Saturday, December 7, 2013

December LIFESTYLE CHALLENGE


Here we are...December 2013! Time for another challenge!

For those new to the challenges, it isn't to compete against others. It's to push yourself to greater heights, have some company & inspiration along the way, and a few ideas the help get us focused. For example, you can use this waving of the analytical knife to help organize your goals:

1) Exercise - Set a specific plan or goal(s). Keep us posted weekly (or more) on your progress!

2) Creativity - Music, art, writing, acting...set a goal to complete by month's end. Keep us posted!

3) Personal life - Re-affirm your personal relationships, get to that project/chore you've been avoiding, or just read a book you've always wanted to read!

4) Professional life - Set a work goal or change jobs or....just tell us what it is and keep us posted!

I'll post my goals below, and then provide weekly up-dates...

How about YOU?

10 comments:

  1. My goals for December 2013: 1) Survive the end of the semester! 2) Continue to run at least 6 miles a week. 3) Work through the first 12 etudes of John Patitucci's 60 Melodic Etudes. 4) Dive into Plato's Republic 5) Re-learn a bit of French and scope out some fancophones! 6) Finish christmas gift / project for my grandparents. That's about it!

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  2. Excellent, John!

    My goals are a tad crazy with all that's going on....leaving the Beaumont YMCA after 10 years of teaching there, negotiating a new deal, blah, blah.... But that said:

    1) I took it easy for 3 weeks and am shifting my work-out. Lower reps. More tabata!

    2) Get demo reel done, get re-focused on releasing 3rd Alien Blue CD, start solo work (acoustic), and finish outlining a new electric project....

    3) This is so crazy at the moment with custody of the grand-babies and the instability of their parents. Ugghh....my goals here, unfortunately, are just day to day.

    4) LOTS of stuff here....and will write an entry about that soon!!!

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  3. 1) Back into my exercise routine, 30 minutes a day 5-6 days a week. No goals, I don't count my reps or measure my weights, I'm not a body sculptor and I won't tie my ego to my workout.

    2) Creativity is hard this month with my workload learning the Scott Said backlog. That being said, I have become more creative with my private guitar students and have been taking risks in the material I introduce. I've pushed a little harder and it seems to be having a positive effect!

    3) My most important relationship right now is the one with myself. I know that's cliche but I have spent this entire year working towards the health of someone else at the expense of my own, both physically but mostly mentally and emotionally. It's time to look inward.

    4) Probably have as much professional stuff going on as David does, or at least close. Most of it I'm playing pretty close to the vest, so no details. Suffice to say productivity is key; the theories and speculation days are behind and now is the time for tangible, hands-on effort.

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  4. Drop another 25 lbs. (I'm down 50 in 2013!)
    At least pick the tunes for my long-threatened Pop Songs CD, and get the girlfriend started playing guitar.
    Do my best to get her to move here
    Just keep up... we're crazy busy at the old sign shop.

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    Replies
    1. 1, it's a bit soon. I don't weigh in often so as to not be obsessing.
      2. I have a little list, they'll none of them be missed.
      3. Got started. Pushing her as hard as I can from 550 miles away.
      4. Talks continue.
      5. Actually ahead of the game for the moment.

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  5. 1. get back into a regular work out. three day/week for a realistic goal..school/work/kids kind of derail me easily from taking care of myself..
    2. three day detox with a once/week 24 hour detox.
    3. quality time with the husband...date night once/week. this might just be sending the kids upstairs to watch a movie while we watch one downstairs...a lot of "hey, what's up?" as we pass each other coming and going...refer to number one...

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  6. Geez I don't even know where to begin!! So overwhelmed in fact that the idea of putting together a plan seems very ambitious.... Soooo I suppose that has to be my goal at this point....

    (1) CREATE A FREAKIN PLAN! :-/


    How's that? :D Suggestions?

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  7. It's been a while since I checked in. Busy December. Here's what's up and what I'm working toward:

    1)Teaching-Have expanded and filled the roster. I have a lot of really terrific students in a broad range of styles. Goal to keep them challenged and motivated and growing as musicians. Also spending a lot of time with Natalie as she preps for a big SCAPA audition and advances on fiddle.(She's transcribing already!)

    2)Prepping for a wedding where I'll play classical guitar. Working to book at least 4 this spring/summer

    3)Working really hard on the Mandolin. Transcribing things that help. Trying to line up lessons with primo player when he's available. Plan to play solo Lexjam in January
    4)recoring with a singer in December. The one gig I've wanted to do is a duo/trio with a singer. Hoping this is the one.

    5)Family. Celebrating 25th Anniversary with Kristen in January. Trying to give her all I can!

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  8. UPDATE: 1) The semester had ended and I'm still alive- first goal = met X). 2) I did in fact run 6 miles this week, the past few days have been quite nice. 3) I'm afraid that I'm barely 1/4 of the way through the Patitucci etudes- this is the most important goal to me, so it's time to hustle! 4) I've begun reading Dialogues of Plato- haven't gotten terribly far, but at least got a refresher and had the opportunity to discuss Socrates and the dialectic process with my mom. 5) Aujourd'hui, j'ai parlé en français avec de nouveaux amis francophones!! My mother and I stopped by Third Street Stuff and got our butts handed to us by people who could actually speak the French language- they were very kind & patient, I'd like to continue with these meetings (if anybody reading would like to join me- please ask!).6) I'm afraid I wont be able to give my grandparents exactly what I had planned to this year- I will of course give them a call to wish happy holidays and see how they're doing... Until the next update! ;)

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  9. J'ai travaille sur beaucoup de phrases Francais et J'ai trouve un French Youtuber populaire pour regarder et bon practique. ;)

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