Monday Moment - Rock Band Aspirations

For the past dozen years or so, I’ve traveled to Florida in early August to work with my good friends at Executive Edge on a program that helps Ernst & Young student interns learn about teambuilding in this impressive firm. Working on this program always bends my mind in new and interesting ways – whether it’s the work itself (quite unlike what I do the rest of the year), the vastly interesting folks on the Executive Edge team, or this one time I dip my toes into the corporate culture of an enormous global industry.

Since my older sister, brother-in-law, and two nieces, 3 great-nieces and a great-nephew all live within shouting distance of this program I always plan an extra day or two to hang out with my fam – and this year, they gave my mind – and fingers, and eyeballs – a little bending too!

From about 10PM-2AM on the evening I arrived, our younger generations tutored me on the nuances of playing Rock Band. If you’ve not yet discovered Rock Band or Guitar Hero, then you may not understand just how ineptly I was tutored. I guess you should just trust me on this. Or ask my fam because they’d certainly testify that I am really, really bad at this game! I’m holding out the hope that anyone who plays for the first time would be equally as bad – but I’m not certain that such a hope is justified.

I’ve had a lot of curiosity about Rock Band and Guitar Hero because what I’ve read and heard indicate that they aren’t your typical video games. But I hadn’t had any first-hand experience until I visited a 22-year-old’s apartment and requested a demonstration. I’m just guessing that this young man and his roommate have logged hours and hours on Guitar Hero – and that they both have more natural musical and/or rhythmic ability than I. Their expert level demonstrations helped me get the gist of the process – but mostly left me awed and intimidated.

They insisted I try my hand on the guitar – and heaped on encouraging words as I missed more notes than I hit. “You were on the right notes,” said one. “It was just your timing that was off.” “It helps if you know the song,” said the other, assuming I was hearing Pat Benatar for the first time. It didn’t really help me all that much to know the song.

So when the kids in my fam wanted me to play Rock Band, I had my doubts. They tend to think I’m just a little cooler than I really am – a rumor I hate to dispel. So even though my lack of ability was fully anticipated – by me and by them – I thought, why not? And the evening turned out to be a lesson – in humility certainly, but also in stretching beyond one’s comfort zone.

The only way one grows is to stretch and try new things. Even – and maybe especially – when we know we’ll be unsuccessful at something new. Though I far prefer to be good at what I attempt, playing Rock Band reminded me that it’s okay – and actually lots of fun - to be inept!

Of course, when one is faced with potential ineptitude, it helps to be in supportive company. They put me on bass, helped me learn how to select EASY, and laughed at their own challenges at least as much as they laughed at mine. And we all had fun!

Playing Rock Band with my fam is just one reason why there was no Monday Moment last week. Stretching beyond one’s comfort zone almost guarantees that time flies away. May you have some similar – and fun – stretching moments in the week to come!