There is joyous energy in starting out – a hope for what’s to come, an excitement unmarked by the kind of compromises that will necessarily be made during the process.
Consider decorating before a holiday. Christmas, say.
The joy of putting up a tree, of hanging lights and ornaments and tinsel, with carols playing and gingerbread baking, is, I hope, palpable to you.
Taking down the tree, in my experience, is a totally different experience. It’s all business, with no particular music on or food to enjoy afterwards.
But surely there’s a way to bring intention to the ending, too. To celebrate the joy of the experience in how you say goodbye to it. For me, it’s enough to be doing it still together with my family – celebrating that togetherness again.
It’s the same with a concert, or a concert season. The joy of starting out is replaced with the hard work of preparing for the concert. But both eventually give way to the putting away of risers, the filing of music, etc. How can you bring intention and joy to that part of the experience?