Yo-Yo Ma

Flipping through BBC Music at the library while waiting for a computer, the cover story on Yo-Yo Ma includes this quote from the supreme cellist:
'Today nobody grows up listening to only one kind of music. Keeping your learning curve steep is essential to being alive. These days we have the possibility to research and understand all sorts of things in a way that has not been available before. I feel most alive when I can turn that information into knowledge and then into a passionate moment when I perform.'

I think the 'Keeping your learning curve steep is essential to being alive' part is relevant to what this year of service is about for myself and fellow volunteers. Where Ma mentions the possibilities for research and understanding that have previously not been available, I am reminded of the many people who told me while I was fundraising that they wished similar opportunities had been available when they were my age (actually, most of them said 'when I was young'). Which now reminds me of another quote, but I don't remember who said it. It said something to the effect of: 'If there weren't birthdays, how old would you be?'

And that's it for my sudden inspiration. Peace.