I was torn between literature and music as a child, my heart was in both. Music seemed the way to go as I went to the RCM in London at 10. But growing up amongst musicians I realised I wanted more and different. I wasn't bothered about audience, I played for myself. I loved teaching though, had my first 'cello pupil at 14, the second (a headmistress just about to retire) at 15. She went on to study in Paris and become a 'cello teacher. I was hooked. After refusing to go to full-time music college ("but you are good enough to be a top-flight player" haha, NO, I thought) I taught secondary music & English, Junior everything, primary everything, reception class and finally 'odd-bods' i.e. remedial, high-fliers, problem behaviour children, etc.. Had two sons and moved to the country, spoiled for London by a year in the country at 5. Three homes in Wales, one near Cardiff, then a commune in the Welsh Marches, finally family smallholding in rural Ceredigion. Started journalling, running the Bookmooch Journal site, joined Goodreads, got into voluntary editing and proofing for a Spanish author there, who writes good but sometimes flawed English, was inspired to write myself, as I had intended when 5. Animals, nature, music, reading, writing & research occupy my time to the tune of 20 hours a day in summer, 17 or 18 in winter.
If I lived my life again, I would probably choose to do it all the same only more so.