wreaths over america 2017

This past weekend we participated in Wreaths Over America. I am so glad you girls are open to all these new experiences. I want you to always appreciate how blessed we are, and lend a helping hand when needed. I hope we make this a yearly tradition. Also...points for dad for showing up and surprising y'all. He drilled this weekend, but still made it out to be with us.

winter piano recital 2017

I want to tell you something, and I want you to always remember this. YOU are your biggest competition, no one else! Let me tell you why I'm saying this...

You've worked your butt off for this. I mean...practiced, practiced, practiced. For months, all we've heard was Peter Peter and I'm a Fine Musician. You did GREAT in your performance. You were focused and played the hell out of your pieces (even with the dog walking around. I mean, what was that!?!?). You knocked it out of the park. You were SO HAPPY. You should've seen the look on your face: total pride and joy. 

This recital, they had the beginner players start off then progressed to the more advanced ones. A few students after you, a little girl (about your age) goes up, and she plays beautifully...also knocks it out of the park. Immediately, I look over to you and your whole face had dropped. No more smile, just defeated. For the rest of the recital, you just faked it. You thought no one saw you, but I did. The recital ended, and we all took pictures of you and congratulated you. Ok so, look up at the three pictures above. The middle one is before you played, look how happy you were. The 2 to the sides were after, clearly you were faking it. 

I let everyone have their moments you, meanwhile seeing the discomfort in your face. When it was finally my turn I asked you to come to the restroom with me, and said "I know, baby." Immediately, you started crying. I held you in my arms for a few minutes and just let you let it all out. It was all I could offer you at that moment, arms to cry in. What else could I do? What else could I offer? I felt FOR you. Not because you did bad (which, you didn't), but because you thought she did better (which, she didn't). I then proceeded to tell you something along these lines:

You are gifted. You are enough, and, you are second to no one. 

With that being said...yes, you are gifted....but you also have to put in the work. Don't ever let this gift fool you into thinking that things will always come easy to you, they might not. I don't want them to. Do not assume you are always going to be the best. No matter how good you are, assume there's someone else better. Do NOT shy away from things that are challenging in favor of what comes easy to you.  Your greatest achievements will come from conquering goals you thought were unattainable.

Yes, you are enough. You are MORE than enough. Even when the day comes that someone is "better" than you, you will be enough. You are more than enough for me, and one day I hope that you will learn to be enough for you. This is easier said than done, I know. But in a time where it sometimes seems like the odds are stacked against you, believe in yourself. Always bet on you, because I always will.

Do not let someone else's spotlight make you feel like yours doesn't shine as bright. They are not your competition. Future Isabella is your competition. Think about the person you ultimately want to become...then be better than her.

You're so advanced for your age that I don't think you've had to face a real challenge when it comes to your peers. This was a great lesson, and one that I'm glad you've learned. Take this feeling of inadequacy and turn it into something positive, something that drives you to succeed (whatever the goal may be). By the same token, do not measure your value based on anyone else's success. You are not her. She is not you.

I can't stress enough how proud I am of you. Let me say that again (for the people in the back. haha!): I am proud of YOU. I am proud of who you were yesterday, who you are today and even more of who you will be tomorrow. I am lucky that you are mine because of WHO you are. The rest...it's all extra, kiddo. 

Love you.