Practice makes better, perfection is an unhealthy goal

When I first started playing dulcimer my obsession drive me to practice five fours a day. I made very rapid strides, and people would be shocked to discover I’d only been playing a year. They were still shocked and impressed when it was two years, then three, but after ten years I lost that effect; I was expected to be good after a decade.

I’ve noticed that I’m getting impressed reactions again, now that I answer “almost 20 years“ when asked how long I’ve been playing. I’ve been puzzling through the phenomenon and I suspect it’s because having played 20 years makes it obvious that I’ve dedicated my life to the instrument.

People are fascinating.