So, long ago I was told...

[rbnyc]

...that if you want to be a better musician you have to play with people who are better than you. I’ve found that to be true about lots of things. I’ve repeated this often lately, as my husband has begun to kick my ass at scrabble, and as my son is learning about so many things at the same time. However, I thought about this in a new way tonight. It’s not just about seeking people who “play better than you” and putting yourself in that environment. It’s also about knowing that everyone – seriously everyone – plays something better than you. If you figure out what that is in all of the people around you, you can probably grow in areas you weren’t even paying attention to.

[rbnyc]

1. Well, Duh!

I'm reading this again, and I'm thinking, "Well, duh!" I mean this is pretty rudimentary. It’s funny how often it is that an obtuse thing seems like a revelation.

But, I think that happens out of necessity. Maybe, I didn’t actually forget that some people are good at some things and other people are good at other things, and that there’s something to learn from everyone. But it’s kind of like something in your house that you walk by 20 times a day until you don’t even see it anymore. These obvious fundamentals like “everyone has value” become invisible if they don’t sometimes feel like revelations and you remember to keep them in practice.

Edit: cut a redundant word.

[BlueJazz]

2. Yep...It's hard to advance if you never hear or see or feel something better....

...(or even different) ..than what you're used to..

That's what the talented and the gifted give this world. :)