Your musical journey is so relatable! I think a huge part of sparking that passion for music is having intrinsic motivation. So many people drop their instruments because they don't have control of their journey, and just play what their teacher tells them to, relying on extrinsic motivation like praise and parental pressure (me included, that's why I dropped piano and flute ha). You nailed that feeling of rigidity, it's suffocating. The reason I keep playing guzheng is because I chose it and made it mine. I play because it brings me joy and makes me feel free, and for you, running brings that same joy.
Your musical journey is so relatable! I think a huge part of sparking that passion for music is having intrinsic motivation. So many people drop their instruments because they don't have control of their journey, and just play what their teacher tells them to, relying on extrinsic motivation like praise and parental pressure (me included, that's why I dropped piano and flute ha). You nailed that feeling of rigidity, it's suffocating. The reason I keep playing guzheng is because I chose it and made it mine. I play because it brings me joy and makes me feel free, and for you, running brings that same joy.
I love seeing you play guzheng. It is so clearly something that brings you freedom and it inspires me when I see you play.