ten thousand hours

I've mastered very few skills in my life thus far. The "problem": my darling parents gave me the opportunity to try lots of things, so I did a bit of everything. I played piano, softball, and field hockey. I attended art camps, writing classes, and dance rehearsals. I sang in the chorus and performed in school plays. I was active in VIF (Valhalla International Fund) and Spanish club. Oh, and I was a Girl Scout, until the age of 18. Because of those many extracurricular activities though, I never had a chance to focus on any one in particular. I'm mostly okay with that. It set the stage, so to speak, for a dynamic interest set (and made for an entertaining yearbook biography). Yet it's also left me in complete awe of those who have dedicated years to becoming one of the best at... something.

Like, Macklemore, for instance. He's positively amazing in concert. I know this because I saw him and Ryan Lewis perfom live at Le Zénith two weekends ago, just strides away from the lawn I practiced yoga on this past summer. They opened with "Ten Thousand Hours." Please enjoy it as much as we obviously did. And forgive me for the obnoxious howling :). Consider it proof of a great time?

Lara, Tatenda, and I spent four hours on a Sunday night dancing like crazies and singing our little hearts out. Still, it's worth noting that I was most impressed by the content of Macklemore and Ryan Lewis' music--real issues and tangible opinions. Take "Ten Thousand Hours": inspired by Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers. (Random fun fact: I quickly skimmed through it on a Boston trip 3 years ago). Within it, he attributes roughly 10,000 hours of practice as the key to any success. "Achievement is talent plus preparation.” It may not always be applicable, but if that's what it took for Macklemore and Ryan Lewis to produce The Heist, it definitely works.

So, it's extra incredible how long my cousins have been practicing. They've spent their entire lives cultivating their creative talent. Recently, they released their collaborative passion project, "Humble Beginnings", and I couldn't be more proud of nor impressed with Dylan and Bianca Golden. Way to go, familia! Share it with your network, stp? They deserve all the success in the world.

As for me, I don't mind being a "grown-up" with an appreciation for yellow bouncy balls for now ;). Mastery in _________ to come.