11 Comments

“The heckling hobgoblin in my mind that commentated on and nitpicked every experience finally shut up for a few precious and sacred moments. A budding feeling of sheer exuberance and unmarred confidence slowly built as each string of notes sounded. Each successive melody that poured forth spontaneously from my right hand was complemented by the unerring harmony of my left in perfect conversation. I silently witnessed as my seemingly dispossessed hands glided over the keyboard; they felt like someone else’s! Incredulously, each phrase only served to crescendo the wonder and amazement. Surely, these are not my hands! It was like watching one of your favorite artists perform while being absolutely mystified and gobsmacked by their playing. The only exception was that it was somehow arising from my body and hands. It felt like I really couldn’t make any mistakes.” -- this, THIS! This is it, Tai. And you know what I mean. Beautiful! Exceptional piece.

Expand full comment

You capture this moment of mastery so vividly...a sort of out-of-body experience when skill and pleasure take flight.

The amor fati excerpt prompted to reflect on my own experience with mastery. Perhaps I've inaccurately equated mastery with elite performance (of a professional athlete, chef, etc). And your piece invites us to consider how we're all capable of experiencing mastery... and how mastery is a rather personal experience of "I'll know it when I feel it."

Expand full comment

This is so beautiful and a true privilege to read, thank you Tai.

Expand full comment

What a love letter to being in the moment doing what you most love, in all the sense and depth of the expression.

There's a lot of gems I loved learning and reading, from your dad entering the room, to the scale, to the whole ambience of the place and your mind.

Love the ending tied with amor fati, I would've never seen that connection and really enjoyed learning about Effortless Mastery.

It's a great effort to try and convey such unique moments, and I'm so glad we get to read one of yours Tai!

Expand full comment

The feeling I had reading this is that while writing ABOUT a flow state, put yourself INTO a flow state with the actual writing. Thank you. I feel carried along on that scent right now, as though I've fallen into the lap of your effortlessness. I often experience something musical in your writing Tai and with this piece especially. I really appreciated it.

Expand full comment