On Setbacks

Man, this is hard to write about: I’m dealing with another round of lip difficulties. It’s my bottom lip this time, and the trouble began on November 4th, 2014, during a tough rehearsal of all piccolo trumpet stuff. The bottom lip collapsed on the right side without warning. I won’t get too much into the details, other than to say I can still play, at least. I’m at about 75%, with the top lip and the left side of the bottom lip functioning fine. The right half of my bottom lip just won’t contract all the way.

I truly believe that this is all for the best, but I’m the one who has to make it that way.

In thinking this through over the last two months, I realized something:

I am not capable of giving up the trumpet. It’s just not an option for me.

It’s kind of liberating, actually, as it’s one less decision I have to make. The only thing to decide is how to move forward.