THE STORY OF KEYS
âI wish I didnât do thatâ in her 20s, sighing, she said that to herself.
*FLASHBACK*
It was that time of the year, when monsoons were on its way and the children were enthusiastic because their schools were finally reopening after one month of summer break. She was promoted to fifth standard and was too excited to meet her friends & teachers, she looked forward to go to school and have fun. While she was preparing for the new academic year, her parents asked her to join piano classes as they desired their daughter must develop a skill and learn something new apart from her academics. Soon she started going for her classes, but she hated them to the core. No, her tutor wasnât strict, infact her piano tutor was the most soft-spoken and sweetest person she had ever met! No, it was not because she had piano classes every day, her tutor was kind enough for keeping them twice a week. It was also not because she found it stressful to manage both academics as well as extracurricular activities, she knew how to keep a balance. But, it was merely because she admired her friend a lot. She wanted to be an exact replica of her friend. Her friend was likeable by everyone, and so even our protagonist wanted to be- she wanted acceptance and love from those around her. She wanted to âfit-inâ and be desired by all. Her friend was good at dancing and did not know how to play piano, hence, our dear protagonist too wanted to be good at dancing and not learn the piano. But she wasnât good at dancing at all! Rather, she was good at understanding the musical notes, playing the keyboard smoothly and she could connect to the keyboard in a better way. Little did she know that each person is unique and has different gifts and talents. She could never be like her friend, and her friend could never be like her. She just couldnât understand how perfect she is!! But because she wanted to be like her friend, inspite of scoring pretty well in her first Trinity exam, she did not continue her piano classes.
Years passed by, and she grew. She grew not just physically, but now, she grew into a much-matured young lady. She wanted to understand herself more and love herself for who she is even if no one did it. And this shift in her life was remarkable! It surfaced the years of suppressed love towards piano. Her passion for piano grew. Being a Christian girl, she loved how piano helped her in intensifying her worship, how the melodious sound of a piano soothed her anxiety, how the touch of keys elevated her optimistic spirit and blurred out every negativity. She came to a point, where, even if you woke her up at midnight and asked her to play something for you, sheâd do that happily. Her love for keyboard increased and she understood that this was her strongest point! She wanted to learn more and develop her skills, but it was late. She couldnât manage both her academics as well as piano classes. She didnât know how to give equal attention to both the sides.
âI wish I didnât do that,â in her 20s, sighing, she said that to herself.
âI wish I continued back then,â she thought. Well, but that never stopped her from learning things on her own and improving herself by observing other pianists around her. Though she may not be at par with others, but she is definitely far better than what she used to be!
And this is a small yet a very significant chapter of my life. As I unwrapped myself and loved the way I am, it eventually led me to fall in love with the Keys. A journey of self-acceptance, self-love, which ultimately led to self-discovery. Iâve been playing keyboard for 10 years now, and it still excites me every time I play it. Keyboard/Piano is not just an instrument for me, but it is a part of me. I call it as my best friend â someone whoâs seen me cry as well as be joyous, seen me at my lowest and at my highest, through the thick & thin always stood by me, never judged or mocked at me, simply allowed me to be lost in the experience of a magical peace that it has to offer. I wonder what Iâd do without a keyboard. I recall, there was a phase when I told myself that Iâd marry a guy who would propose me with a grand piano. Of course, I no longer have that demand, lol! But yes, my love for the Keys has increased with every touch and every second I play it.
I am reminded of a phrase that someone once told me, âeverything in this world has a rhythm.â I believe that everyone has a unique gift and talent resonating within them. It just takes us to identify our unique rhythm that lies within us and consciously walk towards it, to become a dynamite!! No two individuals can be compared, no two talents, instruments as well as the rhythm of an individual justifies comparison â because everyone and everything is unique, special and beautiful in their own way.
Pause for a second and think of those things you left halfway or never started something that really interested you, only because you wanted to be like someone else or you wanted to âfit-inâ a group. Take the first step today towards unwrapping yourself from the chains of conformities. Love yourself and discover a little more about yourself! Because isnât it amazing, that there was never and there can never be another you!! The world has YOU for the FIRST TIME EVER, make the best of it!!!
