"Self Taught" Accordionist

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Melodeonist

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I often tell people that I’m a self taught accordionist either when they ask or if the subject pops up and I feel like telling them. However, I don’t know if I should say this or tell them that God taught me/helped me teach myself. I try avoiding talking about religion or God to people that may or may not be Catholic because I don’t want to offend them or make them feel uncomfortable.

What’s the best course of action? Should I stop being afraid of offending people – I have this fear with lots of things, such as not sharing my political views, opinions, telling people no, etc. – or should I keep on saying I’m self taught? Thanks!

On an off-topic note, I guess this fear is also why I have trouble stopping people from telling me gossip and not laughing at dirty jokes: I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings.
 
Saying you are self taught is fine. Saying god taught you so also fine. Say whichever you feel like. I would say the former myself.

But I also struggle with being uncomfortable showing my beliefs in public. For gossip I try and redirect conversation with something like ‘should I know this about this person?’

I mention religion sometimes as it pertains to me, for example explaining that the reason I’m not having coffee is that I gave it up for lent. If someone asks about your weekend you could say ‘I went to the park after mass’ or something. Because religion is a part of your life and nobody has a right to be offended by you not hiding what is important to you.
 
God didn’t teach you, unless you had some private revelation in which Jesus taught you how to play a polka. Yes, God gave you the tools to teach yourself, but that’s basically true of everything we do and kind of goes without saying. If you’re worried you’re lying by saying “self taught”, relax.
 
Tell them that you taught yourself, but you had a little help. 😃
 
Just state the truth. You may wish to say, “I am self taught through the Grace of God,” and that would be the truth, too. Peace.
 
Melodeonist said:
I often tell people that I’m a self taught accordionist either when they ask or if the subject pops up and I feel like telling them. However, I don’t know if I should say this or tell them that God taught me/helped me teach myself. I try avoiding talking about religion or God to people that may or may not be Catholic because I don’t want to offend them or make them feel uncomfortable.

What’s the best course of action? Should I stop being afraid of offending people – I have this fear with lots of things, such as not sharing my political views, opinions, telling people no, etc. – or should I keep on saying I’m self taught? Thanks!

On an off-topic note, I guess this fear is also why I have trouble stopping people from telling me gossip and not laughing at dirty jokes: I don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings.
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By not laughing at dirty jokes you will be making a statement that you are uncomfortable with them.
Do not be concerned about offending someone…they may learn something by your reticence to laugh. It will give the something to think about, even though they may act offended.

From the desire of human respect…Deliver us Jesus!
 
Saying you are self taught is the truth.

You can also add something along the lines of “God seems to have given me a gift for music” or “God’s given me a great gift in music.” 🤷

Time and place, dear.

If you think the person with whom you are speaking will think you’re putting on airs by mentioning God, just leave it with, “I’m self-taught.” If you think the person will rejoice in God’s gift to you, give Him the glory verbally instead of just in your heart.

Personally, I love listening to you play on YouTube, and I join you in thanking God for His gift to you! 😃
 
BoomBoomMancini said:
God didn’t teach you, unless you had some private revelation in which Jesus taught you how to play a polka. Yes, God gave you the tools to teach yourself, but that’s basically true of everything we do and kind of goes without saying. If you’re worried you’re lying by saying “self taught”, relax.
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The part of your post that I highlighted, just struck me as being really funny! 😃

Hi Melodeonist,

You really do have a real “God-given talent,” so that’s also another choice that you can use, if you want to.

I agree with the others though, on the situation that you’re in, and what choice you want to use, whether you want to say that you’re self-taught, or that you feel that God graced you with your talent. 🙂

I also like listening to you play on your YouTube videos. You’re a true inspiration to me. I can’t play well by ear. I play better with music.

So, everyone’s talents are different. God bless you, my friend. You have a true gift! 🙂
 
Thanks for all the replies! I thought perhaps it was sort of prideful to take the claim, but you guys have really cleared it up.

On a side note, what exactly is “pride”? This one confuses me, besides boasting (which probably is normally a venial sin, but I could be wrong.)
 
Melodeonist said:
On a side note, what exactly is “pride”? This one confuses me, besides boasting (which probably is normally a venial sin, but I could be wrong.)
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Pride is the opposite of humility. It’s believing yourself to be more than you are or refusing to acknowledge that you are subordinate to God. At the extreme, it would be presuming equality with God. In reality, all of our sins have an element of pride, when we tell God, “I know what you want, but too bad, I want to do something else.”

By the way, I saw one of your accordion videos. I don’t know much about the accordion, but from what I can tell, you’re pretty good at it. 🙂 Way to go.
 
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