I love that your taking lessons, I am going to take lessons to learn the guitar as well. I love it when people get together and play ( I have always just sat to the side and smiled, it's time to join the party).

I think being critical, the victim, and most other negative habits are addictive and a way to shield us from others. You are so right just let go, be vulnerable and enjoy the ride.

I learned to ride a motorcycle to beat a fear. It was not a fear of getting hurt but really of looking stupid, what would I do if I dropped it or killed the bike?!?! My dad was real critical also and I can hear his voice in the back of my mind. I have to look at myself it a little different now, my dad did the best job he could with the tools and resources he had available, I just choose now to live differently.

Awesome stuff there ad... sounds like your doing great.

You can not change your past, but you can ruin a perfectly good present by worrying about the future.