Too busy?
This is a story about how one man made the time to dust off and rediscover his forgotten passion.
My path crossed with Peter’s in Amsterdam on a course, where we were both curious about Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) and the power of the subconscious mind. I was deeply moved by his relatable story and we both felt compelled to share it, in the hopes of reaching at least one person who needs to hear this message.
But before I introduce him, let me first introduce you to the stranger who made his day…
It was just another morning at a busy Amsterdam train station. Travelers rushing, eyes on the clock, minds already deep into the day. The familiar sounds of footsteps, rolling suitcases, and the smell of coffee filling the air.
A stranger grabbed his usual cappuccino and headed toward Platform 7 for the start of another busy day. But then, something unexpected happened.
The gentle sound of classical piano notes drifted through the crowd. It wasn’t flashy or loud, just beautiful and the kind that pulls you into the moment. He took a sip from his disposable cup, smiled, and thought, “Today is going to be a good day”.
Something about the pianist struck a chord with the stranger. Perhaps it was simply the joy of one traveler sharing his art with fellow strangers? On impulse, he approached the pianist for a quick conversation…
This brief encounter left the aspiring pianist with gratitude for a stranger’s kind words, a smile that would last deep into his day and the motivation to share it with the crowd.
“The true power of music”, he thought, “connecting strangers in a crowded morning rush hour”.
to uncover a story worth sharing.
Peter grew up in Bratislava, Slovakia – a city filled with the magic of theater and classical music, which he was exposed to from a very young age. He taught himself to play on a small keyboard, a gift from his parents.
He remembers watching a movie once where a musician played an emotively beautiful piece on the cello. In the audience, a man quietly cried, deeply moved. That moment stayed with Peter.
“One day”, he thought, “I want to connect with people’s hearts through my music like that”.
But life, as it often does, had other plans. Studies, work, a move to the Netherlands, the demands of life… you know the drill… His dream, once vivid, was now buried under 20 years of “being busy”.
When the world paused during the pandemic, so did Peter. Like many, he found himself looking inward, searching for what was missing from his life.
“Enough with excuses and regrets,” he thought. “Life is short. Now is the time to rediscover my passion”.
He allowed the muscle memory of his fingers to lead the way on the piano keys. It seemed natural and energizing in a way that he had long forgotten.
But then it happened… The first time he played his favourite piece for a friend, the freedom he felt playing as a child was overpowered by overthinking and a need for perfection. His hands trembled. Performance anxiety and self-doubt took over.
What he found most peculiar about this, is that in his role as Risk and Compliance Consultant, he often stands in front of crowds, business audiences, even senior leaders, to help them deal with complex risk and compliance matters. In contrast to his anxiety as an artist, he feels comfortable and confident at work, even on stage.
Determined not to allow fear to steal his dream,
Peter took action
1
He stayed connected to his dream to share his music, allowing his passion to guide him.
2
He discovered that he wasn’t alone. Even professional musicians battle with performance anxiety and need to keep working on it throughout their careers.
3
For the first time in his life, he finally took piano lessons and practiced and practiced, playing more complex pieces as he progressed.
4
He immersed himself in music libraries, online courses and podcasts, absorbing the shared wisdom from around the world, now easily available at our fingertips.
5
He learnt Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) strategies, to better understand his inner patterns.
6
He gradually started to play for a family member, a friend, then three, then five…
7
And most importantly, he reached deep inside of himself and found the courage to keep going. His music was more than a hobby to him: It became an abundant source of energy, relaxation and peace of mind that he could infuse into the busy lives of others and his own.
It wasn’t only about mastering the piece, it was also about learning to let go of the need for perfection and overthinking.
The day finally arrived
Peter’s heart raced as he stepped on stage to perform Clair de Lune, one of the most beautiful pieces he had ever heard. He chose it because to him, it captures the very essence of how deeply people can connect through music.
"Close your eyes", he said, "and imagine moonlight dancing on a still lake. Let the ripples reflect love, nostalgia, highs and lows… and hope. Can you feel it?"
As the final note faded and the audience applauded, Peter stood up and looked at the crowd. He saw another stranger visibly moved by his music. For the first time he felt the heart-to-heart connection with people, just like he always dreamed about … To him, this moment was more than enough.
Peter felt an incredible sense of accomplishment. “I can play on stage after all… and people do love it!” Of course he was fully aware of the imperfections, even some of the wrong notes that he played. But he now understood what fellow artists meant when they shared a piece of wisdom, that would fuel the next steps of his journey:
“Music is not about perfection. It’s the joy we see, the vibrations we feel,
and the emotions we experience”.
What matters is that Peter took the risk, and that is the whole point. As it seems, making music and risk management have a lot in common after all: “Both are about daring to take steps towards your goals and dreams,” he says.
Every now and again, and especially when life gets busy, Peter performs a classical piece at a train station, sharing his music with strangers.
If you have regrets about a dream that you buried under “busy-ness”, this is his advice to you:
Don’t let your life get so busy that you bury your passion. If something inside of you is quietly waiting, wake it up.
It is never too late to go for it.
Next time you are moved by a stranger’s musical performance in a public space: Pause. It might be someone just like Peter. And know this, connecting with you through their music, puts a smile on their face too 
To me, Peter’s story is about so much more than music. It’s about saying yes to yourself and rediscovering your forgotten passion, even after years of silence. And maybe * just maybe * it’s a quiet nudge to at least one person reading this post, to dust off a forgotten passion that once made you smile.
Behind everyone you meet there is a story, often untold.
Read more about the storyteller here
Teda, Peto, to je gol,klobuk dolu.
Perfektne, len tak dalej, drzim prsty 😘❤️
So inspiring to read and even more to listen to the beautiful piece Peter played. And beautifully written. I get a lot of joy from it all. Thank you very much for sharing 🌟