I'm not sure if it's anything like what you're looking for, Fiddlerman, but I have a journal I wrote when I made my official decision to learn violin back in 2013. I created a blog I was going to use to document my progress in learning violin but never got to it, so I guess I'll share this here first. I hope no one is bothered by all the spiritual references, but it had everything to do with my decision to learn.

"February 4, 2013

A couple of weeks ago my friends showed me a video of a girl dressed up as Link from Legend of Zelda that was pretty funny and cute. They mentioned that sometimes one of her songs will play on their Pandora station. A couple of days later, when Caj and LJ were at school, I decided to watch the video again. I really admired how happy she looked and her energy. I then listened to some of her violin music and was really moved by it. She was so inspiring. Here is someone who has found their passion. I want to find my passion, too.

I knew I liked dressing up as video game characters, and lately I've been planning birthday parties. I got the idea maybe entertaining kids at birthday parties would be good for me to do. That idea quickly faded away the more I listened to violin music. I realized, I want to play violin! I told Caj, and I'm pretty sure he wasn't as enthusiastic because I'm always discovering new dreams to pursue. By this time, I'm sure he's tired of me changing my mind. We went to visit our friends again, and they showed us another one of Lindsey Stirling's videos, this time of her playing violin. I started crying a little because I want to learn so much. Our friend told me not to feel too bad, that Lindsey comes from a rich Mormon family that can afford to give her violin, lessons, horse riding lessons, and produce amazing Youtube videos. We're all Mormon, by the way, so I'm not sure what his point was. Either way, I'm not going to let money get in my way. I'm a strong believer that poor people sit and talk about rich people's money, rich people find the money to accomplish their dreams. I'm not going to sit and think about how I could play violin if I were rich. I'll work. I'll sew my quilts and sell them to pay for lessons and a violin rental.

A few days later I went to a music store to look at their violins. Snap, they were expensive! Over $1,000! It was discouraging, but I'll find a way. After that I went to the Temple and prayed. I told Heavenly Father that I want to learn violin and asked for guidance. I'm tired of changing my mind about my dreams. I've tried art, writing, massage therapy, baking...the list goes on and nothing sticks. I want to know if this is the right thing for me to invest my time and money into before I get too emotionally invested.

After that it seemed as if everything has been pointing me towards violin. First, I've had the Parable of the Talents stuck in my head. I decided to study some lessons so I better understand the story. One lesson I found online from an LDS woman had a powerpoint presentation and a print out. The print out was a list of example talents to be read in class. The very first statement on the list was "You have the talent to be a fine violinist." My heart skipped a beat! It was like that lesson was especially for me.

Sunday was Fast Sunday. I don't even remember the last time I bore my Testimony in church voluntarily. All I know is it was before Young Women's. After that it was only because it was expected of me. Besides that and being asked to speak, I haven't done it in... I don't know, at least ten years. I always know I should get up, but I usually sit and think about what would I say until I run out of time. Well, this time that wasn't going to happen. I sat for a while, but my chest kept feeling hotter and hotter, and I knew that was the Spirit. I knew if I didn't get up, I would regret it. So I got up and bore my Testimony. Afterwards I got a lot of compliments, but my cousin Den also found me and introduced himself. He's been taking care of my Uncle in the ward, but I hadn't met him until now. Later that night, last night, I was having dinner at my Dad's house. We were talking about music and he tells me my cousin's son is in a band. I'm thinking it's an indie rock type band, and ask my dad to hear some of the music. To my surprise it's traditional Celtic music with the violin as the main instrument. Later I found out it's the cousin I met at church, whose son is playing the violin. All of these events are all just too much to be a coincidence.

In Doctrine & Covenants 9:8-9 it says:

8. But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right.
9. But if it be not right you shall have no such feelings, but you shall have a stupor of thought that shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong; therefore, you cannot write that which is sacred save it be given you from me.

So I prayed again telling Heavenly Father my decision to learn violin. I don't know if I've felt a burning in my chest, but I feel I've had the furthest thing from a stupor of thought to make me forget.

I really hope I've made the right choice and correctly understood Heavenly Father's answer to my prayers. I guess the only way to know now is to have faith and move forward.

PS. Today is my Mother's birthday. She passed away when I was 17, so I really wish I could tell her Happy Birthday. I just hope I can turn this desire into a true talent I can use to make a difference in the world and make her proud."

A few months after starting to learn violin I had a miscarriage and the depression that came with it sucked away nearly all the passion I had to learn and play. Every once in a while I tried picking it up again, but I felt little for it and if anything, it added to the depression. I felt like I was slipping further and further behind where I was hoping to be in skill at that point, and was too embarrassed to make a video and show everyone how much I was failing. In June of last year I got the opportunity to host the Traveler, and was really hoping that it would be the spark I needed to get back into it. I was pregnant again at the time, and very sick, and just couldn't focus enough to play as well as I'd hoped. I have a beautiful, hilarious, 11 month old boy now and he is the greatest joy in my life, greater than I ever imagined could be possible. I've been thinking about the violin a lot lately, though, and though I regret not pushing through the hard times with it and missing some opportunities (one of which would have been performing Handel's Messiah for church - I lacked confidence and when I saw the performance realized no one there was professional and I could have learned a lot playing with other violinists), I'm not going to miss anymore time. When I decided to learn violin I was determined not to pick up another hobby just to let it fall by the wayside. I put a lot of thought and research into it before making the decision. There's a reason I felt so confidently it was right. So it's something I must keep up with and follow through with. I don't know what the future has in store, but I'm happy to be getting my passion for the violin back and I'm excited to see where this adventure goes.