being good to me

so, here we are - almost a full three months since my last post.  i have determined that i get busy with a lot of the wrong stuff, keeping me that much further from reaching the right stuff.  it's the obsessive/compulsive side of me (coupled with a mediocre work ethic and way too many full moons) that gets my mind fascinated with something while ignoring lots of other things.  i have had some time to myself to chip away at discovering what is important to me.  i realized that writing is one of those things.  


i also figured out that, after having a birthday this summer, i'm not getting any younger.  i decided to take my health more seriously.  by that, i mean take it seriously.  you know, have someone else look you over and break it down.  i began visiting a chiropractor, and that's been good.  i've started taking some of their supplements (not the sammy sosa stuff) and that's been good too.  i've tried to eat much smarter and much less, both proving to be good moves.  i am drinking way more water and, aside from the fact that i pee all the time, has been good for me. 

i began doing P90X, this workout dvd thing that i've owned for about two years and never opened.  it looked hard.  i was right - it is hard.  i have a small gym in my house (truthfully - a room devoted to weights and cardio only... free weights, bench, bike, yoga stuff, tv, big mirror) and have always thought i was taking care of business.  well, the dude in the video made it pretty clear on day #1 that i'm in some sad shape.  i have stuck with it.  i never miss.  i think about exercising, form, sweat, water, discipline, and pushing that last 10% when i would normally mail it in.  it's been good for me.  physically - yeah, i can do a bunch of pullups now, got the six pack in transit, and know what these yoga moves are actually called.  but mentally - i think i've learned how to be more focused.  


i'm trying to transfer these principles to my teaching and my own personal musicianship.  i took a gig that has flute doubles on it.  i own a flute, i can sort of play, i'm married to a world class flutist - i can do this.  i've eliminated some extra time commitments from my life that, although they do pay extra cash, deduct from my personal happiness.  i'm trying to cook healthier food, which means a racking up a bigger grocery bill and putting more forethought into what goes in the cart.  if i can make these types of changes in my life outside of music, i should be able to do them inside too. it'll be good for me.


and yes - i took some pictures before i got started.  if i'm brave enough and satisfied with the results, i'll post the before & after, which may not be good for you...