new thing?
For a lot of people, it’s the fear that they won’t be good at it from the get-go. Me too. As a lifelong pianist who had grown accustomed to being able to pound out a musical number upon first sightread, I had forgotten what it meant to actually put in the reps to produce a polished piece. Because, truth be told, I hadn’t “practiced” in years. But picking up a violin would mean going back to square one.
So, what else is holding you back?
Maybe its finances. Let’s be honest: A lot of hobbies and activities require quite an investment. I learned that the hard way when I took up knitting (skeins . . . skeins everywhere). But in today’s day and age, you can find so many free lessons online, it’s ridiculous. And there’s usually a pretty cheap alternative to the high-quality tools if you just want to get your feet wet before fully committing.
The first violin I got—a magnificent, sparkly, ebony instrument—was around $100. Definitely the low end of the quality pool when it comes to violins. But it came with everything I needed to get started and learn the basics until I had the means to upgrade.
Now, you might protest, citing the reason that it’s too late in your life for you to learn new things.
Well, there are so many examples of why that’s simply not true. Susan Boyle was 48 when she belted out “I Dreamed a Dream” for Britain’s Got Talent and blew everyone’s minds. Harland Sanders (y’know, the colonel who created Kentucky Fried Chicken) franchised the restaurant when he was 62. And Anna Mary Robertson Moses, a delightful artist known as Grandma Moses, started painting when she was 78 years old!
Moral of the story? It doesn’t matter what age you are. You can always try something new.
Now, I think one of the biggest reasons we don’t take the plunge is just that—we don’t take the plunge. We keep mulling it over and keep muttering, “I’ll do that eventually,” but we don’t do it eventually. We use all of the reasons I mentioned above to get out of committing.
But what if you just decided? What if you just said, “I’m going to do it,” and then did it?
My desire to learn the violin followed me through college and into my first apartment on my own. After a couple years, I realized something. I was an adult. I had a paying job. I could make my own decisions. If I wanted to sign up for music lessons, I could. The only thing stopping me was my excuses. So I just decided one day. I got that beautiful, cheap violin and enrolled in lessons at my local music store. And I had a blast! Sure, I wasn’t perfect. I didn’t have the most expensive violin. But I did it.
So, what’s something you’ve always wanted to try but haven’t? It’s time to go try it.
Jessica Sly grew up immersing herself in the books of her school and church libraries—soaking up the adventure, the romance, the fantasy, and the history. These creative worlds, characters, and plots stoked her own imagination and fueled her dream to become an author.
A member of ACFW, Jessica is a 2020 ACFW Genesis Award winner and is the winner of the 2020 Mountain Brook Fire Award. Her upcoming debut novel, The Promise of Deception, dives into Edwardian England in the midst of Irish-English conflict—wrapping readers in mystery, magicians, murder, and a speculative twist. It’s slated for a December 2021 release.
To get updates on her writing process and other shenanigans, you can connect with her on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest, or sign up for her newsletter here. She’d love to hear from you!
