Since last year’s goals and keyword worked out pretty well, I decided to set some new goals and pick another keyword for 2010. This process usually takes me a while. There’s some cogitating and ruminating (and procrastinating *wink*) that go into making plans for a year.

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To plan ahead, I took a look back.

I looked at some of my goals for 2009. And guess what?

I met almost all of them.

Yup. More readers, more Songtaneous events and more gigs in more places, more collaborating, more money … (That last one especially was a surprise. *smile*)

Actually, I have to confess that discovering I’d met any of my goals was a surprise because, unlike Chris over at the Art of Nonconformity suggests, I didn’t review my goals over the course of the year. I don’t recall actively thinking about them. I just wrote them down and went to work.

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Now I’ve known for many years that there’s power in writing things down. When I worked at the magazine, I would frequently create a master “do list” when I was feeling overwhelmed or we had a deadline approaching (and, let’s be honest, usually one of those situations was in play.)

There were no due dates or order to the list. Just a big old list of what I had to do in whatever order the tasks occurred to me.

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The only rule (which I don’t think I realized was a rule at the time *smile*) was that the list lived on one page. (Oh and routine things like check email didn’t make the list.)

And then this “do list” would sit on my desk somewhere and I’d occasionally reference it for what to do next.

But most of the time I didn’t.

Most of the time, the list worked it’s magic behind the scenes in my subconscious. I’d check back in a few days or weeks and realize that I’d finished a majority of the tasks on the list. Even better, I’d “discover” that quite a few of the remaining tasks were no longer relevant and could be crossed off the list.

See? Magic.

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(Alright, setting aside the magic theory for a moment,) here’s why I suspect this works for me.

1. Writing down the list of tasks buzzing around like angry bees in my head gives them a place to light and me a chance to rest.
2. In some subconscious way it helps me prioritize the tasks. (This might be priority based on energy I have available, not due date.)
3. It quantifies the amount of work. The number of tasks becomes concrete and therefore (somewhat) manageable AND
4. I can see the pile getting smaller.

As a finisher (someone who likes to finish things as opposed to start them), seeing the pile get smaller is hugely important. And gratifying.

(Yes, I know there’s another list in my future, but first I get to finish this one. *wink*)

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By the way …

My keyword for 2010 is Nourish. It conjures up fresh green growing things, waves on the shore, semi-audible music playing somewhere in the background and a relaxed and rejuvenated state of mind. (Yes, I’m suffering from the winter blahs, but it’s still a good keyword. *smile*)

How about you? Any themes, goals or resolutions you’re undertaking? Have you picked a theme or keyword for 2010?

I find if I’m feeling anxious, frazzled or just over-caffeinated (which happened a LOT this past week!) that this breathing exercise moves me from shallow anxious breathing to slow contemplative breathing.

Not to mention that as part of my vocal routine it strengthens and refines breath control and support. Most important — especially when the frazzled caffeine thing is happening — it takes about 2 minutes.

It has two parts … inhaling and exhaling. (*wink*)

Each exhalation is a count longer than the preceding inhalation. After each breath cycle you increase the count by 1.

Confused? Let’s walk through it.
(Hint: read through the instructions before trying it.)

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First, establish a steady beat (not too fast, not too slow, but juuussst right *smile*). You can tap your foot or snap your fingers or just hear the beat in your head.

1. Breathe in for 1 count (yup, it’s quick!)
2. Breathe out for 2 counts
3. Now, breathe in for 2 counts
4. Breathe out for 3 counts
5. Breathe in for 3 counts
6. Breathe out for 4 counts …

Got the idea? Continue until your inhale count is around 14 and your exhale is 15.

I notice that at about 6 or 7, I have to change the way I’m breathing. I have to consciously slow the inhalation AND the exhalation. Slowing and deepening the breath calms the rest of me, too.

By 13 or 14, I’m calm, cool and collected.

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Thanks to everyone who showed up for the holiday show, we had a great time!
(Maybe you can tell? *smile*)

Spices: A Women's Ensemble celebrates the holidays.

Whew! What a fun musical weekend! I had a great time at the AQ (Artists´ Quarter) with Jay Young and friends and a Songtaneous time was had by all Saturday afternoon. It was such a full weekend that I had to take my own advice about rest stops. I’ll be back next Monday with the latest installment in the Passion Pays the Bills series. In the meantime …

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A funny thing happens when you write a blog … you spend a lot of time wandering the web. Meandering online helps me come up with ideas for blog posts. Another thing that inspires are the blogs I read.

In the last year, I’ve found a lot of valuable, interesting, funny and just downright bizarre stuff in cyberspace. A lot of it never grows up to be a Songtaneous blog post. This post includes a cornucopia of things I’ve come across during my virtual travels.

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Improv makes better communicators

I’m not sure how I found this article about the benefits of improvising for public speaking, but I think everyone should take a year of improv, too. *smile*

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Jazz Therapy

I’m a big believer in the restorative powers of music so I was all ears (eyes?) when I stumbled across this article about Jazzheimers – a trio playing jazz to Alzheimer’s patients in San Fransisco facilities.

I especially like the tidbit about Louis Armstrong sending music to hospitals. (See? We knew he was hip.)

Two more sites about the healing properties of sound.

1. “Sound is one of the quickest, easiest and most effective ways of shifting stuff.” Amen, brother Fabeku, amen.
2. How singing is helping people with Parkinson’s disease.

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I’ve mentioned that I heart the Bepobified Blog, right? (And it’s not only because the calendar keeps me in the loop on all things jazz and cool-iful.)

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This article covers all the “crazy things people do with their voices” from breaking glasses to Inuit throat singing. (Better yet, there are videos.)

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“Be afraid, be very afraid.” *wink*

thereifixedit.com

This explains some things. *wicked grin*

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P.S. I just found out I’ll be facilitating some Songtaneous sessions at the Minnesota OUT! Campus Conference on McNally Smith campus next weekend (November 14 and 15!). Look for more details on the Events page in a couple of days.