So, I met this blind boy. He is from an immigrant family and his dad speaks with a ridiculous accent. I think it was Eastern European, but I didn’t ask.

The boy speaks English fine. He plays the violin. He can’t see the music, so in order to play along with the orchestra, he has to memorize all of the music from Braile. And the measure numbers. And he has to feel the tempo. He can’t see the conductor, he can’t check his bowings with the concert master, and he definitely can’t see all of the other instrumentalists.

He’s in the All-State Orchestra. He’s also a really good pianist.

Think about what this boy has overcome. He can’t see. He comes from a family that doesn’t speak English well. He now plays the violin and the piano extremely well and speaks English fine.

Next time that you feel like you HAVE to do something, so you’re not going to try while you’re doing it, think about this boy. He wanted to play classical music and despite the fact that he couldn’t see the music or the instrument and no one in his family could help him with the English component of learning music, he is now amazing. If you’re not going to try, then don’t start. If you can only try for five minutes, then quit after five minutes. But don’t do something that you’re not going to try at.