Friends, this is another guest post by a friend and fellow musician - Ivan Olarte. Ivan is a great classical guitarist (he'd probably hasten to disagree!,) uke player, and barefoot runner. I've known him for years and you can find many of his videos at youtube.com. He has some words of wisdom to impart that I surely wish we Westerners would take to heart.
Many people have the phrase at the ready "I just don't have time to _______"
With
today's incredible technology, and even though we have the world at our
fingertips we seem to live busier lives than ever. So do you get to practice most of the activities you want to engage in, or do "just don't have time"?
Spinning Plates (aka "Keeping the momentum!")
What has worked for me is to look at my various interests and activities (work, family, photography, barefoot running, classical guitar, meditation, caring for my Bonsai trees, etc.) as a set of Spinning Plates.
And so I go through day by day, and week by week spinning some of the plates that haven't been touched in a while. Without any rigid schedule I make sure I practice a little or a lot of any of my particular interests on a consistent basis.
This way, I manage to keep my interest and the proficiency that I have gained alive and "Spinning." Like a juggler, I keep things loose and flexible. So for instance, right now with the cold weather, short days etc, I'm not running barefoot as much as I do in the summer but I keep my body conditioned and my love for this activity alive and vibrant. I'm also practicing more music and photography which are well suited to doing indoors. And like a juggler, if a plate falls down, No Worries, you pick it up, and get it spinning again - always keeping things light and FUN!
Spinning Plates (aka "Keeping the momentum!")
What has worked for me is to look at my various interests and activities (work, family, photography, barefoot running, classical guitar, meditation, caring for my Bonsai trees, etc.) as a set of Spinning Plates.
And so I go through day by day, and week by week spinning some of the plates that haven't been touched in a while. Without any rigid schedule I make sure I practice a little or a lot of any of my particular interests on a consistent basis.
This way, I manage to keep my interest and the proficiency that I have gained alive and "Spinning." Like a juggler, I keep things loose and flexible. So for instance, right now with the cold weather, short days etc, I'm not running barefoot as much as I do in the summer but I keep my body conditioned and my love for this activity alive and vibrant. I'm also practicing more music and photography which are well suited to doing indoors. And like a juggler, if a plate falls down, No Worries, you pick it up, and get it spinning again - always keeping things light and FUN!
