October 16, 2026

One of the things that a life in music has taught me is how to stop arguing with the past.

Arguing with the past sounds like “coulda/woulda/shoulda” – if only that had/hadn’t happened, then things would be so much better/I would be so much happier.

Music doesn’t have time for that. Music keeps going.

There isn’t time to stop to think about the wrong note you just played or sang, because the next note is already here. Whoops! Now that one’s gone, too.

One of my friends passes along a blessing before each performance that he learned from an old conductor – “Enjoy your mistakes.”

We do the best we can, with the information and skills and time and focus we have at the time.

This isn’t to say that we should never apologize or make amends for what went wrong in the past. Of course we should!

But spending any time trying to change what’s already happened is just robbing us of the moment right in front of us. It’s guaranteeing that the next note will be out of tune, too.

Maya Angelou is quoted as having said, “When you know better, do better.”

Enjoying our mistakes means we’re not running from them. We’re present to them, in all their unfortunate glory, and by enjoying them, we are loving ourselves anyway.

We learn faster when we’re kind to ourselves.

Enjoying our mistakes helps us do better, sooner.

There is a lot I wish hadn’t happened in my life, in my country’s life, in the world’s life.

I cannot change the past, but I make the best of what’s in front of me.

The ballot on my kitchen table.

The friend who wants my company.

The campaign that could use two more dollars.

There are more songs to sing, friends.

Seize your day.

Warmly,

Michèle