Blog

Buy the xylophone!

I just played “When the Saints Go Marching In” and “God Bless America” on my new xylophone – an early birthday present to myself. 

It’s been over four decades since I played the xylophone in middle school and the ninth grade of high school. When I joined the percussion section in the sixth grade I was the only one who could read music because I’d had piano lessons, so I was told to play the bells – or glockenspiel. Later in the ninth grade, I carried a xylophone in marching season and played it in concert season, too. After that I became the conducting drum major for marching band and tried different instruments during concert season. My xylophone experience was short, but I loved it. 

In Austin I was reminded how much I loved it when I tried out a marimba class with Joel Laviolette. I felt like a kid again and I’ve wanted a xylophone since then. But when’s a good time to buy a xylophone? It doesn’t really fit in the budget. This month I made it happen. 

I also thought of things like “What’s the point? Where does it lead?” HA! Like everything has to be commercialized and monetized. I dropped that idea and I know the point is creativity and play. 

A few recent articles about the power of learning and playing music or singing also motivated me. 

Also, since last summer I’ve focused on songwriting as a creative outlet. I’ve mainly worked on lyrics, and now I can also pick out melodies on my xylophone. 

I’m already loving the physicality of it – standing, striking the keys, reading the music and losing myself in the music making. 

If you’re not quite ready to buy the xylophone or other instrument, you might check with your local library to see if they have instruments in their “library of things.” 

I love this great line in The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron: “But do you know how old I will be by the time I learn to really play the piano / act / paint / write a decent play? Yes… the same age you will be if you don’t.”

Happy New Year and I hope you find ways to explore your creativity, too! 

Hard Days of Winter

“Our task is to say a holy yes to the real things of our lives as they exist.” – Natalie Goldberg

These are my hard days. January has always been a long month with some recurring seasonal depression. The month is a minefield of sentimental dates: the date of my mother’s passing on January 14 and her birthday January 23; the January 25 birthday of my sister who passed 12 years ago; and the anniversary of the loss of a pet. And we all have things we’re struggling with that we don’t share. 

Also, it’s been cold. Really cold. So cold they closed the schools. So cold you could get frostbite in 10-30 minutes. Negative temperatures and wind chills. I’m a southerner living in rural southeast Wisconsin. I’ve generally had a great attitude about winter, but this year the extreme temperatures are making the hard days harder. 

To get I’ve pulled out all my tricks, tools and acts of radical self-care. Here’s what’s currently helping me: 

The days are getting longer and the hard days end with my own birthday on January 29. I always enjoy my birthday and ignore all the negativity about aging. It’s a privilege I celebrate with a holy yes.

Really start living

“At some point in your life, if you’re lucky, you throw practicality to the wind and really start living.”  Erma Bombeck

What would it look like to throw what seems like “practicality” to the wind in your life? Have you already done that in some ways? Try writing more than one scenario. You have options! Reviewing the possibilities can also lead to appreciating the practical in your life.

Our Daily Art

“We may regret our circumstances – and no doubt many of us should. But the way toward a fuller life in the arts must come by way of each person’s daily experience.”

– William Stafford

Writing prompt:

Where is the art or creativity in your daily experience? Where is the joy? Can you see a way to create more room for art and joy in everyday life? What would that look like?

Dancing a “Good Life”

In the photo I’m nine years old and wearing one of my favorite recital costumes from dance class. I keep it on my fridge to remind me of the pleasure I get from dancing and the confident joy of my younger self. 

Currently both my writing voice and my physical fitness level are wobbly. I’m out of shape. My current writing project is shifting and nowhere near ready to share publicly. I’d like to connect more around writing, but I haven’t been writing anything I could share. 

While writing morning pages recently, I had a big epiphany and remembered that it’s simple. I do what I love and write about it. My current passion is dance and fitness in general. So I’ll be sharing my journey. 

In a nice moment of synchronicity, on the same day as my epiphany, my morning devotion book shared the affirmation “As I trust myself, I create my perfect body.” And pointed out the power of the journal for “practicing the steps in front of the mirror.”

I’m comforted by returning to dance and other types of fitness. Dancing has been a big part of my life at times and is my preferred movement practice or exercise. Outdoor walks are for meandering and soaking in nature. The treadmill is dreadful unless I’m watching something on my tablet to pass the time – which feels like checking out or disassociating from the exercise. 

I’m currently doing the Nia Technique through the app NiaOnDemand. I choose a routine based on my intuition, energy level and mood. Sometimes I like to revisit a routine I know well or have done before. The body remembers, and I find myself remembering steps even if I’ve only done that routine once. I also don’t pressure myself to finish a routine if I’m feeling tired or distracted. I choose to dance, it’s not a demand I make of myself. 

While I’d love to do a live class, there aren’t any Nia classes nearby. To find a Nia teacher near you visit NiaNow.com. Nia combines dance, martial arts and mindfulness. Here’s an official description: 

Nia is based on the intelligent design of the body. Each workout combines mindfulness and dynamic movement – leaving you energized, mentally clear, and emotionally balanced.

Nia workouts combine 52 simple moves with dance arts, martial arts, and healing arts to energize and enliven well-being in 60 minutes – body, mind, emotion, and spirit.

Nia is non-impact, practiced barefoot, and adaptable to individual needs and abilities. Nia classes are taught by licensed Nia teachers and trainers in dozens of countries and languages across the world.

Nia has been a part of my life for over twenty years. I began doing Nia in Charleston, then trained as a teacher there, and taught for a few months in Columbia, SC, before I moved to Austin back in 2007. There were so many great teachers in Austin, and I had a full time job, so I decided to enjoy being a student. 

My childhood was full of dance classes in ballet, tap, jazz and modern dance. My family also square danced. I still recall most of the cheerleading dance routine from the one year in middle school that I was a cheerleader. 

Nia has two slogans I love and hope to emulate: “the Joy of Movement” and “Through Movement We Find Health.” I also like that the word abundance has dance in it. I know the joy of movement will reverberate into other areas of my life. 

Review:

“Good Life” – Dance Break 
Time: 5 minutes
Teacher and choreographer: Ann Christiansen
Music: “Good Life” by Vargo

This five-minute dance break will have you singing “Good Life” all day! I love this routine for the familiar steps and simplicity of the moves. I’m not able to keep up with the cha-cha-cha’s and I honor my body’s current fitness level and skip them. I still get a great dance in and I especially love the dramatic ending move.