I love moments of recognition like this one:
I'm sitting next to a mini-me on the subway - a little girl who could have been me 25 years ago. She's too tall to be so thin, wearing jeans held up by suspenders, and double velcro sneakers. Her long hair is held back by a headband, with a wispy blunt-cut bang. She's reading a large book too heavy to hold comfortably, so she's resting it in her lap and leaning over with pursed lips to read the story.
It's both disconcerting and sweet.
First posted at expetesso.com
Friday, September 17, 2010
Thursday, September 2, 2010
We are the music makers, we are the dreamers of dreams
A few years ago, long before I started thinking about moving to New York City, I spent a work bonus that I received to buy a guitar and arrange for a year’s worth of lessons. It was an excellent choice; I spent time every week learning new things and making music, thinking about something that wasn’t work-related, that was just for me.
Since I moved in February of 2009, though, I haven’t once picked up the instrument to play. The guitar and all of my music has a prime spot in my living room, making it easy for me to pick up and strum whenever I wish, but I haven’t made the time or effort. I’d like to change that.
I enjoy making music, and by Christmas-time, I’d like to be able to accompany my friends at a caroling party. Over the course of September, I’d like to spend time every day playing—practicing chords and picking patterns, relearning fingerings, and getting my calluses back in shape. By October 1, I’ll know if the Christmas-time goal is reasonable.
I’m currently on vacation in Upstate NY—with my guitar. Time to go work on C(add9).
Since I moved in February of 2009, though, I haven’t once picked up the instrument to play. The guitar and all of my music has a prime spot in my living room, making it easy for me to pick up and strum whenever I wish, but I haven’t made the time or effort. I’d like to change that.
I enjoy making music, and by Christmas-time, I’d like to be able to accompany my friends at a caroling party. Over the course of September, I’d like to spend time every day playing—practicing chords and picking patterns, relearning fingerings, and getting my calluses back in shape. By October 1, I’ll know if the Christmas-time goal is reasonable.
I’m currently on vacation in Upstate NY—with my guitar. Time to go work on C(add9).
It started with Giving Away 50 things I Don't Need...
When I first found 43things in the spring of 2006, the goal that immediately caught my attention was “Someone wants to give away 50 things they don’t need.” It started me on a pattern of evaluating the “stuff” in my life that I carry around for no reason, and allowed me to think of better uses for it. I gave away books and clothes and kitchen implements, gardening containers, electronic apparatus, craft supplies, athletic equipment, and lots of other things that I just didn’t use anymore; things that were cluttering my life and keeping me from seeing the things that were really important. I started reading books and blogs about minimalism and simplicity, about only holding on to that which has meaning. That then lead to acting and dreaming with spiritual intent, and the environmental focus of “creating happier people and a happier planet”.
I do a decent job with possessions; I don’t hoard things that don’t matter, and I think critically about the items in the world around me that appeal to the more possessive side of my nature. My wants and needs revolve around having experiences and developing new skills now, more than anything else, and that makes me very happy. Now, though, it’s time to move beyond “things,” to expand my understanding of “stuff.” People, places, activities, projects, work, play, dreams—I want to take the time to really evaluate and understand each one, to ensure that my full, robust, wonderful life is what I want it to be, not what others insist it should conform to.
On my vacation this week, I’m taking a Digital Hiatus from the things that stress me out. After one whole day, I don’t miss the social networking aspect at all, but I really wish I’d brought my computer so that I could edit the photographs and video I’ve shot of my nephews. After a couple of panicked hours thinking I really did need to be plugged in at work despite all of my careful planning, my boss assured me that he’s “got it covered” and that I “need to put down the blackberry and really go on vacation now.” I haven’t felt the need to check my work email since that moment yesterday at lunch, but I kind of miss gmail and being able to keep up with my friends. I would like to write a blog entry about my day yesterday, but know that I would compulsively check the comments stream to be sure I responded to everyone who had a thought about what I’d written; instead, I’m going to write about it in a journal, on paper, with a pen. And I’m writing about my goals here, on 43things, where my list is public but I really do feel accountable only to myself.
It’s telling that the things I wish I was able to do all match up with goals on my list. Learn to take really good photographs: only happens with practice. Write regularly: I don’t need a computer or an audience to be accountable for the words I put on a page, but I do need to take the time to collect my thoughts. Play the guitar (last post): what I’m doing with my afternoon.
Vacation is good. But this goal is about making my life good, so that I don’t need to take a vacation from it in order to feel balanced and fulfilled.
I do a decent job with possessions; I don’t hoard things that don’t matter, and I think critically about the items in the world around me that appeal to the more possessive side of my nature. My wants and needs revolve around having experiences and developing new skills now, more than anything else, and that makes me very happy. Now, though, it’s time to move beyond “things,” to expand my understanding of “stuff.” People, places, activities, projects, work, play, dreams—I want to take the time to really evaluate and understand each one, to ensure that my full, robust, wonderful life is what I want it to be, not what others insist it should conform to.
On my vacation this week, I’m taking a Digital Hiatus from the things that stress me out. After one whole day, I don’t miss the social networking aspect at all, but I really wish I’d brought my computer so that I could edit the photographs and video I’ve shot of my nephews. After a couple of panicked hours thinking I really did need to be plugged in at work despite all of my careful planning, my boss assured me that he’s “got it covered” and that I “need to put down the blackberry and really go on vacation now.” I haven’t felt the need to check my work email since that moment yesterday at lunch, but I kind of miss gmail and being able to keep up with my friends. I would like to write a blog entry about my day yesterday, but know that I would compulsively check the comments stream to be sure I responded to everyone who had a thought about what I’d written; instead, I’m going to write about it in a journal, on paper, with a pen. And I’m writing about my goals here, on 43things, where my list is public but I really do feel accountable only to myself.
It’s telling that the things I wish I was able to do all match up with goals on my list. Learn to take really good photographs: only happens with practice. Write regularly: I don’t need a computer or an audience to be accountable for the words I put on a page, but I do need to take the time to collect my thoughts. Play the guitar (last post): what I’m doing with my afternoon.
Vacation is good. But this goal is about making my life good, so that I don’t need to take a vacation from it in order to feel balanced and fulfilled.
See more progress on: Eliminate the stuff from my life that doesn't fufill me spiritually, emotionally, or creatively
First published at 43Things
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)