Something that I have been able to apply to my life with a recursive process is learning how to play the ukulele. I have never been a musical process and I still do not think of myself that way. For my 18th birthday, my boyfriend at the time gifted me with a beautiful ukulele with a wish of me becoming musically talented like he was. As soon as I got home from our dinner, I picked it up and began to strum along. I fell in love instantly and played all night until my fingertips were throbbing. I continuously worked on the same song for almost a year, hoping I would be able to play smoothly over time. I often found myself strumming wrong and with every incorrect strum a curse word would soon follow.
Over the coming months I found myself progressing better and better. With many YouTube tutorials and late nights after studying, I was able to conquer my four strums to “Riptide” by Vance Joy. My 19th birthday is coming soon and I am still finding myself working on my strumming techniques and progressing to make the tunes sound smoother. I believe that with time and practice great things can appear. Learning how to play the ukulele was probably one of the most frustrating and difficult processes I have ever had to do, but it was something that I had made a goal of. I think of myself as a determined individual and the ukulele often tested me. It showed me pain as well but over time I had adapted and refused to smash the ukulele on the ground, like a famous guitar rock star after a concert. I knew that continuing to work on something will pay off in the end.
