There was a wonderful story a few weeks ago about a trumpet player, Dr. Jesse McGuire, and something unusual that happened during the playing of a national anthem at a baseball game.
He was playing “The Star-Spangled Banner” when, suddenly, one of the valves of his trumpet froze. In that moment, he decided to put down the trumpet and sing the rest of the anthem.
Dr. McGuire’s played the anthem at sporting events around the country. He played the anthem before Game 7 of the 2001 World Series. (He was invited back to Phoenix as part of the 25th anniversary celebration of the Arizona Diamondbacks victory in that game.) He’s played in bands and in the jazz orchestra at Lincoln Center.
And something like that can still happen to someone with that much experience. It’s his experience that helped him get through that moment.
Things happen to all of us, and when they do, it’s up to you to be prepared to do something about it.