The irony is that I began this post during my choir class.
In everything we do, especially when it involves a group, requires focus of a certain kind. There is no way to be distracted, to do more than one thing at the same time. No, everyone must be completely present, and not somewhere else, in the way that this article describes. Everyone must be ready to do what needs done. There is no halfway, not if you want the best results.
In my choir class (this is why it was ironic) we have struggled so much with focusing, and because of that we have so far gotten only sub par results. It is not a matter of knowing what we're doing, but it is a matter of focus (and a little of optimism). So often, I'll look around and see people on their phones, or taking group selfies, or dancing. This is not to say that talking is bad- a little bit is healthy and good for the group. However, dramatic gestures and dancing, moving across the room, playing around- these have no place here.
It is also true that occasionally someone will try to lead, but will have the hardest time getting the hang of it. Almost as an opposition to these people are the ones with a natural talent for leadership-but no desire to exercise that talent. Both of these can have negative effects, however, it is not doing anything that will hurt the group the most. To be in a group, it is necessary to be in it all the way, or not at all. Halfway people hurt the group. In the words of Yoda, "Do or do not; there is no try."
There are also a few people within my choir that just love to mess around when the focus is not on them or their part. This is another thing that will absolutely take away the focus of the group as a whole. A small amount of respectful whispering is healthy. Getting up, moving around, dancing, even singing quietly sometimes, talking loudly, all of these things, have a huge effect on the group. We are not as good because of these people who are not focused. They take away from the focus of the group as a whole. Every person can affect the group, and if we lose their focus, we have lost part of what makes the group good. This again relates to presence- losing the presence of one affects the entire group as well.
On the flip side of this coin, I remember the day right before spring break immensely well; we had noticed how the lack of focus was affecting the group and decided to change a few things up. That day was incredible. It was like the sun just blinking over the horizon, the way it worked. The whole mood of the room changed. Nobody messed around to such a degree that it disturbed the group, nobody got angry and yelled. That was one of the best days that I've ever had in a choir. We know all our parts, but without that focus, we are nothing. That day, we could have gone to contest and blown everyone away.
These are all great people. I love each and every
person in my choir. They are my friends, my family, in a way that can
only be understood by being a part of a group like this. Every member of
this choir has immense talent and skill. They could do it, we could
do it. We as a group could be great except for the lack of focus. There
are so many factors that contribute to this lack, and all of them are
pushing us down. But, like a spring, when we do focus, we are catapulted higher into choral gloriousness than we ever thought we could be. Focus is essential.
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