Comparisons (#sol23 Day 10/31)

I generally make attempts to stay away from comparisons, especially those that focus on differences and result in me (or others) feeling crummy about present circumstances.

However…

Today has been the kind of day that highlights the other types of comparisons that have the ability to find similarities, weave connections, illuminate conversations, and build understanding.

Like this morning while I was snuggled under the couch blanket on yet another stupid sick day, Mike was talking to me about wanting to learn more finger picking techniques on the guitar, rather than only using a pick. Our musical conversation grew from there. Now, I’m not a guitar player but I do have a fair amount of knowledge about and love for music, its inner workings across instruments, and its ability to hit us right in the feels. Our conversation about technique, goals, impact, and nuance led my brain to make some comparisons:

• Simplicity is a part of Mike’s love of the guitar, just like it is for running. I compared the lack of a need of a pick to make music to the lack of any fancy equipment needed for running. If you have your guitar and your fingers, then you’re good to go. If you have your sneakers and your feet, then you’re good to go.
• We compared the guitar quiver to a ski quiver. If you play this particular acoustic guitar with your fingers and not with a pick, then you’re not going to get the full intended sound out of it. It’ll still work but not to the maximum sound and tone potential for which it was created. If you are on a pair of, say, Blizzard skis and you’re skiing pretty casually and not staying totally on top of them, then you’re not going to get the full intended rebound and response from that particular pair of skis.

Any time my brain can use what it already knows to connect with someone else about their passions in ways that bridge each of our unique emotional and cognitive offerings and bring us closer together?

Yes, please!