LeslieUpchurch.com

I am about to get busy and am not very busy.  I am preparing my apartment for a new roommate.  At this point, music teaching is not the focus of my life.

I am always so focused on teaching.  When I am not teaching I fee l a little lost.  I also had to stop practicing Bikram Yoga which I have been practicing for the past 4 years almost always regularly.  It is a weird time.  I have many friends there and just went out with them 2 evenings ago, but it is not the same.

I joined a new gym and I love it.  In time I will make new friends, but this is the second time I had to leave a Bikram studio.  First, it was because I was completely disagreeing with the owner of the studio's way he treated students, including me.  Now, I had a studio that I loved and have a health issue that is preventing me from practicing Bikram.

This is a part of life that is happening that reminds me of the cycles of each school year.  Each year we build classes and they thrive, or not, and then they end.   I am trying to do things in my life that are not cyclical.  I want to build on things.  For some reason this is not always happening.   It is frustrating.

Teachers get so caught up in their work, and I am like that. A couple of years ago I decided that I was not a music teacher but a person who teaches music.  Since then my focus has shifted.  It has given me a much better perspective.  I have made more friends because of this.

The year always comes up on me slowing and when it starts it always feels like a surprise.  I know, but I don't really get "into it" until it starts.  That is just how I work - doing what is happening and now really great at preparation.  Yes, the years and years of teaching have given me so many activities, a great sense of calm in general, and I don't need to prepare that much.  But, I am determined not to feel so behind the ball this year when things start.  I will keep you posted.

There are days when I feel so completely wise and competent.  Then, there are days like today.  I live through them, not really feeling all that special.   I know I have an amazing ability to teach.  I am still working on having an amazing ability to live!

And, I am looking forward to my new roommate moving in. It has motivated me to clear things that I kept meaning to clear out and now I did!  An extra TV, an old mirror I never really used, an ancient ironing board.  Clearing gets me ready to move into the new year in an orderly way.

Now, I am thinking that I also want to get more musical activities, particularly in the area of performing.  I had this amazing performance last month and want to do more.  I truly love performing, whether with someone or as a soloist.  So, I am going to stop writing and contact some of my musical friends to get some things lined up!