Yesterday was my end of the year piano recital. Nearly 40 of my piano students performed, including my mother and my niece.
I never tire of these recitals. I sit on stage beside each student, until they are ready to be on stage alone. Even my more advanced students welcome my presence, if for nothing else but page turning.
Performance for me is one activity, where I can easily put myself in the present moment, and stay there. It took some work to perfect this, but now, all I have to do is take a deep breath and I instantly enter my zone. Nothing else matters, while I'm in performance zone. The future is not important, the past is irrelevant. All that matters is each musical note I am experiencing.
I've shared my technique with my piano students. We call it "Ninja Breath" or "Samurai Breath", depending on which image they prefer.
My heart would swell as each of my students would approach the piano with their sheet music, and wait while I adjusted the bench. Then they would sit on the bench and calmly take a deep breath.
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| Discussing the "Ninja breath" |
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| One of my star students! |
Such feeling to come out of these young souls! And to know that I had a part in releasing this music, my heart swell pride and love for each of my students.
My mother, had her best performance yet. She played "On the Bonny Banks O' Loch Lomond".
She played with tenderness, missing hardly a note. She is usually quite nervous on stage. Often forgets where she is. Not so yesterday!
I asked her about it later. She told me she was thinking about her brother. She played her piece in his honor.
My mother's brother, my uncle's funeral was today. I've been looking at his tribute video online, posted by the funeral parlor. He lived a full life. Filled with family, love, hard work and good living. He touched many lives.
I went to Vancouver to visit with my daughter and Baby Gracie this morning. My mother and father stopped by for a visit. My father is too frail to mount the steps to the trailer, so we met them outside. He has lost weight. I fear he may be the next casualty in our family. My daughter sensed it too. We stood outside and let Gracie babble and wave at them. We stood there for a long time. When they had left we talked about how we need to spend as much time with them as possible.
But then, we never know when any of us will meet our demise. I need to remind myself of this. To live in such a way, that if someone passes, or if I pass, there are no regrets, no lingering harsh words.
I know that I have focused mostly on myself and my long path to improved health on this blog for the past 3+ years. I feel like I need to be at my best in order to help take care of my family. But in so doing, I feel like I have become a little too self involved.
So I'd like to add a focus for Year Four of Soulrunnings.
Loving others. Serving others. Making a difference in someone's life, no matter how small.
After all, I follow the risen Jesus Christ. When asked by his disciples what was the greatest commandment, he said:
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