Television and Talent

Tonight, I spent roughly 3 hours watching some silly reality show called The Sing-Off.
Why? Why waste my precious break hours with televised nonesense?

Because I like talent. I love watching people be excellent at the things they love.

When I was a wee child of about 10 or 11, (okay, so, about a decade ago, not a terribly long time but work with me), I started playing piano. I didn't practice. And, by I didn't practice, I mean mother dearest could bribe me with every incentive known to candyloving-materially-minded-easily persuadable child sized ears known to man and it made no difference.
I liked to play, but I had no desire to practice. (But really, find me a kid who does...prodigies don't count they aren't wired like the rest of us to flock to N64's and social interaction).

The Sing-Off is an a capella singing group competition. Sounds boring right? It isn't. It blows my mind. A guy whose voice is the epitomy of cool, an old R&B-style guy that owns half the a capella industry on a comeback, some downhome southern boys, and a chick who beatboxes light up this show. (Let's not overlook Yales' penguin suited Wiffenpoofs, some jazzy music teachers, 15 guys who sound like Lady Gaga, and high school kids being a real life glee club)

I'll bet you these folks like to practice.
My teachers always told me: "Kelsey, now if you'd just sit down and practice you'd be amazing. You've got some talent in you, that's for sure, but just think if you practiced." I didn't listen for quite some time.

Want to know what made the difference? Passion.

I said I liked talent. To be completely honest...I lied. I like passion.
Those music groups had me wanting to clap when they finished. I can't even pick a favorite because I want them all to win. I caught myself literally leaning towards the screen of my laptop in anticipation as I waited for them to kick a group off the show. All because their passion is evident in their faces and their performance. They love every second of their performance because they are living their dream.

Passion gets us excited. Passion gets us into motion and accomplishing dreams. I'm a big fan of talent, but I'm a bigger fan of turning that talent into something and having a passion for that.
Let's go live our dreams.
A passion of mine is writing, so here begins a first step into my adventure.