You find yourself thinking of it while you’re doing anything else.

You are constantly thinking of when you can get to it again.

You find yourself putting off eating or sleeping so that you can spend more time with it.

You want to blow off school or social events to get a fix.

You get distracted from things, like getting dressed, because you get pulled in again.

The phrase “five more minutes” runs through your head…and turns into twenty.

 

I’ve picked up the violin again. After at least three years of not playing…I can’t put it down. I found myself geting out of bed in the middle of the night to look up musical theory information. I’m humming to myself when I’m not playing. I daydream about how to get the sound right for a specific piece. I’m studying the techniques and styles behind the music from the Middle East and Ireland. 

My hands are cramping, my fingers are red and sore, I have rosin dust on my clothes.

I sat down in a towel after my shower this morning to play because I couldn’t stand not playing for another minute. 

Instead of taking smoke breaks during my routine like some people do, I’m taking music breaks.

I was at a baby shower yesterday that I helped put together, and all I could think about was getting home and picking up my bow. 

I held it like a guitar when it got too late to play normally and plucked melodies until my eyes burned.

I’m leaving for class in an hour and a half, and I’m already eager to get home and finish my homework so I can play again.

I’m tempted to skip the homework…

I won’t, but it’s SO tempting.

I feel like the kid who won’t stop watching TV to go to school or bed. “Aw, just one more show!”

 

Aw, just one more piece!