Finding Your Note
by Steve Goodier
A short story by William Saroyan is titled "The Man Whose Wife's Hair Was Too
Long But Whose Understanding of Music Was Too Short." If you think the title
strange, listen to this:
In the story, a husband plays the cello and never changes notes. He just
continues to repeat the same note without variation.
His wife is driven to distraction and finally protests: "Why do you play the
same note over and over and over again? Other cellists play different notes."
"Other cellists play different notes," her husband replies, "because they are
trying to find the right one. I've found mine."
I'm thankful I don't live with a person like him.... But he does touch on a
universal truth. There is something beautiful about finding your note in life.
We sometimes call it finding your purpose or discovering what you were meant to
do or be.
Philosopher James Allen advised, "Above all be of single aim; have a legitimate
and useful purpose, and devote yourself unreservedly to it." It's about cause
and effect. A life without cause is a life without effect. Or put another way, a
person not devoted to a cause will have little effect on the world. It begins
with finding the right note.
I like the way Helen Keller said it: "Many persons have a wrong idea of what
constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification, but
through fidelity to a worthy purpose."
Are you finding your note?
Steve Goodier
Publisher@LifeSupportSystem.com is a professional speaker, consultant and
author of numerous books. Visit his site for more information, or to sign up for
his FREE newsletter of Life, Love and Laughter at
http://LifeSupportSystem.com.