The joy of pipes and trivia

Yes, I am one of those people who still ring in New Year by making a resolution.  Can’t help it – I always look to a new year as a symbol of hope and change.  My resolution for 2011 – live a little.  Get out more, involve myself in activities outside of my comfort zone.    I actually started this quest in 2010 when my nephew and I began taking bagpipe lessons.  This past month, a little over a year after beginning the pipe lessons, I attended my first family ceilidh, at which I made my public debut by playing Amazing Grace with the pipe band.  I also took another step outside of my comfort zone and participated in a trivia contest – while only knowing one other person on the team of ten.  Yes, I know neither of these things sound like great accomplishments but for me they are huge.  I have never been one to put myself out there.  I prefer to stay right inside my own little bubble.

Now, while I was not dreading either of these activities, I was a tad bit nervous about each – and had a slight fear of looking like an idiot in front of a group of people I did not know and looking inept in front of people I did know.  Not that it would be the first time for either – but hey, why do it on purpose?  It turns out that each event was great fun. I knew more trivia answers than I thought I would (although I swear I still remember watching Jeremy Renner give an acceptance speech for his Best Actor win in “The Hurt Locker”) and I was able to play Amazing Grace with just a few minor errors that (hopefully) only I realized (and well, maybe my teacher).

I felt as though I made great strides this month.  My hard work and practice on the pipes paid off and ended up giving me a much needed boost of confidence.  And most definitely, the ample time and work I have spent over the past 30+ years of watching movies, listening to music, and paying attention to trivial facts also served great purpose. Even though our trivia team did not win big, I had small, personal victories. That is how I know life goes on…..and of course the movies that starred the Brat Pack.

My resolutions used to be the usual and mundane - lose weight, work to maintain my health, stop spending money, blah, blah.  While important, these resolutions usually fell by the wayside just after a month, if that.  I decided that to accomplish these goals, I needed to make an actual change from within – maybe by learning a new skill, taking up a new hobby or living my life instead of letting it fly past me.  Forget the fear of doing new things or meeting new people – get out there and take charge!!  Turns out that while the fear is still there, with each step I take, it diminishes and I am able to conquer the little things and enjoy life in the process.