Trust...Patience and your "Footprint"...

Hi Everyone!

I hope you're all enjoying this fabulous spring weather! Summer is just around the corner and just thinking about the craziness in schedules and events I thought it might benefit us all to think about trust and patience.

I have a 19 year old (OMG!!) and trust and patience has been the cornerstone of how my daughter and I relate. I also teach (see previous blogs!)...trust and patience (especially patience!) is a MUST for any kind of teacher.  The "trust" part I'm pretty good at! However, when it comes to patience??? Oh man!!!!!! I am ALWAYS looking for some usable tips on how to rein my IMpatience in!!!

Below I have compiled a list of steps to create trust and patience in your lives. As usual, take what you need and discard the rest. If you cannot use any of it..toss it!!!!! Take a look..

(1) Stop doubting yourself. When you notice that sneaky little doubt sliding into your thoughts...tackle it and throw it out! You do not need it! It's a bad seed!

(2) When something goes right celebrate! Celebrate your awesomeness!!!! Don't be that person that always sees the things that have gone wrong and never acknowledges the things that go right. There is ALWAYS something "right" somewhere. Sometimes it may be harder to find...sometimes it is right in front of you. Appreciate the good (Oh yes, that car just gave me a courtesy wave! WOO HOO!).

(3) When it is not right...let it go. Let the universe do its magic. Yes, sometimes we have to look to the future...mortgage payments, putting food on our table. But that person who snubbed you this morning? Let it go. Use your energy towards something positive. Dwelling on slights and the bad things that have happened is not positive. Bottomline-sometimes you just gotta "suck it up" and go on. It's not easy. Sometimes you get dealt a hand that seem insurmountable. Sometimes there is something just so wrong...and no one sees it. You have to keep going. Look up. Paste that smile on your face. Take a deep breath. Take a step forward. Then another...then another...

(4) Trust that what you need is out there. Trust the universe to be heading you in the right direction. If you cannot find it you are not looking in the right place. Keep looking! Be a Nancy Drew...or a Hardy Boy (personally, I thought Shaun Cassidy was hotter!!!...Yup! Just seriously dated myself!).

(5) When you are in need-ask for help. If you need something ask for it. Example: you are cooking dinner and you need someone to set the table...ASK someone to do it. If you need something, and do not ask for it how do you expect to get it? There are very few people out there nowadays that can read minds...

(6) Not to sound morbid or anything, but think about when your time here is winding down. It's time for you to move on to whatever is next (Heaven, other worlds etc...) What do you want to leave behind? How do you want to be remembered? Did you leave "Good" or "Not-So-Good"?  I want to know I left some good. I want to be remembered as being compassionate, kind, and fair. I want to be remembered as having helped someone, somewhere in a positive way. I would like my "Footprint" to be the footprint of kindness.

What kind of "Footprint" do you want to leave behind?

Thanks again, for reading!!! As always, eat well, be healthy and stay happy! Oh, and one more...practice kindness!!

Today...

Today many things made me happy. Trying to choose one is ludicrous!!! (Did I just use that word???) My Music Enrichment Class went fantastic! It is challenging and I spend a lot of time preparing, however, it is definitely worth it!

The picture I have posted pretty much represents my feeling on today's happenings!

I am settling to watch some NCIS and start my new book by John Irving (my second favorite author!)...So goodnight!!!!!!

The Importance of Music in our Lives

http://crytivo.com/

Hi Everyone!

Last year I began this blog with the intent of writing about my escapades (and the Master Gardener's) in the garden...hoping to add a little humor to the whole process. After the gardening season ended I thought it would be good to transition into a type of blog that tries to help see the good in life and promote happiness. I have talked about a lot of issues that I believe are important to promote a state of well-being not only physically, but mentally as well. I have not touched on the spiritual aspect, however, it's coming!

My thought for this blog was to transition back into the gardening area and get back into telling everyone about our gardening issues. However, I have seen quite a few people beginning blogs on this topic and honestly, I am not an expert on gardening. The Master Gardener (my husband) is much more knowledgeable than I am! I just like poke some well-intentioned fun at our escapades. I will continue to do that, however, my blog will focus more on the physical, mental and spiritual well-being as it has from last Fall.

As the title suggests I would like to talk a little about Music. From my previous blogs, I have written about what I do for a living. My job is Music based in everything I do. Glee Club, Musical Theatre Workshop, Voice Lessons/Vocal Coaching, Music Enrichment for the Eagles (SEASPAR), SEASPAR Choir, Voice Lessons and Music Mania...THAT'S my job. And every day I walk into class I am always amazed at the effect music has on every individual I have in class. Sometimes it's subtle and sometimes not so much. But I can tell you with absolute certainty that music affects EVERYONE.

Just a few facts about having music in your life:

-Music provides an avenue for people to express themselves when words are difficult.

-Music has the ability to to organize and reorganize cerebral function where it has been damaged.

-As a musician(voice OR instrument) adjusts to changing tempo's, notes, patterns, phrasings and feeling the brain becomes adept at organizing itself(thoughts) and handling numerous activities at one time.

-Musical training has been proven to improve how the brain processes the spoken word.

-A Columbia U. study revealed that students in the arts are found to be more cooperative with teachers and peers, more self-confident and better able to express their ideas.

-With music in schools, students connect to each other better-greater camaraderie, fewer fights, less racism and reduced use of hurtful sarcasm.

-High school students who participate in band or orchestra report the lowest lifetime and current use of all drugs.

-The skills gained through sequential music instruction, including discipline and the ability to analyze, solve problems, communicate and work cooperatively, are vital for success in the 21st century workplace.

These are common benefits that every Music Teacher, every Music Therapy instructor and every Musician knows. We ALL know this. And it's not just limited to benefiting children. Adults have the same reactions to music that children do. Think about it...play a couple different types of songs. Think about how they affect your "mood". When you're working on a big report/presentation for work, put on some music in the background. What happens? Well, what happens is music accesses a different portion of your brain...the creative area...VERY helpful when "creating" anything (from a report to a presentation to a letter...ANYTHING!)

My last week was filled with:

-A Musical Theatre Workshop performance where 16 young girls learned 9 musical numbers, dialogue, dancing, singing and how to conduct themselves professionally on stage. They were FANTASTIC!

-A Voice Recital where 9 of my students each performed 1-2 vocal pieces as a result of their work over 10-12 weeks. AMAZING!!!

-SEASPAR Music Recital where my Choir(Glee Club) and Voice students absolutely KNOCKED IT OUT OF THE PARK on performance day! 

Between all of these groups there was almost 30 participants! And seeing how they conducted themselves, how they performed, their ease of being in front of a lot of people was positively inspiring! 

Asking a few of them what they would do if they could not have music in their lives I was met with shocked faces and a "what are you crazy?" response. 

Music is everywhere. Listen carefully. Even in the forest preserves you can hear the birds singing. Sometimes what you do not think is music is music to someone else's ears. (Personally, AFI kind of escapes me...but I think Mozart escapes some people too!). Whatever your taste in music expand on that. Or try something new. There are wonderful concerts in the park, Ravinia, the city of Chicago has some wonderful venues for music. Why not get out there and try some this summer? Maybe you will find some different music you like or maybe you will enjoy your own personal favorites. You never know.

If you do not have music in your life right now, take the time to add some. I guarantee you will not regret doing this. 

Music is for everyone. And everyone should have music.

Thanks for reading! As always eat well, stay healthy and be happy!

(*For more information on any of the groups I work with or any of the classes I teach please drop me a note!)