I have kept my health issues to myself over the past year. Sure, my family, friends, employers, and people responsible for my recovery all knew what I was going through, but I never posted anything on social media or went out of my way to call attention to some larger struggles that I have experienced over recent years, and that date back to about 2008. Some of my issues threatened my life, some my livelihood. All threatened to take away my focus on my viola playing and the way I approach my art and craft. I am celebrating the one year anniversary of two procedures—one to my hand and one to my heart—that have set me on my way to a complete recovery, and a full return to normal functions of both. I guess I could feel somewhat resentful about the way some people have treated me along the way and the heavy lifting in my career that was a result of these hurdles. Instead, I choose to feel a sense of gratitude and responsibility for my outcome that has been hard fought. When I meditate on the past year, my overwhelming feeling is one of inspiration and the keen sense of how short and fragile life is. How we have a responsibility to each other to help achieve and overcome demons and obstacles in front of us. Is that not what pedagogy is all about? Whether the obstacles are physical, emotional, or situational, we all have them, they are all real to us, and we all need each other to help bring love, laughter, and the magic of music into the world to help humanity and overcome our collective obstacles. MS