Because I can

By Vidas Pinkevicius (get free updates of new posts here)

I was at the lunch recital today at Vilnius Cathedral. My colleague Agne Petruskeviciute played works of Tournemire, Marchand and others which I live-streamed on FB.

A couple of days before I suggested Agne would live-stream this event but she said others better do it. So I decided to be this "other". I did it while walking around the Cathedral. It's beautiful.

After the event my colleagues said they were following me with their eyes as I recorded it. They look strangely at me, something like I'm different species.

I can't help it. I see opportunities everywhere where they see limitations.

It doesn't mean I'm failure-proof. No, I make mistakes just as everybody else. In fact, I deliberately try to make MORE mistakes than them. 

Because I know that mistakes won't kill me. They only help me grow.

What does it take to have this optimistic mentality?

Maybe realization that life is short. Maybe understanding that each of us are given some talents which we shouldn't hide. Maybe the fear of not reaching my own potential. Maybe all of the above.

What about you?

When you have an opportunity to share your organ practice or performance, do you hide in fear or do you jump in right away? Or perhaps you get started no matter what you feel because it's the right thing to do, because you can?

Then when you get a message like this (from Victoria, our Total Organist student)...

​Dear Vidas and Ausra,

You are both professional and caring organists! Your encouragement is powerful and influential!  I have been gaining knowledge and confidence in organ playing through your help and harmony coaching program.  I hope I will continue to learn from you and advance in organ playing for God's glory! God bless you and your work! 

Victoria
From San Francisco, California 

...Then you see that it's not for nothing. That actually your work means something to people.

But the first step as always is to care. To care enough to make mistakes, to fall flat on your face, to make a fool of yourself.

​Because you can.