Today is the Autumnal Equinox, when the daylight and night-time hours are nearly equal. The equinox is a great time to think about restoring balance in our lives. Do you have as much joy as you have stress in your life? Every study on degenerative brain disease shows that stress is the most destructive factor of brain aging.
It’s important to balance work and recreation. Remember that old proverb, “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” We become dull to ourselves and others if we don’t have some fun and social interaction every day.
What can you do today on the threshold of this new season to bring joy and laughter into your life? Write a list of 10 things you love to do, and plan to do at least 5 of them this week.
This is true for piano practice as well. We could be revisiting exercises and difficult passages in our music, (and voicings if we are jazz students), along with playing through songs and pieces that we already know, allowing ourselves to take pleasure in the beauty of our own music.
It’s such a gift to listen to recorded music that we love, too. In the car, while we’re cooking, or getting ready in the morning for the day ahead. I love listening to the songs I grew up with, yet I rarely do it!
What else can we do to balance our lives? Eating healthy meals along with enjoying some treats. Exercising along with taking time to relax with a good book.
As the great philosopher Ellen DeGeneres says,
“Life is about balance. The good and the bad. The highs and the lows. The piña and the colada.”
With love and music, Gaili
Author, Upper Hands Piano: A Method for Adults 50+ to SPARK the Mind, Heart and Soul
Check out our awesome books, free sheet music and videos! UpperHandsPiano.com
How is this for balance, I will give equal time to my scales, counting and songs that i luv to play, xx
That sounds very balanced! You’re doing a great job sticking with it!
Better late than never! Count me in.
Excellent! I can’t wait to hear about Paris…
Dear Gaili Schoen
thanks so much for all your blogs and pieces. After retiring from teachin Chemistry I undertook two years for beginners at the Sydney conservatorium but have now movead to counry Queensland and bought a new piano. My teacher showed us your blogs and I hve enjoyed them ever since.
Here in the heat, thinking of you in the snow and reading your good advice
kindest regards
Narelle Lovell
Wow that’s a wonderful story! I’m so glad that you’re finding my blogs helpful. How exciting that a teacher in Australia is referring students to my blog! Thanks for your comment and don’t hesitate to ask questions. Happy New Year!