Chapter 4 of 4
When I decided to act
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That morning gave me a reality check. I was looking at one of my prized possessions. Despite how much I loved my guitar, I had not played it in years. That is when I made a decision - I needed to act.
While having coffee, I thought practically. I loved my guitar - true. I am busy with my career - true. I want to learn guitar - true. I have no time to learn guitar - also true. When the facts were right in front of me, I saw the decision I had to make. It was a difficult one but the right one - I had to sell the guitar. As soon as I made this decision, I felt a deep emotional pull, yet I knew I had to overcome that.
Maybe the universe was giving me sign. At that moment, I received a text message from a music academy within my area. "A few under privileged children learn music at our academy. While we waived the tuition fee for them, we cannot help them with musical instruments. If you have a usable musical instrument, please connect with us".
I had contacted this academy a few years ago for guitar lessons and receiving this text today felt like my decision was right. I took a photo of my guitar and sent them, "I own this guitar. Bought 10 years ago, rarely used and is in excellent condition. I intend to sell this".
I received a call from the academy that they were interested and wanted to see the guitar in person. That evening I went to the music academy with my guitar. They assessed it and told me that they intended to buy it for a student. They shared the price they would pay for it which was one fourth of what I had paid 10 years ago.
It felt like a bad financial decision. But I knew that a budding artist was going to use it. That child needed the instrument more than I needed. The happiness the child would get after receiving my guitar was priceless. I made my decision to go ahead and accepted their deal. I knew the decision was right for me and my beloved guitar.
After I agreed, the guitar teacher asked me to hand it over to the child for whom they had bought it. They wanted the child to know whose guitar they would be using, so that the child would be grateful.
The guitar teacher took me to their studio where I saw a 10 year old boy. The teacher informed me that the boy, Shivam was from a low income group. Shivam was learning guitar, but had no resources to buy a guitar. The teacher asked me to present my guitar to him. Shivam gratefully accepted it.
I asked Shivam to play it for me before leaving. Shivam played ganesh vandana. The song and the smile on his face brought tears to my eyes. I was delighted to see that my guitar was going to used by a worthy person. To me it was a prized possessions but for him it could have been a stairway to becoming a successful musicians. I felt this was the best farewell I could have given to my guitar. With happy tears in my eyes and lighter heart, I exited the music academy, knowing very well that my guitar was in capable hands.
That moment I felt that not being able to learn guitar was not a failure and letting go of what we love is the definition of true love.
- The end -
You have a prized possession you can no longer use, but it would bring joy to someone else. You
Your vote is final.
More by Amruta Kanekar
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This is such a relatable reminder that sometimes loving something doesn't mean we have the time or space to keep it in our lives forever. I think the hardest part is accepting that something which once brought us so much joy may no longer fit into our present. Letting go doesn't make those memories any less special; it simply means we're making room for the life we're living now. 🤍
sometimes letting go creates magic
Last three paragraphs changed the whole story. I liked how you realised that parting away was better than keeping it close. Love means scarifice and letting go, is what I learnt from your story. After all I did not feel this like an epic fail but a journey of growth and discovery.