From the time I was 4-29 I played piano. I have a self published CD. I was pretty good. It was my first real passion and I thought it would be the way I’d change the world. In reality, it would have taken everything I had to actually do so with that art form. I got RSI when I was 29 (tendinitis so bad that one day, I couldn’t even hold a glass in my hand any more).
The doctors said piano definitely needed to go. So poof, there it was — my first form of communication and self-expression and my primary language out the door.
I then found poi, 2 years later, which became my second form of self expression.
I’ve done more to change the art form (and world) through poi in 10 years than I did with piano in 25.
Recently my RSI has been so bad that I wonder if I will need to give up Poi as well and not only do I feel the pain in my body from the RSI, I feel the deep pain in my soul caused by the fear and real possibility of that outcome.
I’m even more connected to it now because I just saw Billy Joel (and elton john) in concert. BJ was the largest influence in my life as I grew up as an idol, role model, artist, composer, musician and of course, pianist. I’m painfully aware of my deep, deep, deep well of sadness for the loss of that aspect of myself (pianist) right now even as I confront the possibility of having to lose another aspect of myself (poi artist).
So here I am… raw, scared, vulnerable and in pain…
