Part One: Discoveries about my curiosity, the low point

I share the stories in this and following posts, hoping you might see your child or yourself.

By the time I was in my early 30s, my natural curiosity appeared to have been nearly extinguished by two things: 1. a public school education during which I was never identified as gifted 2. the draining effects of working for other people.

Then I had an outbreak: I’d been reading the book of Job, in the Old Testament, and found myself leaving the public library with a stack of commentaries on Job, which I’d just checked out. But when I got home with them, I discovered that, as usual, I was worn out by my long days of cello teaching.

I had no energy or motivation—either in evenings or on weekends—except for necessary chores and watching Perry Mason re-runs.

Eventually I quit my teaching job, and circumstances allowed me to start my own cello studio—under nobody’s supervision but my own—three states west of where I’d formerly been teaching.