June 23

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Fear of Looking Stupid

One day, I went to the bank in Weymouth to make your average deposit. Or maybe it was a withdrawal. Doesn't matter. As I walked up to the teller, I looked to my right. I saw someone who looked exactly like Tobin Bell. Now, Tobin Bell isn't one of your super-famous actors. But, he was the actor who played the villain in some of my favorite horror movies. There was an internal dialogue going on in my mind. I wanted to approach him and say, "Are you Tobin Bell?" But I was afraid I would look stupid. So, I didn't. As I left the bank, I whipped my phone out and Googled "Tobin Bell." It turns out he's from Weymouth. I sprinted back to the bank. He was nowhere to be found. The next day, I had to go back to the bank. I asked the teller, "Was Tobin Bell in here yesterday?" She replied, "Yes." Five years later, I'm still kicking myself. What was I afraid was going to happen? The worst-case scenario would have been the gentleman saying, "No, I have no idea who Tobin Bell is." And I would be off to the next blog-worthy experience. The lesson? Next time you're worried about looking stupid, just do the thing anyway. Or, imagine what the worst-case scenario would be, no matter how ridiculous. If it's not life-threatening, just do it. And maybe, just maybe...one day, you'll get to meet your own Tobin Bell when everyone else was too afraid to ask.

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For parents, students, and anyone else who believes that music can and should be a meaningful part of everyone's life.

About Jonathan Roberts

I am the founder and director of the South Shore Piano School, and I have been teaching the piano for nearly 20 years. My work centers around bringing music to the lives of kids, parents, and adults in an enriching, meaningful way. At the South Shore Piano School, my incredible colleagues and I accomplish this through skill-based teaching, community, and an innovative, people-first business model. You can read more about me here.


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