Hello to the Community,
Well, there is at least one genuine angel in this wonderful community. Likely more, but certainly one.
Yesterday, I received an email from Fanny, who is the Student Success Specialist here at Justin Guitar. She said she had a ‘special’ request, which in part read;
“Someone from our Community wants to gift you access to the full Blues Immersion Course anonymously”.
(The following, while of course being open for you all to read, is primarily addressed to this most generous and loving soul. I just wanted the whole community to know what this person has really done for me).
I was absolutely floored by your offer. I thought I’d misread it or something. When I realised I hadn’t, I must admit I teared up more than a little. In fact, I think I was in shock; had goosebumps all over for some time.
When I eventually gathered myself, and approached my wife to tell her, she later told me she thought something was wrong with me, like I was having a stroke or something.
She couldn’t believe it. She teared up a bit as well. She was so very excited and happy for me, as she obviously knows about our life, and also knows that Blues is my ‘thing’, and I’ve been going on about this great new Blues course of Justin’s endlessly.
I initially told her that I of course could not accept your offer. It was just too much, too generous. It’s a sizeable amount of money for anybody, at almost $750 AUS! And from someone who knows me on some level for sure, but has never even met me. “Why did you do this ?” I asked myself. I didn’t think I was worth such a gesture.
“ You ARE going to bloody accept it”, my wife said. ( My wonderful wife, Sharon, can be very forthright like that. One of the many reasons I adore her).
She continued. “ You know you love the Blues. Everyone knows you love the Blues. This is just the universe’s way of making it happen, through this wonderful soul. You deserve it to happen for you. We deserve it. Think of all we have generously done for others over the years, without any desire for praise or recognition. Well, now it’s just your turn, in your time of need, at the right time, that’s all”.
Well, I teared up again; all 6”3’, 110kg of me.
I did wonder of course, how, or if, you knew about our very poor financial status of recent years. My wife, with her ever-present wisdom, told me to stop thinking about it. “ Whoever it was - whether they knew, or guessed or whatever, doesn’t matter”.
After 10 or so more minutes of discussion and blubbering, I ‘came round’ and decided to reply to Fanny’s email and graciously accept your truly exceptional gesture.
I just still couldn’t get over someone thinking of me in that way, and wanting to generously gift me such a wonderful thing.
You see, I so love the Blues, and it’s become my primary focus for the last nearly 2 years. If I’m not playing it, I’m practicing it. If I’m not practicing it, I’m listening to it, talking about it, watching Youtube videos, or thinking about it. I’ve even dreamt about it a few times.
And while I’m certainly still very much at the foundational level, I’m at the point in my Blues playing where I know just enough to be a little bit dangerous. So this course appears absolutely tailor-made for me; to fill in some foundational gaps, to instill, solidify, and develop some things structurally, and to open up and expand the many exciting, yet unexplored areas for me.
But I really knew I’d never be able to afford such a course; 3-4 years ago I’d say sure, but not today. A work injury 3 years ago, and subsequent improbable events since, have devastated our financial life, so even the very basics today are often problematic. Life today is very different to what it was. I’ve not really ever mentioned this on the forum; everyone here has their challenges in life. Plus, if I’m being honest, my pride and embarrassment got in the way. My struggle is nothing however, compared to most of our fellow human beings on this planet who suffer dearly in ways I can’t even imagine.
But it certainly has made me question my own self-worth many times, feeling I’ve let my loved one’s down terribly.
I only mention this now to let you know that what you have gifted me is much, much more than your financial generosity; as if that wasn’t enough in itself. You’ve helped to re-ignite some self-worth; and that, my friend, is priceless. I’m not lying when I say that I woke up this morning feeling much better about myself than I have for a long, long time. I doubt that would have happened without your wonderful gesture.
Incidentally, the 27th of this month marks my 4 year anniversary since joining Justin Guitar on June 27, 2020, so what beautiful timing you have as well. It really is a community like no other online, guitar or otherwise; more of a close-knit extended family than a forum. For me, it has certainly been so much more than just a place to talk about guitar, and play a few tunes.
So, thank you my dear friend, from the very bottom of my heart. My wife also wishes to extend her deep gratitude for your truly wonderful gesture. You epitomise what Justin, and this great community are all about.
I hope that sometime in the near future, I can pay forward the gracious generosity you have extended to me.
Looking so very forward to joining those in the course. I see there’s some very familiar faces, as well as quite a few I’ve yet to meet. It’s certainly going to be a thrilling time! Let’s rip some Blues together!
Cheers,
Shane
