That 20 years, 14 hours a day figure of speech...

Oh so many of them keep saying this. And I used to get pissed off, still do. Whenever someone wants to make a statement that his point of view is "THE" point of view. I've been playing the guitar for the last 20 years. Or it would go like I've slogging it out for 14 hours a day!

Well I've had my fill of this. Sure you have a point of view. But learn to hear the other side as well and maybe there's an element of truth in that as well? So you claim you "slogged"it out and you feel cheated cause you ain't got what you thought you would get. Hey, the other side might've just simply been "BORN" with it. No need to do what you do, you 20 years, 14 hours a day mothball!

That said, sure practice and that too regular practice and repetition is needed to get your skills and awareness of music "in". But hey, that's not good, if its at the cost of enjoyment. To qualify it one further step, this is valid only you've gone past the beginner stage. When you've just picked up the guitar everything seems like endless pain till you get over that first step. Its like taking that first step to walk for a baby. Once its over, you figure out the rest and start walking, running ...

It takes maturity to "learn" to enjoy music after a while. I am learning it hard way. Currently stuck in the rigor mode and unable to enjoy listening to music. That anal feeling of analysing takes over the enjoyment. Sometimes, I do feel, that the earlier days were better when I could enjoy just letting of myself listening to music. Not knowing what's being played, but enjoying what I was hearing.

Wonder how I can train my mind to understand the mix of learning and pleasure without losing my self into this fire of learning and acquiring serious skills. I do know for sure, the day I start enjoying it is the day I will really play to my best all the time... Tad philosophical, but that's the door to freedom.