In 2003 or so, a site called Friendster appeared, reconnecting me with my high school and college classmates in a way that was exciting and novel even though we were so young we’d barely lost touch yet. It was a delight to see familiar faces reappear and find out what people were up to.

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Back in the olden days, when you used up all of your lives in an arcade game, that was it. Literally, GAME OVER.

You had to drop another quarter in the slot to play again. And you would always start at the beginning. It might take you hours to get back to where you were in order to practice the higher levels of gameplay.

Early home gaming consoles had the same design. But as computer and video games evolved (and merged along the way), they allowed players to save their progress.

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Back when I first started teaching music lessons in Atlanta, I was a little self-conscious about my circumstances.

I lived in a small, run-down apartment with no central air conditioning and a bad parking situation. Piano lessons, I taught in the bedroom, and guitar lessons were in the living room.

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“Oh, so sad,” I said to my little nephew. “I guess you just don’t know how to brush your teeth.”

It was a risk, but it paid off. He got that steely-eyed look in his eye and proceeded to brush his teeth and put his pajamas on.

He did need a little help — he doesn’t actually know how to brush his teeth — but he was determined.

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For the longest time, I really struggled when I encountered work from people who I perceived were farther down the path than I was.

They were more established, more accomplished, and more polished. Seeing their stuff made me want to not even bother.

Stage One was just that -- not bothering. Sadly slipping back into my cave like Puff the Magic Dragon.

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