A somewhat peculiar article since it will not deal with writing, but with another artistic form: music!
Before being a writer, I’m a musician; besides, isn’t literature music?
However, I have a special relationship with this art, halfway between love and hate; I had to carry out a real work of introspection to approach a piano again without fear…
If I was lucky enough to be born into a family of artists (in the broad sense of the term!) and to rub shoulders with concert performers, dancers and other entertainers, it is sometimes difficult -even painful for a child- to evolve outside the norm. I have met wonderful people through art, but gosh it was violent to then have to face “normal” people without really understanding how to fit in!
I have long been bullied by my schoolmates for my (many) differences; of all that I was aware of, the music was probably the worst. I don’t blame them: how to understand a teenager who speaks an almost esoteric language, made of lines, dots, and abstract nuances?
Even today, it is impossible for me to play an instrument in public… which is ironic, when you know that one of my favorite instruments, the viola, is played primarily in a musical ensemble!
A little (not so) funny anecdote: when I was in 8th grade (damn middle school…), some girls had me in the cross hairs. To be honest, I never quite understood why… I had moved to their somewhat remote hometown at the start of the year and had mastered the art of making myself invisible. I still wonder while writing this article what could have attracted their attention to me.
Anyway, one fine January morning after Christmas break, my beautiful viola ended up head first in the bathroom! I had the awful idea to bring it to class to avoid a detour on the way between school and music academy.
There followed a thrashing worthy of the name.
One thing is certain: I have not repeated the experience!
All this to state an essential truth: many of us suffer because of our differences; yet, it is precisely these differences that make us interesting.
If you are in a situation of pain, do not wait until it’s too late: ask for help. An association, a teacher, a friend you trust, and even an aspiring author…
Violence and abuse take many faces, and harassment is unspeakable treachery. It can leave even deeper psychological scars than the sharpest knife.
I therefore take advantage of this article to share this intimate part with you and invite you to discover my writing playlist available on Spotify. I’ll be thrilled to hear your listening suggestions in the comments!
Looking forward to reading you,
Credits:
Cover picture by Markus Gjengaar via Unsplash
