The first time I was faced with that word , “I can’t”, is the time I was faced with starting a song on the drums. I had just started playing them for my choir and only played them once before in my whole life prior to playing for my church choir.

I had never played a full set of drums before picking up the sticks at Christ Chapel in 1996. I started out playing on Sunday night service keeping a beat. It was sweet, I was finally giving the opportunity to play the drums but this time, I had to lead the song.

I had no experience except to beat on everything from school books to a washing machine.

The keyboardist played the song the choir was going to practice and when the song was over she turned to me and said, “Ok, Emile, I want you to open the song on the drums” and immediately, I said, “I can’t”. Her eyes got big as she turned to me and said, “Don’t ever say you can’t. Can’t is not having the ability to and you can. Let’s go”.

She turned back towards her keyboard and I was ready to go. I was more scared of not doing it than I can’t do it after that pep talk. I put a downbeat and a smash on the crash and the song was on. The keyboardist told me that  she did not ever want to hear me say those words again, “I Can’t” and I didn’t.

I was 36 and that was the first time anyone has ever told me anything like that. I listened to that and I practiced that.

From there on, I went on to do many things. Those words ‘I can’t’ was removed from my psyche and has allowed me to ride waves in Maui, perform on stages and never shy away from a mic speaking in front of people was air tight. There was a lot of frustration,  but never, I can’t’, when I self-published my book. It took sixteen years, but when I sat down to figure it out without a doubt, I downshifted to fun and in three months, I got it done.

I accepted those wise words and I have passed it on. Some have listened and some have not and  if Lori is around, tell her, I have not forgot.