Appreciation of Beauty & Excellence

Today I had an unexpected opportunity to appreciate beauty & excellence. I’ve been taking weekly piano lessons since May 21st but today was my final lesson before I take a brief pause to, you know, become a parent. 

I’m excited to get back to lessons when the time is right, and I’m even more excited to hold my baby girl on my chest as I practice my scales and practice the many songs I know, like, “When the Saints Go Marching In,” “Jingle Bells” and “Brother John.”

It has been a humbling experience to try to learn an instrument after giving up the possibility of ever learning any instrument decades ago. There were times where I didn’t feel like I was making progress, but even more times where I had the opportunity to celebrate the progress I was making. That song I couldn’t even remotely play two weeks ago? I can nail it now! 

My progress would not have been possible without my teacher Pam. I’m grateful for the way she has helped me improve over the past couple of months. 

As the time was winding down on our last (for a while) lesson today, I had a realization – I haven’t actually heard her play a song. She’s shown me a scale from the end of the piano, but nothing that even remotely displays the talent cultivated by her depth of practice and dedication. 

Fortunately, I trusted my intuition, and, instead of using the remaining time to learn one more thing, I asked if she’d be willing to play a song for me. 

She was more than happy to, and asked me to pick a song from a list on her iPad. 

I scanned the list until I saw “You’ve Got a Friend in Me.” 

I originally set the intention to start practicing piano because I watched a video of a father playing that song for his Daughter. In that moment I decided I wanted to set my limiting beliefs on learning how to play an instrument aside. Because not only would I love to do this with my daughter someday, but I’d also be able to show her that it’s never too late to learn something new. And that no matter where you might start with something, you can get better, little by little, with consistent practice. 

Here's that video:

This was a song she hadn’t played in more than a decade and one that, from her list, was on the more difficult end to play (difficult for her, unfathomable at this stage for me, of course). She played it. It was incredible. I don’t think she noticed, but I teared up. It was astonishing to me that she could take what was on the sheet music and, in real time, transmute that into beautiful notes from the piano.

I realized in those moments that though I’ve been able to appreciate pianists and other musicians via YouTube, I haven’t had the opportunity to be that close to someone who is incredible at what they do. 

Why do I use the specific words "Appreciation of Beauty & Excellence?" Well, because “Appreciation of Beauty & Excellence” is one of 24 “character strengths” that we all have. 

Here’s how viacharacter.org describes character strengths: 

In the early 2000s, something groundbreaking occurred in the social sciences: Scientists discovered a common language of 24 character strengths that make up what’s best about our personality. Everyone possesses all 24 character strengths in different degrees, so each person has a truly unique character strengths profile. Each character strength falls under one of these six broad virtue categories, which are universal across cultures and nations.

I've taken the free test they offer three times, and "Appreciating of Beauty & Excellence" has never landed in my top 5 strengths. However, even having awareness of this character strength allowed me to fully step into and appreciate the moment.

This character strength fits under the Virtue umbrella of Transcendence and is defined as:

Noticing and appreciating beauty, excellence, and/or skilled performance in various domains of life, from nature to art to mathematics to science to everyday experience.

Pam, thank you for giving me the opportunity to notice and appreciate your beauty, excellence, and skilled performance in piano. And, from our other conversations, your ability to teach, and from what you've told me about the love you have for your son, I can tell how this excellence extends well beyond piano.

For everyone else reading this today, I have two pieces of encouragement:

1. Look for an opportunity to appreciate beauty & excellence. Whether it's music, art, or nature – the time will be well worth your investment.
2. If you're curious what your top character strengths are, I encourage you to take this free survey. It has been immensely helpful to understand my top character strengths and consider how I can embody them even more fully. It's also been fascinating to see how they evolve over time.

I would not be surprised if, with my daughter soon to arrive, this virtue does not make it into my top 5 in the future.

Here's to appreciating all of the immense beauty & excellence in our world.

A soon to be father,
Calman

P.S. For curious souls, as of the last time I took the above survey, my top 5 character strengths are: Social Intelligence, Honesty, Love of Learning, Gratitude, and Fairness.