“Be a mature human being, Bruce.  Don’t be nervous.”

Those words come from somewhere deep inside me … and deep inside my society.  But they don’t ring true.  The request, even a demand, to “be better” is false.

Tomorrow at 11:00 am I sing ten songs on the Langement, a shopping street in Gent.

Saturday at 11:00 am I have a two-hour exam for my Music Theory class.

I experience both as huge challenges.  Will I forget words on Friday and concepts on Saturday?  The answer that comes is …

Probably

However:

Will I still be vertical at the end of it all?

Will my heart continue to beat?

Will happiness still be available?

Yes

Today I will practice the songs and figure out how to adjust the amplifier knobs.  I will study rhythms, pitches, scales and musical styles.

And as a friend said about his own exam:

All will be fine

And if it turns out not be to fine

All will be fine