A few years ago, I attended a talk given by the very famous sister and brother team, Patricia and Robert Fripp. Patricia Fripp is a well-known professional speaker and Robert Fripp is a famous world-class guitar player and the former leader of the British rock band, King Crimson. One of the stories Robert shared touched me deeply and continues to provide me with great guidance and understanding. I do not recall the exact quote, so kindly excuse my paraphrasing:
“When I perform live, I am always good, occasionally I am great, once in a while I suck and if I am truly blessed I experience magic.”
Robert is a very accomplished and successful musician, so he knows he is good. He also knows that sometimes he experiences greatness. He tempers that with knowing that on rare occasions he just might not be the best he can be. But that most prized experience—when all the stars are aligned, the angels are present, the muse is visiting and the audience is completely with you—is when magic happens. He said he doesn’t understand it, and has stopped trying to make it happen. He is just present to it when it is happening and grateful for the experience.
This is true for me also. I have been doing live speaking performances and teaching customer service for over twenty years. It has been long enough for me to know that for the most part when I perform it will be good. I too wish I could figure out how to create the magic, or even greatness. But since I can’t, I just have to appreciate the magic when it appears.
It is like that off stage as well. If we set out with the intention to do our best, the best that we can possibly do in that moment, most of the time we will have good experiences. Sometimes we have great ones, other times things suck, and if we are lucky, we do things and meet people and create experiences that are magical.
I sign off with this recommendation: Stay aware and if the magic muse graces you, stay grateful. That is really the best that you can do.
Magic muse, another great Holly word. Love it!