On Pins and Needles – and Banana Bread

This is a time of year that is full of potential.  Winter seems to be over, mostly, and spring has started to show hints of what lies ahead in the little buds on the trees, but it’s still raw outside.  We know that the blooms are coming and we know we will have warmer weather, but we just can’t feel it yet – on most days.  For many students of music, this is also a time of feeling the potential of what lies ahead but not knowing exactly HOW everything will unfold.  They are done with their auditions and waiting to hear back from their school of choice, or summer festival of choice, or waiting to get the details of aid packages.

For those of us who are past our official student days, there are plenty of other big things yet to happen that can cause us real stress and worry.  We would rather know NOW how things are going to happen.

Dealing with the unknown has never been my strong suit, but it is a big part of our existence as human beings.  What do we do with this little period of time when everything is up in the air? When we have done what we can and the results are out of our control?  When we are waiting with bated breath to see how things are going to turn out?

My husband says:  Bake banana bread.  And I tend to agree!  That is how we often deal with it, actually – taking time for the little enjoyable things of life.  We are making banana bread as I write this. (Full disclosure: HE is making banana bread as I write this).

But seriously, I think that one of the greatest comforts in life is the knowledge that you gave your best efforts during the time when there WAS something you could do to influence the outcome of your goals.  That being said, there’s always something to learn from the process, and it’s a good idea to take stock of everything you did (in a kind way, of course!) so that you can use that information in the future.

Also, the recognition and determination that you are going to be fine no matter what can go a long way toward easing worries.  Life really is far more about what we bring to our situations than the situations themselves.  And sometimes when we don’t get something we want, it can turn into another opportunity that we never would have imagined possible otherwise.  The key is to stay open and unhardened – always with a vision of what could be.

When it comes down to it, during these times of suspension and limbo, we have no choice but to make of it a huge exercise in trust.  Trust in yourself and your ability to always move forward – and develop a trust in the bigger shape of your life, and in the possibilities of the things that are not yet seen.

And banana bread REALLY helps.