| When I was 9 years old I played the Saxophone and | | | | Now, mind you, I loved this instrument. I loved the |
| thought I was pretty good at it. Unfortunately, I had a | | | | honking sound it made and the way it looked. I thought |
| teacher who didn't think so and he went out of his | | | | it was the coolest thing on planet Earth. But, getting |
| way to make sure I knew how he felt. | | | | that kind of criticism at such a young age destroyed |
| One day, my mother bought me a new saxophone (it | | | | my spirit and I soon found myself growing very |
| wasn't exactly new it was used) but to me, it was the | | | | disinterested in playing the Sax. |
| best gift I ever received. Now, of course, I wanted my | | | | Self-expression is a very personal thing. It's a thing that |
| teacher's approval and so I showed him my new | | | | brings joy and happiness and can die very quickly if it |
| instrument. | | | | is not protected and guarded from criticism. Even |
| He called it a piece of s---! | | | | though I was a child and fragile, it is the child part of us |
| Then the tears started to flow and from that moment | | | | that can become wounded if we allow others to walk |
| on, I lost all interest in playing the saxophone. | | | | over us - consciously or unconsciously. |