Lofty Plans

It has been great spending time at home surrounded by the Geriatrics. I think it was just what was needed. I shake my head when I think of the lofty plans I made before leaving Plainview.

I knew I wasn't 100% healthy while packing, but I had convinced myself this little URI wasn't gonna keep me down. I just knew I was going to get bored while I was in Arkansas, so I packed for a productive week. My lofty goals included 3 books, 2 piano solos, and repertoire on my iPad that still needs some attention. I was going to accomplish so much!

My body and mind had other plans. They decided to shut down as soon as I entered the Geriatric Ward. I've only read 40 pages of one of the books. The piano solos remain on the back seat of my car. The piano in the dining room has remained silent. I've simply nursed this URI by lounging on the couch while watching mind-numbing television (between the body-shuddering fits of coughing, that is).

I'm glad that my body has demanded the rest. I'm also thankful that I'm in a place where I'm not beating myself up because my self-imposed goals aren't being accomplished. It's taken a while, but I'm finally figuring out that there is a time to be driven and there is a time to take it easy. Both are necessary and extremely beneficial....and I plan to enjoy this week of rest before the final push to the end of the semester begins.

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Resolutions for 2016

It has come time to commit my 2016 resolutions to paper. None of them are Earth shattering, but they are all intended to keep me focused on my goals. Without too much commentary, here are my New Year's resolutions.

• Become more healthy. I've decided not to mark this with weight loss (although that would be nice!) this year. Instead, I'm more interested in how I feel. I plan to increase how much water I drink. I want to become more active so I feel better. I want to feel comfortable with how my clothes look on me and how they fit. I'm not pursuing a number....and I think this is going to be a better method for me.
• Increase my personal reading. I'm getting back into the habit of reading daily for pleasure. My goal for 2016 is to complete 24 novels.
• Reconnect with treasured friends. When I was frantically piecing together a life with several part-time jobs, I allowed myself to become too busy to nurture friendships. I take responsibility for that decision. Now that I'm settled in one place without all of the family responsibilities, I intend to repair and re-establish some of the friendships that I miss the most...and hopefully build some new ones as well!
• Visit two cities I've never been to before. This sounds like it will be more difficult than it really will be. I'm living in a new part of the country and haven't done a lot of exploring yet. It's time to hit the road and see what I can find.....

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Goals for the New Year

Happy New Year! I'm sure that many of you made resolutions this year. I have found that it is important to set goals in order to have something to aim for.  Even if I don't reach the goal, any amount of progress is an improvement from the current situation. Additionally, by making my goals public on this blog, I know that I will be held accountable throughout the year.

This year, I've created goals in three areas:  personal, musical, and spiritual. Here are my 7 goals for 2015 with a brief explanation of each.

PERSONAL

• Begin a personal savings account. I'm thankful that I am not reckless with my money, but I've never been one to stash away cash for the future either. There always seems to be something that the funds are needed for immediately. This year, I am going to strive to put a portion of each paycheck directly into savings. I've not come up with a plan yet -- whether I'm pushing for a set amount each month or a certain percentage -- but I have a few days to figure this out. January is not a major source of income for me.
• Increase my personal reading. This continues to be an annual goal. 2014 was not a good year for me as a reader with health crises on every hand. In 2015, I plan to read more than I did last year (21 books is the number to beat). Honestly, I'm hoping to regain the momentum from 2013 and improve on that year's number of 46 books.
• Lose 10 pounds. Weight loss has been the unattainable goal for the past several years. Fast food, lack of time to exercise, and sleepless nights are the major culprits. Rather than shooting for the moon as I normally do -- hoping to drop below 200 pounds -- I decided to be a little more realistic and aim for 10 pounds. To hold myself accountable, I'm going to publicly admit that at the time of writing this post, the scale reads 229. (Ouch...that's painful to admit!) Let's see what happens in 2015 with my waist line and my weight.

MUSICAL

• Improve my knowledge of orchestral repertoire. I love classical music. I am fairly well versed in piano literature and song repertoire. My short coming comes when I begin to think about orchestral music -- symphonies and concertos.  My goal is to become familiar with 24 major works by the end of the year. That works out to 2 works per month. What will determine "familiarity"?  If I know more of the work than when I started, I'll be satisfied. I'm going to let my interests guide me through the year rather than feeling tied down to an arbitrary list. I plan to begin with Tchaikovsky's Pathetique (Symphony #6, Op. 74).
• Perform a solo piano recital. This is going to happen in 2015! I've finalized the program for the most part and now I'm in the process of learning the repertoire. I anticipate this will be performed in early fall.  Here's what's planned:

 

·  “The Alcotts" from Piano Sonata 2 by Ives

·  Sonata in F Major, K. 332 by Mozart

·  A nocturne by Faure (either the Eb minor or Db major)

·  Variations on an Original Theme, Op. 21, No. 1 by Brahms

·  Prelude and Fugue in C Major, WTC Book I by Bach

·  Napoli Suite by Poulenc

• There might be another short piece included.....I'm just not sure right now.

 

SPIRITUAL

• Read through the Bible. I've done this a couple of times, but feel a need to commit to an entire reading of Scripture again in the New Year. One of my challenges in the past has been not having a Bible physically with me when I'm on the road. This year, I am using The One Year Bible Online. The website sends a daily link to my email account that I can access from my phone, tablet, or a computer. I actually began this project in mid-December and have found the process to be very convenient.
• Become actively involved in a Bible study group. Now that I've settled down and found a home church, it's time to make connections and commit to a small group. I'm picky when it comes to Bible teachers that I will sit under each week. So far, my solution has been to avoid Sunday School all together. That's no longer acceptable.....so this weekend, I commit to beginning my search for a Bible class.

Now they're out there......so I have to get to work! What are your goals for the New Year? Do you share any of mine? If so, let me know.....I'd love to have an accountability partner.

In Dreams

Dreams come in many shapes and sizes. Some are hopes for ourselves. Others are wishes for the happiness of another. Sometimes dreams fill us with hope for a better tomorrow. Occasionally, a dream is so big that just thinking about it is overwhelming.

I've noticed that dreams most often come when our mind is at peace. Just as literal dreams flash through the mind while the body is resting and restoring itself, life's big dreams tend to be birthed during quiet seasons. We're in between projects, stress is relatively low, and we begin to entertain possibilities for the future.

Our dreams are often expressions of our deep-seeded desires. Things we have thought about before, but never dared to voice find their way to the surface as a dream. In the safety of a dream world, we are able to explore the options that our cognitive mind would normally brush away. In dreams, we are not forced to face the possibility of failure. In dreams, any fantasy has a chance of being reality.

Our dreams are influenced by our surroundings. Do you remember watching a movie right before bed and becoming a part of the story in your dreams that night? Our life dreams are also influenced by the world around us -- whether it's judgmental nay-sayers or people who have faith to move mountains. If you want a new dream (or a new outlook on an existing dream), it may be time to evaluate your daily environment.

Dreams can be frightening. Sometimes our fear is associated with the content itself. More often, I find that my fear is associated with the size of the dream. After all, the bigger the dream, the greater the possibility of failure. For those of us who tend to dream big, we know that it can be both a blessing and a curse. It's a blessing when we see limitless possibilities. The curse comes as we begin to share our dream with others; few things can be more discouraging than realizing you didn't effectively convey the dream to another person.

Dreams are not reality. They are temporary expressions of what could be. Fortunately, our dreams can become reality if we are willing to risk, work, and keep believing. When a road block appears, our dream demands we courageously look for another solution. As we get tired of all the hard work, the dream must be revisited to remind us the outcome will ultimately be worth the high price.

I'm finding that a new dream is taking shape in my own heart. Truthfully, it's not entirely new; it's a rebirth of an old dream. The enormity frightens me. The task is huge. I'm certain challenges lie ahead. The dream may never become a reality, but I'm not willing to spend the rest of my life wondering "What if?" So, I'm keeping the dream in mind and slowly taking steps to make it happen. Even if it doesn't come about in the way that I hope, I have to believe that my life will be enriched by daring to give birth to my dream.

What dream is in your mind today? Dare to imagine how your life would look if you courageously took the first step toward fulfilling your dream. After all, a dream is nothing less than a wish your heart makes!

Sweet dreams to you, my friends!
~Kennith