More Changes

A few months ago I wrote this post about all the growth, change, and transformation that has been taking place in my life.  And it hasn't stopped since then.  This is the year that challenges all my old thinking.  This is the year that makes me face my fears.  This is the year that I'm finally learning to use my voice.

I had huge plans for this summer.  And of course, you know that making plans is a good thing, because how can you totally throw the plan out the window if there wasn't a plan to begin with?  I had planned to do lots of reading and writing.  I had planned to save money and eat healthier.  I've done a little of all of those things.  But mostly I've launched another big, long term project.  I've had a blog about voice lessons and a Facebook group for quite awhile.  This summer it kicked into high gear with about 30 posts in one month.  It was great and wonderful and really helped me focus and prepare for the school year.  Now I just want to see if I can keep up with it and get more people to talk teaching.

I'm also exploring the possibilities of going into business with a friend. Right now it is probably at least a year off since there is a lot of planning and organizing and fund raising to do.  I'm not going to share more details yet, but if it happens, it's going to be a really good thing.  It will give me a chance to do more of what I love without giving up the things I'm doing now (hopefully).

Another change happened a few weeks ago when a friend committed suicide.  We actually haven't seen each other in a few years and mostly kept in contact by Facebook, but still it hurt.  And there was a lot to process beyond just losing her.  It brought up a lot of old stuff.

At my last doctor appointment, I told my doctor about some annoying but not serious symptoms. He has asked me to try an elimination diet to see if gluten may be part of the problem. So far it is going well.  There are a couple of things I still need to work out, but I'm getting the hang of it. Because I know that chocolate also causes problems for me, I decided to get rid of that too.  I think that I also have a few other food sensitivities, so this whole process might take awhile.

I also just started working with a personal trainer.  So far, I'm loving it, but I'm not sure that I'll be able to keep it up once school starts.  I'll just have to wait and see what my time, money, and energy situation looks like.

Next week is Freshman Orientation.  School starts the following week.  I'll be doing just after school lessons that week, and then I start my regular schedule the second week of September.  And then it's another wild ride through the school year.

I've changed some policies and will be requiring students to use my website more.  I do expect that that will be a little tricky.  I've also added a few more events this year for students.  My calendar is very full and very colorful since I've added colors for different kinds of events.  I'm also finally moving my primary calendar online.  I will still need paper reminders, but I think I've finally decided that online might be easier for keeping track of all that I'm doing.

Also in September I'll be a teaching assistant for 6 tai chi and qigong classes, plus prepping for the October Tai Chi for Energy workshop that I'll be taking from Dr. Lam.

This year of the Snake won't be over until Jan. 31.  What other growth, change, and transformation is waiting just around the corner?

Summer plans

Although it's not officially summer until school is out on June 11th, I've been planning for some time now.
I always start registering students in May for their summer lessons. I'm hoping to do just 3 or 3-1/2 days each week. We'll see how the scheduling actually works. During my downtime on those days, I'll clean out files, redo handouts, and create a plan for the 2009-2010 school year.

Since I don't have any long distance travel plans this summer, I'm going to take at least one 3 day weekend and go somewhere.

I'm also starting a Friday morning brunch group with some voice teacher friends. It will be fun to connect and talk and share ideas.

The big project of the summer--Start some real research on teaching voice lessons to students on the autism spectrum. I've already made a few contacts, and I'm really looking forward to this.

Finally, I'm going to do things that nourish and strengthen my body and soul. I'm going to exercise every day--I really do enjoy it when I'm not exhausted to begin with. I'm going to eat lots of fresh, raw, locally grown foods. I'm going to spend time with people that I care about, talking about things that interest me. I'm going to spend time in the sun (and use gallons of sunscreen.) I'm going to make the time to be still, to find my center, to feel peace. I might even clean my house.

My favorite things about Spring and early Summer

I love spring, and it's not just the warmer temperatures and lack of snow. I love watching the world come to life again, waking up after the long, cold Minnesota winter. Technically spring is supposed to start in March, but in Minnesota, it's still winter. April is a transitional month. One day you have to wear your big coat to work, and the next day its 70 degrees, and then a few days later you're back to the coat.

Here are the things that tell me that Summer is coming.
1. First, the birds and return and build their nests in tree outside my bedroom window. I don't see the nests, but I know they're back because they start chirping just before sunrise. By late summer, I'm a little tired of this routine, but when they first start, I love it.

2. And speaking of sunrise, I love when the rising sun wakes me up.

3. The trees bud and green things start to poke up through the ground.

4. I love the first night I sleep with the windows open. Of course, a few days later I had to turn the furnace on again, but that first night tells me that I won't be cold forever.
4a. I love switching over from the flannel sheets to the regular ones. Don't get me wrong--in the winter, I love my flannel sheets, but when I can finally switch over to the regular ones and start removing some of the 47 (OK, maybe a slight exaggeration) layers of blankets on the bed, I know that spring is coming.

5. I love the smell of spring rain (until it rains too much and switches to the smashed worm smell.)

6. The other day I saw some baby geese. It seems early in the season for that, but I don't know much about geese and their lives. But I do know the joy I felt as I saw the 2 geese at the side of the road with the little trail of goslings following one of the adults. A friend has a mother duck nesting in her yard. I can't wait for those eggs to hatch.

7. Yesterday, I saw my first tulips of the season. When I did more of my walking outside instead of at the gym, I used to see them earlier, just as they are starting to bud. But yesterday, I saw a bed of fully opened tulips and it brightened my day. I don't know what it is about tulips and daffodils, but I love them. It may be the bright colors or it may be that when I see them I know that spring is really here. Crocus peek up through the snow sometimes and I like them, but they announce that spring is coming, but it still could be aways off. Tulips and daffodils say that spring is here.

8. I eagerly awaiting the blossoming of the trees. One in my neighborhood has bright pink blossoms that have opened. I'm watching and waiting for the trees on 140th to all bloom. One is pretty, but when two large sections of the street I drive everyday are lined with pink blossoms, it just makes my day better.