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Day 256: Zita, Piano Ninja!

I drew this piano ninja for my students to encourage them to practice. Now it is for me!


So inspired by my musical interactions yesterday! I gave it some thought. And I came to the conclusion that I need to do some shifting and prioritizing.  These past 256 days, I have been focusing on my health. I set out to change my eating habits, exercise regularly and draw closer to God. And I have done all those things. However, I am still heavier than I would like to be. I still battle depression and anxiety and procrastination. But my health has improved. I have tools that I draw upon daily to battle my demons.

I have been feeling rather frustrated lately. I wonder if I was somehow expecting my focus on diet and exercise to fix my whole life?  It certainly has helped. But after my performance yesterday in an environment of support and focus on our mutual interest- insanely playing music, and taking on new, challenging works, I realized I have been depriving myself of the joy that comes from the gift I have been given. I have never achieved my full potential as a pianist. A teacher of mine in college suggested I might have a fear of success. I have never forgotten words.  I am now 54. How many more years or months or even days do I have of this life? Of course nobody but God can answer that question. But I think I am ready to start finding out what my full potential is!

On November 20th, 2015 I posted this new list:
  1. Daily Mass
  2. Daily Exercise
  3. Daily Music Practice
  4. Daily Blog
  5. Daily Prayer
  6. Daily Cleaning
  7. Daily healthy eating with fasting between 8 p.m. and 8:30 a.m.
Then on on January 16th, I went completely OCD and planned out every hour of my day:

Weekdays

6:00 Wake up. Drink warm lemon water. Stretch while listening to classical music
6:30 Make tea. Read Bible. Write in journal. Pray.
7:30 Walk on trail or go to gym
9:00 Breakfast
10:00 Shower, blog
11:00 Practice piano
12:30 Lunch
1:00 Pack meal and backpack.
1:30 Bus
2:30 - 9:00 Students and rehearsal
10:00 Home
10:30 Stretch to classical music
11:00 Bed

All good ideas that I intend to keep. But I think I have focussed on diet and exercise enough for now. I will keep exercising daily and eating healthy food, avoiding gluten and processed food. But I done thinking about it, talking about it and blogging about it incessantly. Can you say, "boring"? I can! 

"Boring!"

New weekday plan: 
  1. Wake up. (Good start!)
  2. Stretch to classical music
  3. Practice piano while drinking tea
  4. Take a break with a trail walk
  5. Eat something healthy
  6. Practice piano
  7. Pray, read bible
  8. Blog , check email
  9. Teach some students, rehearse, grab some lunch, pray some more, read a bit, listen to some music, talk to some people
  10. Come home and relax, talk to family read, stretch, play some games worth family, hug dog.
  11. Sleep!
I lleft out wasting time on the internet and tv.Intentionally.

My goal is two hours a day piano practice. Or more! 

And now I begin!

Happy Wednesday!

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