I kept messing up in a Ukulele lesson years ago.

The angrier I got, the more pathetic my rendition of "Three Little Birds" became.

That's when the instructor said something that changed my life.

"You're going too fast."

*Insert me grinding my teeth and cursing my fuddly fingers

"Practice it slow first," he said. "That's how you develop the skill to play fast."

I improved almost instantly.

And the more permission I gave myself to focus on playing correctly (instead of quickly), the more competent and confident I felt in my ability to keep making progress.

These days, I'm acutely aware of mistakes caused by hurrying, which has little benefit as far as I can tell. Haste, sure. But hurrying? Meh. Hustling? At my age?!

No thanks.

I've learned the fastest way to do things fast & well is to first do them slowly & sufficiently.

Tying your shoes.

Writing a paragraph.

Learning an instrument.

Why bang bum notes for no good reason or reward when a little patience would allow you to make real music sooner?

You have time to go slow as long as you do not stop.