Make Me Over

My horoscope today says that I am "currently demystifying the concept of talent." Meaning, that I'm finally seeing that there are some things you can do, and you can do better, if you have the guts, the heart, and the determination to learn and improve. It's not all about predisposition. That, of course, is all relative still.

Like, at this point, I believe no amount of hard work can make me learn to play the piano like Alicia Keys. She's just released her new album, As I Am. You can listen to tracks here. Some may find her overrated, but I've watched her live and I really enjoyed her performance then. I've always preferred singers who write their own songs and are also instrumentalists over those who are just plain divas. Anyway, I think I'm getting beside my own point now.

So here's one for improvement and improvisation. At a badminton court last Sunday, a regular playmate told me that it only takes perseverance (her word: tiyaga) to up one's level in the game. I agreed, of course. For the last two years, I've been adding a lot of that particular trait to enthusiasm. Not always easy when you get ignored or make fun of by higher-level players. But it's all part of the experience. In the end, it's all just a game. Everybody goes home back to their own lives where no one is keeping score. The funny thing is, before I did go home, I got some unsolicited makeover advice. In the spirit of self-improvement, I'm thinking about doing something about it soon.