As you have probably already figured out, today is definitely one of those days. It seems as though nothing is going according to plan. I was supposed to go out to Leavenworth tomorrow morning for a piano festival, but the weather is not cooperating. I also am unable to practice (flute at least) because my instrument will be in the shop until Tuesday. And yet again, I am at work with spotty internet reception, no phone reception, and hardly anyone coming in. On these kinds of days I find it very difficult to think of much that really makes me happy. Although I guess the best way to start is to remind yourself of what you are grateful for, and the things that you may be overreacting about.
Things I am grateful for:
1. That I even HAVE a job.
2. When my instrument comes back, it will be in great playing condition.
3. I can still practice piccolo and practice by listening what I am playing this quarter.
4. I have family, friends, and a boyfriend that love and support me.
Things I am probably overreacting about:
1. The weather. Although I probably will not be able to go to the piano festival, it is not the end of the world.
2. Assuming people don't call because they don't want to talk, not because they are busy with something important.
3. Again, work. Many people wish they had down time like I do. It is a blessing in disguise.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Friday, January 13, 2012
A Little Inspiration
Not too long ago, I asked my boyfriend what seemed to me like a simple question: "Do you believe in God?" I remember expecting a simple yes or no, but what I got was something much more meaningful. The conversation went something like this...
Him: Yes.
Me: Why? (Being the curious person I am, of course I would ask this question!)
Him: Because I hear God when I hear music.
I can't say that his response surprised me at all, but it definitely struck a chord with me (pun intended!). Since then I have been mulling over our conversation in my head, mainly thinking about my own connection with the music I play and listen to. In this whole thinking process I've realized that I agree with him. Although there aren't many pieces of music that really strike me hard enough to make me extremely emotional, there are absolutely a few that just make me want to laugh and cry at the same time because I am so overcome with emotion. As I was recently listening to one of those few pieces, I realized that I could hear the voice of God in the music. I did not know this because I felt he was telling me something in particular, but rather because it was so beautiful and made me feel so many things I could not put into words. I feel like this kind of beauty can only be captured by those chosen by God to do so.
Now, you have to remember, I am not trying to preach the word of God to anyone. In fact, I do not attend church and am not really a religious person myself. However, this does not mean that I do not believe in God. As I found myself lost in the music it came to me that the people who can play music have of course been given a gift from God, but those that compose it have been given a challenge. They have been given the hard task of putting their ideas into some of the most beautiful compositions the world has ever know, but they were chosen because they could handle it and they were not at all afraid of their gift. Think of Bach, for example. Not only did he put out an incredible number of works, but each seemed to be absolutely flawless. To this day his music is considered an essential part of any musician's repertoire. And you know what? He worked composing for the church. Out of all the composers, I have a special connection to Bach's music because I feel like everything he wrote was for a purpose and that all you need to know is right in front of you. It is, in my eyes, his translation from God.
Even if you are not religious, consider this the next time you hear music. I know I was inspired, and you might be surprised at what you find inside yourself.
Him: Yes.
Me: Why? (Being the curious person I am, of course I would ask this question!)
Him: Because I hear God when I hear music.
I can't say that his response surprised me at all, but it definitely struck a chord with me (pun intended!). Since then I have been mulling over our conversation in my head, mainly thinking about my own connection with the music I play and listen to. In this whole thinking process I've realized that I agree with him. Although there aren't many pieces of music that really strike me hard enough to make me extremely emotional, there are absolutely a few that just make me want to laugh and cry at the same time because I am so overcome with emotion. As I was recently listening to one of those few pieces, I realized that I could hear the voice of God in the music. I did not know this because I felt he was telling me something in particular, but rather because it was so beautiful and made me feel so many things I could not put into words. I feel like this kind of beauty can only be captured by those chosen by God to do so.
Now, you have to remember, I am not trying to preach the word of God to anyone. In fact, I do not attend church and am not really a religious person myself. However, this does not mean that I do not believe in God. As I found myself lost in the music it came to me that the people who can play music have of course been given a gift from God, but those that compose it have been given a challenge. They have been given the hard task of putting their ideas into some of the most beautiful compositions the world has ever know, but they were chosen because they could handle it and they were not at all afraid of their gift. Think of Bach, for example. Not only did he put out an incredible number of works, but each seemed to be absolutely flawless. To this day his music is considered an essential part of any musician's repertoire. And you know what? He worked composing for the church. Out of all the composers, I have a special connection to Bach's music because I feel like everything he wrote was for a purpose and that all you need to know is right in front of you. It is, in my eyes, his translation from God.
Even if you are not religious, consider this the next time you hear music. I know I was inspired, and you might be surprised at what you find inside yourself.
Saturday, January 7, 2012
The New Year
So we've made it to the new year: 2012. The world is supposedly ending, every is looking at the economy with a "glass half full" attitude, and of course we all have our new year's resolutions. But I have to ask, what is so different about a new year than any other time? Why should we treat it any differently than other times during the year? My point being that it seems as though we make resolutions to be better people and have better attitudes which really only last for the first week of January. After that, we continue on how we were before and think to ourselves, "I'll try again next year." Why is it that we cannot think of every day to be like the new year. It is a new day, and there are new opportunities every single day we wake up to embrace them.
I believe it is time that we stop celebrating the new year with resolutions, and instead try to embrace every single day with goals in mind. Can you imagine getting to the end of 2012 reflecting on how much you have accomplished instead of how much you let pass you by waiting for a new chance in 2013? Don't fret if you've made resolutions and haven't quite done the best job so far to follow them, thinking you have to wait for another chance. Instead, make it a point to think about them every single day, even when you aren't following them. Continue to remind yourself of what you want to do and what you want to become.
I believe it is time that we stop celebrating the new year with resolutions, and instead try to embrace every single day with goals in mind. Can you imagine getting to the end of 2012 reflecting on how much you have accomplished instead of how much you let pass you by waiting for a new chance in 2013? Don't fret if you've made resolutions and haven't quite done the best job so far to follow them, thinking you have to wait for another chance. Instead, make it a point to think about them every single day, even when you aren't following them. Continue to remind yourself of what you want to do and what you want to become.
"The fact is, that to do anything in the world worth doing, we must not stand back shivering and thinking of the cold and danger, but jump in and scramble through as well as we can."
Robert Cushing
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