Better Together

Recently I had the privilege to attend a concert by the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, which is a wonderful asset to our community. It was a terrific performance. 

At times during the concert, I paid particular attention to the conductor. All the musicians' eyes were on him. He would gesture to an area, and they would follow his direction. He kept the entire orchestra in unison, balanced and all working together. They created beautiful music for the audience to enjoy.  

I couldn’t help but think about how different this was from many aspects of our nation and our society today. What would it look like if, instead of concentrating on dividing ourselves from each other at home and abroad, we tried to focus on working together? 

One instrument by itself is fine; you can make it sound good, but it will never compare to the full orchestra working in unison together. And the fact is that none of us, whether we’re talking about individual people, groups or nations, is truly a “soloist.” We are all playing a part, all the time. So when we go it alone and don’t work with each other, it’s like an entire orchestra in which each 

instrumentalist plays without regard to what anyone else is playing. Not only are they not playing in unison, they’re not even playing the same music. But by rehearsing and working with a conductor, they can play in harmony, with each member contributing toward the whole. As I witnessed at the RPO concert, the results can be magnificent. 

I can’t do much if anything about decisions others make, but what I took away from the concert was that I can control how I conduct myself. I have a lot of people around me who are involved with Miss Julie’s School of Beauty. I have a family and students that depend on me, a Board of Directors, and a team. What I realized in that moment is that if we all work together, we can form 

a kind of orchestra. I can’t do it alone, any more than the RPO conductor could make music without musicians, but I can help us work as one, for a common goal. 

So yes, I have a choice. I can cut myself off from people and things around me to go solo, and cause division and upheaval because of all of our differences, or I can choose to love, to work with others who may sound and think differently from me, because it enriches all of us. We all 

benefit from these relationships: those of us working together, and those whose lives we affect. I have come to see and understand that nearly everyone wants to feel connected, supported and loved and to know that they have a place where they can use their talents to enrich our community. 

I am choosing to conduct myself in a way that will enable everyone to have a voice, so that everyone is heard, seen, and valued, no matter how different we all are. I learn from those around me and hopefully we will have healthy relationships for years to come.  

It is worth the risk of having an occasional off-key moment or day, because the music we make together is far more robust, enhanced and jubilant than anything I could ever do alone.

From the heart and desk of

~Miss Julie~