It’s been theorized that infinite monkeys sitting at infinite typewriters for an infinite amount of time would eventually produce the Complete Works of William Shakespeare. We are not infinite. We do not have that kind of time. In this regard, the monkeys have us beat.

But we’re much, much better at planning than infinite monkeys.

So, what are you actually doing while you practice?

During one lesson, I rose to a G4 that didn’t feel quite right. It was stuffy, overly covered, small, effortful. I stopped myself, ashamed. “That wasn’t good.”

“Lucas,” he replied, “what do you want that sound to be?”

I paused. I hadn’t considered it.

“...I guess, more open? More free?”

“Okay. Do it like that.”

Thinking about Not Thinking doesn’t work.

But if I earned a dollar each time I heard “you’re just overthinking,” I’d pay my student loans and retire on the rest. So, what’s the solution?

For today, I might be a bit stocky,

But that is not an indictment of worth:

I don’t need a “better” body.

I need another shirt.