Humble Ambition.

I came across this phrase on a @MetOpera retweet on Twitter, and it struck a chord with me. I, unfortunately, didn't get to hear the interview in which this was discussed. Nonetheless, I think it speaks for itself. Humble ambition. It is what we do with our art...and the only way to truly honor it.

We work so hard for what we label success, recognition, money, FAME! We get so caught up in this "necessity" to be liked and highly-regarded that we forget the reasons why and for what we do this art. Admittedly, I fall into the worries of the labels on a nearly daily basis; it is difficult not to in such a "cut-throat" business so centered around "perfection" and "accomplishments" (however one would actually define those). BUT when we step away from ourselves, stop allowing our own arrogance to affect the performance, and allow the art to guide us, we realize that it cannot honestly be claimed as our own. Rather, it belongs to a Higher Power, and we are simply the medium through which His work is done. It's not about us anymore. (Actually, it never was about us.) It is so much greater than one mere individual. We do our work with that in mind, and our ambitions become sincere. The performance becomes its own life and is given the honor it deserves. Humility, not vanity, guides our actions, words and reception of praise or critique. And what we do is no longer singled-minded. Humble ambition...as it is meant to be. :) 

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I've been battling with my sinuses this past week (and it doesn't look like there's an end to the fight coming anytime soon).  :(  Despite a neti pot, allergy meds, and wicked nasal spray, my sinuses are on a rampage that started with a 2-day sinus migraine! Not fun. *sigh* Hopefully, they'll stop having a mind of their own, so I can stop feeling so miserable.

It's been quite a social week it seems! My friend Haley came over Friday evening for Americanized Mexican tacos. Then we amused ourselves with YouTube videos for an hour and a half while we waited for the next showtime of a movie. Don't see Certified Copy. We were going to see Jane Eyre, but we decided we wanted something more happy. Boy, were we sadly mistaken with our choice! The trailer for Certified Copy is the most deceptive advertisement we've ever seen. It literally took the two minutes of happiness from the film and put it all in the trailer, making it look like it was going to be a cutesy romance. Not! So lame. The plot never actually went anywhere. They were speaking three different languages. It was very angry and bitter and depressing. We never knew what was really happening...and we watched the whole thing! And it ended with the guy peeing and the bells chiming the hour. For real?! What a terrible, awful movie! And ironically, we watched this skit before we went:

Ridiculous! Anywho, then yesterday, Quinton and I had an adventure to Trader Joe's, our FAVORITE place! ;) And in the evening...we performed his setting of Psalm 142 for soprano and organ on a composition competition. We got a video this time. Not great quality, but my little digital camera handled the sound quite superbly!

We got second place. So many of the compositions were really impressive. Ruth Friscoe, the benefactor of the competition, as well as the composition professors, were great fun to chat with afterward. (I think she needs to become my benefactor to finance my life! haha!)  ;)

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Quinton shared some palinka with me when the concert was over! Mmm! Best stuff ever! A little taste of Hungary. Makes me miss that place more...  Then, I made him cook me dinner. hehe! ;)