I have a favourite instrument. This morning it is the first time I’ve thought about having a favourite instrument. On YouTube I bumped into a musical piece performed by Yo-Yo Ma. As I listened I felt peace instantly, and reverence for life, my life in particular.
My favourite instrument is the cello.
There is a sombreness to the cello that reverberates with my experiences and personality.
Having said that, I will add that I love instrumental pieces of music no matter what instrument they are played on.
And having said that, I will add that I love music, and musical lyrics, in many forms.
And having said that, I will add that I have no musical genius, talent, or abilities, other than to recognize and hear musical genius, and understand it at a visceral level.
It is a sadness, that the musical avenue of expression is not one I can enjoy myself. There are many reasons developing musical skills has not been in the cards in my life. Talent and genius, well, you are either born with it or you are not. Without talent, as I am, your efforts can be technically sound. But the brilliance of genius that I hear when I listen to some music cannot be achieved through technical skills. I would settle for being technically sound though, it is an option for most people, I would enjoy that.
Joy can be very simple. As I sit here writing, and listening to Yo-Yo Ma, I am eating my breakfast, enjoying cucumber slices. As I hold a slice up to the light, I can see the delicacy of its structure, the genius of the natural world. What a gift, to see. We are all a part of this genius.
Worldly
Weather
6°C
Date: 10:00 AM EDT Saturday 11 April 2026
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Visibility: 24 km
Quote
“Talent hits a target no one else can hit; Genius hits a target no one else can see.”
Arthur Schopenhauer
1788 – 1860
Maggie, I get what you were saying about the cucumber and your words let me “see” it. I’m not a visual person, so the picture looks fine to me.
Wendy, we all “see” in our own special way, that in itself is part of the genius of the natural world. “Vive la différence”
The image only hints at the detail, the delicate lines and connections, the varying penetration of light, all of which lead me to wonder at how this beauty was created by a seed someone planted in dirt.
I love YoYo Ma’s playing, too. Listening to music via You Tube is getting a little frustrating. This morning, I listened to some NPR Tiny Desk concerts, and the ad interruptions were insane. I’m wondering if paying for ad free access might be worth it.
Joan, I’ve often thought about the same thing, would a paid subscription to YouTube improve the experience enough to make it worth the investment?