I originally committed to doing this Guitar Project back in September 2013. I met the owners of Mocha Club at a conference last year and I immediately was like “I’m in.”
Then truth set in.
And fear.
And lack of confidence.
And I procrastinated for nearly 10 months. TEN long months people.
I had every excuse in the book on why I couldn’t do this project. I was ready to give up and I was thinking of over 9 million reasons why it wouldn’t work for me. And how I would tell them I was backing out.
I thought I’ll just use Happy Mommy Box as my excuse. I’ll tell them that I’m sorry I had no idea that I was going to be starting a business venture with a friend and that, unfortunately, there would just be no time to fit this in.
Sounded legit, right?!
But I woke up one day and I asked myself this question…
“What’s really holding you back from doing this project?”
Was it that I didn’t think I was capable of learning the guitar? Was it that I wasn’t sure if I could find the time to practice and be good enough? Was it that I was afraid to do something, like commit to raising money when I wasn’t certain anyone would donate? Was it that I didn’t want to let down an organization doing great things for something that was so dear to my heart – orphans?
And when I truly thought about it. It was a little bit of all of those things.
The biggest?
FEAR OF FAILING.
Of not reaching the $1,000.
Of not being able to learn a song.
And for some reason, that morning while I was taking a shower, I decided that I wasn’t going to let fear stand in the way of me doing this. It’s held me back too many times in the past and I wasn’t about to let it steal another great opportunity from me.
Not this time.
I called up my friend Chris Slone, who is by far the most talented musician in our area {we hired him to play at Jeff’s book launch party awhile back}.
He had mentioned that he had “guitar students” when we first spoke over the phone before that party.
When I initially asked him if he could teach me…I warned him that it wouldn’t be easy. I’m not musically talented. At all.
I’ve never played an instrument in my life. I told him that he would have his work cut out for him.
His reply… “I teach 6 year olds how to play the guitar Mandy. If I can teach them? I can teach you.”
I began taking lessons in November.
Every Sunday.
If I told you it was easy I would be lying. It’s been one of the hardest things I have ever done. But I’m doing it.
And it feels so good to know that something I am doing. Something WE ARE doing. Will affect children in Africa.
When you say it like that, doesn’t it sound so profound? Like how could simply playing the guitar make a difference in the lives of orphans? But it can!
I’m still afraid of not reaching my goal of $1,000. It scares me to think that I would disappoint the people who are counting on this money. That’s why I need YOUR help!
Even if you can only donate $1.
And maybe you can’t donate. That’s ok too. You could be praying for this project. Praying that God shows up and that HE is the one that gets the glory from this.
I would love for you to share this with your friends. PLEASE!! Share on Facebook or Twitter or Instagram. Your support means more to me than you know.
If there is something that you’ve been wanting to do, but you’ve been afraid of failing. NOW is the time to do it! Don’t let fear stop you.
To read the The Guitar Project back story…click here. To help me reach my goal…click here.
If you are local and want to hit up my friend Chris for guitar lessons… you can find him here. He has some serious skills when it comes to teaching.