A Musician's Journal @amymantismusic-blog - Tumblr Blog

A Limerick

I think I'm gonna write more of these. This one is about a Donald:

There once was a Donald named Trump Who liked to sit on his rump From the toilet he'd tweet And cause us to weep Whilst he was taking a dump.

#limerick #trump

Everything in service for others

Despite being intrinsically motivated, I know I benefit from external factors. The biggest one being other people. When I'm doing something for someone, I will be far more likely to accomplish it (no matter how much I want it for myself already. Throw others in the mix, and you can consider it done on my end).

We often hear "it's not about you." What do you mean it's not about me!? I'm doing the work, I'm creating the thing. How is it not about me!?

Because everything is easier when it's done in service for others.

Want to be in better shape? Find something that needs you to be in better shape, and you will get in better shape. Maybe that's why so many people run marathons for charities. Want to learn a new skill? Find an endeavor or a job for someone else who needs that skill. Want to get better at your current craft? Teach it, and you will be forced to always up your game for your students. Perform it, and you will be forced to grow your abilities for your audience.

It's okay to do things for you, but it might be better to do things for you and to do them for others. They're really one in the same.

More than you can chew

Biting off more than you can chew may seem like the fun thing to do. But then what do you do when you're choking? You're forced to start over again with a smaller piece.

Had you started with the smaller piece, you'd be ready for that next chunk.

Day 30!

Time flies!

It's crazy to think that 30 days have already gone by. Now, I'll see how long I can keep this chain going because why not? I'm already here.

Consistency is key, my friends.

Keep going.

Preventative Practice / Guitar Training

I am in the throws of a lifelong commitment to improve, well, everything. But right now I'm focusing on my body.

Sometimes I get mad that I have to roll and mobilize before I play guitar. For a solid eight years (13 to 21), I could just pick up and play with no fear of pain in my wrists, forearms, elbows, or shoulders. Then I injured myself doing yoga (I know), and my right wrist/shoulder has never been the same. I went to physical therapy, occupational therapy, took matters into my own hands via Kelly Starrett and Jill Miller, I've had countless massages, gone to several acupuncturists, had some dry-needling, and some bio-puncture, and the problem still prevails. Not only does it prevail, it's gotten worse due to a skiing accident last winter.

My left wrist was great up until this past April when I felt my nerves react (I felt tingly) while I was doing basic warmups on my guitar. It was likely a combination of practicing in a poor position, strain on my shoulder (I was standing), and nearly 13 years of guitar-playing that zapped my wrist. So I went to my guy, and then my other guy, and then back to my first guy, and then back to my books and videos to help alleviate (and eventually say goodbye) to all that I've been experiencing.

Most recently, I developed what I think is upper-cross syndrome, and I just started a program to help with that (and restarted some others).

I do believe that with help from others (doctors, massage therapists, etc) and my own practices, I can become pain-free once again. Or if not pain-free, then very close to being pain-free. I know that I have to maintain a daily practice on my own, as hard as it can be. I know that I won't be perfect all of the time, but there are things that I can do to help no matter what state I'm in or how I'm feeling that day.

Sometimes I get upset at my situation, but that doesn't do me any good. It can be annoying when ten minutes into a practice session, I have to stop so I can mobilize, but if that's what it takes to play, I'll do it.

We all have our own form of training so we can do what we want to do when we want to do it. If my training is this right now (and for as long as I live), then I will accept my challenge and do what I need to do, so I can do what I need to do.

Do what you can

With what you have.

I fell out of my vocal practice over the week. It's something that I'm really good about maintaining when I'm at home (Boston), but not good at when I go away, which is something I really need to get better about.

I almost didn't practice, but then I remembered that even 10 minutes would serve me better than zero minutes.

I would love to tell you that I'm perfect when it comes to my routines, but I am not. But I'm working on it.

Do what you can with what you have.

And right now, if you can swing it, please consider donating money (or buying goods) for our friends in North Dakota.

Side effects

The things we often seek to have in life (happiness, recognition, money) are better off as a by-product than a goal.

My goal is to be a great musician, and I work toward it on a daily basis. That means a lot of time spent doing not glamorous things (see my most recent Instagram post) for no immediate tangible reward.

Side effects of that could be any number of things, but the point is to focus on the "great musician" part rather than the possible results because the odds are much better of achieving whatever by-product (as Eleanor Roosevelt would say) you wish if you channel your efforts into the skill rather than the desired by-product.

Motion is better

I'm a firm believer that it is easier to maintain a habit than to have to keep starting over.

I was out of town yesterday, and nearly forgot to write tonight. But like anything, getting the ball rolling is harder than keeping it moving. Inertia is a tough one.

Gratitude is simple

Gratitude is something I work on cultivating every day. I think we become better people when we are more grateful for even the tiniest things. At first it feels trivial (at least it did for me), but after a while, it gets less trivial because you realize how happy and lucky you are to just be sitting with a cup of tea looking out the window.

It's not as hard as it seems. Just saying "thank you" more can get you started.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.

[I Stand With Standing Rock]

Perfection's a trap

Done is better than perfect is one of my favorite philosophies. It's not an out for being sloppy - it's a reinforcement that doing something is better than doing nothing.

How often do you find yourself not doing anything because you don't think it will be good enough?

How do you get to be "good enough?" By not being perfect and just getting things done.

Yeasayers

I'm gonna play off Seth Godin's post today:

Opposite of the naysayer, of course.

This is the person who will find ten reasons why you should try something.

The one who will embrace the possibility of better.

The colleague to turn to when a reality check is necessary, because the reality is, it might work.

Are you up for it?

Yes. I've never thought of myself as a yeasayer, but I am. And I think it's important to be that person. To be the champion - even to yourself.

Who knows what we can accomplish if we stop telling ourselves we can't do what we actually want to do.

Cold

Still haven't gone to bed yet so this makes the cut for Sunday! And I'm struggling for something good.

The cold is a noble force. I've been a fan of the Wim Hof Method for a few months now, and now that it's chillier out here in New England, I can put it to the test.

Admittedly, I've slipped up in my practice so I have to circle back a bit before I can say I walked around in a t-shirt while it's snowing out, but I can say that I notice a HUGE difference in my demeanor with some cold exposure. Much more alert, much happier, and I feel like I can get a lot more done.

So we'll see what the end results are of consistent Wim Hof-ing now that we're in the season for it.

Remember to have some fun

We are living in trying times.

I am an advocate for doing what we can with what we have, and that means calling your representatives, speaking out against oppression, educating yourself and others, and fighting for what's right.

But don't forget to do what makes you happy as well.

The world hasn't stopped, and, to quote Jackson Browne, we all must do the best we can. And in order to the best we can, we have to have fun.

And with that, Walden Pond beckons.

Go Deep

I've read the Harry Potter series collectively over 100 times. That's an average of 14 reads per book. I've definitely read some more than others, but I know that I've read each of them into double-digits.

Why? Because I love those books. And when I love something, I love it.

Be it a song, a movie, a book, a blog post, a person (currently obsessed with Ruth Bader Ginsburg), I always go as far into something as I can. And I never know how far that is going to be, which is half the fun.

We don't know what's going to have an impact on our lives. So you might as well make the most of whatever piques your interest because, no matter what, the outcome will be interesting.

Imagination, reality, and bedtime

Yet again, still haven't gone to bed yet.

I often find myself thinking about all the things I want to improve in my life. Most of the time, I act on them. Lately I've fallen victim to my imagination. I think it's because I haven't acted on anything recently. Well, that's not 100% the case, but in most instances, it is.

Time to fix that.

The first step is admitting there is a problem.

(Like with my bedtime.)

What are you waiting for?

Since I haven't gone to bed yet (I KNOW), this counts as my entry for the 16th.

I don't know what I'm waiting for. So that means I should stop waiting.

There will never be a better time than now. My friend Christine McVie said it best: yesterday's gone.

And starting now is better than starting later.

So, let's stop waiting.

Caught-up

We're back on track. And by "we" I mean me. There is no one else here.

And now that I have filled my quota, I am going to do other things that will make me feel better. It's hard to be of use to others when you're feeling down on yourself.

Keep fighting the good fight, kids.

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