Is there something you loved doing as a kid that you stopped doing as an adult? A passion that once lit you up but faded away over time?
For me, that passion was the saxophone. From the ages of ten to twenty-five, playing was an integral part of my life. Performing with my school’s jazz band was one of my greatest joys.
Then life happened. Work and business travel took over, and my sax sat untouched in its case for twenty years.
Until a couple of months ago.
For 2025, I decided it was time to pick it up again.
The moment I started playing, I felt an incredible rush—like reconnecting with a part of myself that had been dormant for decades. It wasn’t just about the music; it was about tapping into a creative, non-business side of me that I hadn’t accessed in years. And the breathwork required to play the horn? It completely shifted my physical energy.
I feel different. On the days I play, I experience a flow that’s missing when I don’t. And that energy has spilled over into my work as well. I feel more engaged, more alive.
When I first committed to playing again in December, I had to get my sax tuned up, which delayed my start until February. I worried I’d have to relearn everything from scratch. But surprisingly, much of it came back quickly.
That said, I also realized I had developed plenty of bad habits when I was younger. So instead of just picking up where I left off, I’m approaching this with a beginner’s mindset. I don’t want to play the way I used to—I want to become a newer, better version of myself as a sax player. It’s been a fascinating process of both relearning and unlearning.
So, what about you?
Is there something from your past that you could reintroduce into your daily life to bring new excitement? Could it be an opportunity to unlearn old habits and approach things in a fresh way? And how might that energy spill over into your work and other areas of life?
If you’re curious to hear what I sound like after a month of unlearning and relearning, check out this video: