Yep! Who was I kidding? My job is demanding enough... where did I think I would be able to find the time to take on playing the piano again?
It is such a shame actually as I was really excited about taking it on, but I have just sent off an email to my new teacher telling him that I am not able to continue because I simply don't have the time - which is true! Whilst it is reality, it still upsets me.
This however leads onto an important message, I'm sure you will be familiar with this - but 'don't bit off more than you can chew', in my case, nobody was throwing piano lessons at me, I chose to take it on, knowing that work will be prioritised over it, and then subsequently in the same period, taking on more work responsibilities... it was always going to end up this way, without making any sacrifices, which I am not able to do at the moment.
So why not take a moment, look at the things you are doing in your life. It is still very important to have that balance, of work and life, enjoyment and fulfilment, and if you sense some unbalance, what can you change about it?
I try to have that constant balance in my life, you need to be aware of it all the time, and constantly tweak things as new elements come and go.
Going back to playing the piano was just one of many extra curricular activities that I have chosen to undertake and unfortunately the last one in, is the first one out.
My plan is to resume lessons in a couple of months, and I hope to do so.
Thursday, 14 July 2011
Tuesday, 5 July 2011
Beyond control
Day in, day out, I encounter people who worry. They worry about what they will eat for dinner, about what they will wear on the weekend, they worry about how they will get through the rest of the week and believe it or not, I actually think that it's not a problem to worry in this way. As a result of the worrying, you are able to plan, prepare, and make changes. You are able to take certain progressive steps to ensure that you will be fine.
You have another breed of people who worry about things which are beyond their control. Things like people who are on a plane and worry the whole way whether the plane is going to crash (a very recent conversation I have had), or those in relationships who worry that the other person doesn't love them as much as you do. I always say to people who worry about things which are beyond their control that there is no use in worrying, because if something is going to happen, you have no control over it. Instead, why not focus on what you are able to do in order to feel that you have played your part, and now you just need to leave fate to run its course.
For example, take the plane situation. I understand where the worry and fear comes from, but are you able to change anything if the plane is going to be struck down by lightening? Well I think that unless you are some kind of superhero, or a mutant with extraordinary power, then the answer will be no. If so, focus on making sure you have your seatbelt on, make sure, your luggage is stowed away properly, make sure you listen to the safety announcement, and make sure you know what to do in case of an emergency. Then rest. You cannot do anything else, so why not spend that time that you would worry, enjoying every moment of the flight, eat, drink, talk, laugh, at least that way you are converting lost time into enjoyable time.
Life is too short to spend time worrying. If you must worry, at least make it worthwhile, and don't let the worry last too long, do something about it. If you are not able to do something about it, and it is completely beyond your control, just enjoy life, enjoy the moment, and don't look back.
In order to live a fulfilling life, you need to cease the moment, and make sure every second you are breathing, your mind is filled with good thoughts, satisfaction and fulfilment.
You have another breed of people who worry about things which are beyond their control. Things like people who are on a plane and worry the whole way whether the plane is going to crash (a very recent conversation I have had), or those in relationships who worry that the other person doesn't love them as much as you do. I always say to people who worry about things which are beyond their control that there is no use in worrying, because if something is going to happen, you have no control over it. Instead, why not focus on what you are able to do in order to feel that you have played your part, and now you just need to leave fate to run its course.
For example, take the plane situation. I understand where the worry and fear comes from, but are you able to change anything if the plane is going to be struck down by lightening? Well I think that unless you are some kind of superhero, or a mutant with extraordinary power, then the answer will be no. If so, focus on making sure you have your seatbelt on, make sure, your luggage is stowed away properly, make sure you listen to the safety announcement, and make sure you know what to do in case of an emergency. Then rest. You cannot do anything else, so why not spend that time that you would worry, enjoying every moment of the flight, eat, drink, talk, laugh, at least that way you are converting lost time into enjoyable time.
Life is too short to spend time worrying. If you must worry, at least make it worthwhile, and don't let the worry last too long, do something about it. If you are not able to do something about it, and it is completely beyond your control, just enjoy life, enjoy the moment, and don't look back.
In order to live a fulfilling life, you need to cease the moment, and make sure every second you are breathing, your mind is filled with good thoughts, satisfaction and fulfilment.
Monday, 4 July 2011
Piano Joy
So part of my new years resolutions this year is that I am going to start doing more things that I love in my spare time and really try and embrace a healthy work/life balance routine.
I think lifestyle is absolutely connected with quality of life, and this in turn has an impact on your health, either positively or negatively.
I would like to talk more about work/life balance in my next post.
In the meantime, something which I am very proud of is that fact that I have started playing the piano again. I was a very good piano student, and I played piano from the age of around 12 until I was 17, in that time, I accomplished alot, I raced through my grades and almost got to the end. During the time of my A'levels, pressure and stress built up, and I was finding that I was spending hours on end every evening practising my scores, examination pieces, that I left little time to my studies.
One morning I woke up and decided that I no longer wanted to play the piano and that it was time I focussed on my studies and got through them. The idea was that I would resume and play again once I had finished my exams...
Somehow 10 years flew by, without me barely sitting down at a piano, but it was always at the back of my mind that it is something which I would like to resume. I finally plucked up the courage to go and book some lessons, and I started officially my first lesson today, and wow, part of me remembers the persistence and discipline that comes with playing, but I also remember a beauty about playing the piano which ignites something in me when I am back sat in front of it... and it is so easy to get lost in the sound of the keys pulsating through all senses in your body.
It is a true feeling of satisfaction and pleasure.
I would like to ask, do you have a hobby, or skill which you have abandoned? is there something which you have always wanted to do but never got round to actually doing it? When was the last time you experienced something for the first time? How much time do you spend doing the things you love?
If you don't, then see if there is something big or small that you can undertake that allows you to forget about all stress, pressure and trouble you may have in your life. It could be going for walks, taking up an instrument, or even watching that TV programme that you love, but just don't seem to have the time do watch.
Tomorrow, I would like to talk more about the work life balance, but in the meanwhile, start brainstorming some ideas, you will see that you will become a much happier person as a result of it. Don't make the same mistake I made and leave it 10 years before you go back to something you are passionate about. Time waits for nobody.
I think lifestyle is absolutely connected with quality of life, and this in turn has an impact on your health, either positively or negatively.
I would like to talk more about work/life balance in my next post.
In the meantime, something which I am very proud of is that fact that I have started playing the piano again. I was a very good piano student, and I played piano from the age of around 12 until I was 17, in that time, I accomplished alot, I raced through my grades and almost got to the end. During the time of my A'levels, pressure and stress built up, and I was finding that I was spending hours on end every evening practising my scores, examination pieces, that I left little time to my studies.
One morning I woke up and decided that I no longer wanted to play the piano and that it was time I focussed on my studies and got through them. The idea was that I would resume and play again once I had finished my exams...
Somehow 10 years flew by, without me barely sitting down at a piano, but it was always at the back of my mind that it is something which I would like to resume. I finally plucked up the courage to go and book some lessons, and I started officially my first lesson today, and wow, part of me remembers the persistence and discipline that comes with playing, but I also remember a beauty about playing the piano which ignites something in me when I am back sat in front of it... and it is so easy to get lost in the sound of the keys pulsating through all senses in your body.
It is a true feeling of satisfaction and pleasure.
I would like to ask, do you have a hobby, or skill which you have abandoned? is there something which you have always wanted to do but never got round to actually doing it? When was the last time you experienced something for the first time? How much time do you spend doing the things you love?
If you don't, then see if there is something big or small that you can undertake that allows you to forget about all stress, pressure and trouble you may have in your life. It could be going for walks, taking up an instrument, or even watching that TV programme that you love, but just don't seem to have the time do watch.
Tomorrow, I would like to talk more about the work life balance, but in the meanwhile, start brainstorming some ideas, you will see that you will become a much happier person as a result of it. Don't make the same mistake I made and leave it 10 years before you go back to something you are passionate about. Time waits for nobody.
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