Play the Sunset
I recently listed of my all time favorite movies. I like so many movies that I had to formulate categories in order for the list to be more meaningful. Mr. Holland’s Opus is an all time favorite that falls in my classic category. When I was teaching as an adjunct university instructor, I used to watch that movie just before each semester began as a reminder of what I was really supposed be doing.
In an early scene in the movie, Mr. Holland, the orchestra teacher, has an interchange with a high student who is struggling to learn how to play her instrument. It not like she has been lazy. The poor girl has diligently practiced, but she cannot seem to get it down. The audience can feel her frustration. As Mr. Holland tries to encourage her, he asks this question: Is it any fun?
I am convinced that meaningful growth and change in many of our lives fails to occur, because the process it is not any fun. Perhaps I should define what I mean by fun. I do not necessarily mean that life should be all about running and playing. But on the other hand, we can be like the young lady trying to learn how to play the clarinet. We are so intense, so hard on ourselves, so tightly wound that we take all of the fun and joy out of the process. Such joyless intensity has the potential of destroying confidence and a healthy self-esteem. That was certainly the case with the girl striving to learn how to play the clarinet. Prior to Mr. Holland’s intervention, she had convinced herself that everyone in her family was talented in some way except her!
Mr. Holland accomplished two things during their brief conversation. He urged her to have fun. In other words, he told her to loosen up. Playing an instrument is supposed to be enjoyable! And secondly he helped his student to view herself differently. Here is a summary of the interchange that he has with his Ms. Lang:
Mr. Holland: Is it any fun? (Playing music)
Ms. Lang: I wanted it to be…
Mr. Holland: Music is supposed to be fun! It’s about heart, feelings, and moving people. It is not about notes on a page…
Mr. Holland: Let me ask you a question. When you look in the mirror, what do you like best about yourself?
Ms. Lang: My hair…
Mr. Holland: Why?
Ms. Lang: Well, my father always says that it reminds of the sunset.
Mr. Holland: Play the sunset…
Some would view this dialogue between teacher and student as being at tad bit on the cheesy side. But I don’t see it that way at all. I am convinced that all of us find ourselves stymied in deep ruts, because our pursuits are not fun. We are playing the notes on the page so to speak, but the process is void of feeling. There is no heart. Our goals are no longer moving to us or anyone else.
Have you looked in the mirror lately? I have…I don’t see a sunset. I see gray hair. There lies the problem. I had better take another look in that mirror and determine what I like best about myself. It could be that I determine that I like the gray hair best. I have heard that it supposed to make men look distinguished.
Any at rate, none of us will experience long lasting life change until the process is fun. Perhaps I should state that in another way. Change won’t occur unless the process is emotionally satisfying. After all we are not robots. We were created as emotional human beings. And we will never experience personal growth as long as we lack self confidence.
It is a cloudy Saturday morning in Granbury, America. I think I will go play the sunset… Or maybe I will play a little golf if the weather clears. Whatever I do today it will be fun.
Here is the link to the scene I just referenced: