I go for guitar lessons. I think I am the oldest student
there. Older than the teacher. But of course younger than the mountains
as mentioned in some old song. There are kids, working people and me.
Then there is this kid who took up the lessons not to learn it. It is as if he is out there to teach a lesson as to why one should think twice about having kids. He doesn't have a shape. If he has a neck, he hides it well. His hair sticks out. He walks around all the time talking to anyone that will pay him the slightest attention. If attention is lacking, he tries hard to remedy the situation.
I am not good with kids. I keep my distance with them. So it was natural I eyed this particular kid wearily. He has the habit of coming and asking me time more than once every class. I dislike distractions. So I look him and give the time in the most formal way. A lot of looking and less of talking. He also becomes reflective, as if he is listening to a lecture in class on a difficult topic. Ah, before he ask his question about what time it is, he stand behind me and breath down my neck. Heavy breathing. How dare he try to make friends with me, who is around 40 years older than him?
Things got really sticky when he touched my guitar. I have a problem
with rage as it is. I can't shout at him or even hiss at him. I got over
all that in the past. I am angry at myself now. I give him one of those
looks which I have for special occasions like these. It makes people
unsure.
Later, I think about this and feel ashamed at my behavior. He is just a small kid and is NOT a threat to me. Why should I feel like this? He is not likely to be irritating me on purpose. If I get irritated and angry, it is because I can't control my own thoughts. Long story short, now I am friendly with the chap. I know his name and when he comes around for his 2 sentence dialogue, I give him 2 of my own. He takes time to think and answer but it is okay. I even asked him to play a song he learned (eventually) and gave him valuable feedback in the most gentle way. That his notes are all okay. He only needs to speed up just a tiny bit
And I don't feel irritated by him anymore. He is a little friend, of course kept at a little distance. God bless him.
.........................................................
I opened up about him in a negative way only to show that I was finding faults with him from the get go and that was also a big part of the problem.
Then there is this kid who took up the lessons not to learn it. It is as if he is out there to teach a lesson as to why one should think twice about having kids. He doesn't have a shape. If he has a neck, he hides it well. His hair sticks out. He walks around all the time talking to anyone that will pay him the slightest attention. If attention is lacking, he tries hard to remedy the situation.
I am not good with kids. I keep my distance with them. So it was natural I eyed this particular kid wearily. He has the habit of coming and asking me time more than once every class. I dislike distractions. So I look him and give the time in the most formal way. A lot of looking and less of talking. He also becomes reflective, as if he is listening to a lecture in class on a difficult topic. Ah, before he ask his question about what time it is, he stand behind me and breath down my neck. Heavy breathing. How dare he try to make friends with me, who is around 40 years older than him?
Things got really sticky when he touched my guitar. I have a problem
with rage as it is. I can't shout at him or even hiss at him. I got over
all that in the past. I am angry at myself now. I give him one of those
looks which I have for special occasions like these. It makes people
unsure. Later, I think about this and feel ashamed at my behavior. He is just a small kid and is NOT a threat to me. Why should I feel like this? He is not likely to be irritating me on purpose. If I get irritated and angry, it is because I can't control my own thoughts. Long story short, now I am friendly with the chap. I know his name and when he comes around for his 2 sentence dialogue, I give him 2 of my own. He takes time to think and answer but it is okay. I even asked him to play a song he learned (eventually) and gave him valuable feedback in the most gentle way. That his notes are all okay. He only needs to speed up just a tiny bit
And I don't feel irritated by him anymore. He is a little friend, of course kept at a little distance. God bless him.
.........................................................
I opened up about him in a negative way only to show that I was finding faults with him from the get go and that was also a big part of the problem.
