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What's Stopping You?

The only difference between people who can play guitar and those who cannot is this: the people who can play guitar DO IT.
 
You can too!
Guitar lesson with a book of chords

I often wonder how many guitars are purchased each year only to be abandoned in the closet shortly thereafter. A guitar was meant to be played. Your guitar wants you to pick it up and play something... anything. When left alone for long periods of time, guitars get lonely. Please don't let your guitar feel neglected.

Think you don't have enough time?

If you want to do something inspiring in your life but feel that you don't have enough time, take a close look at the things that you do each week that are unfulfilling and stop doing them so you have more time to play guitar.

How much Netflix do you watch each week? How fulfilling are these TV shows for your life? Are you feeling inspired by them? Watch a little less Netflix and you can learn to play music instead.

How much time do you spend playing video games each week? Do you feel that you've learned something valuable in that time? What if you took just one of those nights that you play games and use that time to take guitar lessons instead?

I know some of you might say you need that time to "chill out," or to "unwind."  But trust me, playing guitar can be just as relaxing and it's ten times more rewarding.

Work less, play more

How much time do you spend at the office? How important is your job to you? What if you went home at 5pm instead of 6:30 and played beautiful music? Would your boss fire you for working standard hours? I doubt it.

 

If you think you would get fired for leaving work at a reasonable hour, you could try finding another job that allows you more freedom.

Some years ago I told a friend that it was my goal in life to work less and play guitar more. She laughed and called me lazy. But am I lazy if I love playing music so much that I will stay up until 3am playing guitar because I can't put it down? She now works very long hours at a job I don't believe she even likes. I know what I would choose.

Think you don't have enough money to take guitar lessons?

Take a closer look at where your money actually goes. I bet there are things you spend money on each month that are not nearly as valuable to you as guitar lessons would be.

How much money are you spending on your cellphone bill? Just because all that data is available doesn't mean you need it -- you might not even use it all.

How many subscription services do you pay for? Do you subscribe to any of those services that send you random products in the mail each month? Do you really need that many pairs of socks?

For most people this stuff is completely unnecessary. Don't fall for it. Ask yourself what's more important to you.

Stop upgrading all the "things" in your life and feed your soul instead. Do you really need a bigger TV? Do you really need a new car if the current one works just fine? Sure, some people will be impressed by all your fancy new "things," but everyone will be far more impressed if you can play guitar and you'll feel better for it, too.

 

When we buy new things we get a rush of excitement, but that feeling dies quickly after. Music never gets old. Most people who make a real commitment to guitar end up playing and loving music their entire lives. I have been playing guitar since I was eight years old and I still get butterflies in my stomach when I discover something new in music, play something beautiful, or create music of my own invention.

 

Have you ever heard anyone say, "I regret taking music lessons"?

Music is far more rewarding than most of the things we spend our money and time on. If you're thinking of taking music lessons, don't hesitate. Make a budget and commit to spending it on lessons with a good teacher. Set aside some time to get through the "beginner" stage. You won't regret it.

Somewhere there is a guitar waiting for you to pick it up. When you do, give me a call.

-- Blue Morris teaches guitar lessons in Vancouver. He has an in-home studio in the Artech building in East Van, an artist’s live-work building just off Main Street.

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