This week started on an exciting note for us. “Blueberries have finally hit the markets!” my wife exclaimed joyfully. She’s been diligently checking local farmers’ websites around Nashville, closely monitoring the season’s offerings. Like many other fruits and vegetables, blueberries depend heavily on the weather for their availability. Typically, we’re sure to find them by July, but the hot summer has prompted an earlier harvest this year. My wife is keen on getting a head start, especially since she’ll be busy canning a variety of other summer produce like chilies and tomatoes later in the season.
Thus, early this morning, we went to Franklin’s bustling farmer’s market. Despite the early hours, the place was alive with activity and the vibrant buzz of eager shoppers. Our mission was clear: secure some of those coveted blueberries. Seeing them lined up in neat rows was enough to light up my wife’s face with excitement. We picked up two baskets, but not just for immediate consumption—she plans to freeze them for gradual use in her jam-making endeavors. She finds the canning process quite therapeutic.
Originally, our plan was to return in July for peaches. However, as luck would have it, we stumbled upon the peach truck on our way out of the market. Without hesitation, we grabbed a small sack. The blueberries will become jelly, and the peaches will be transformed into delicious chutney and jam. According to my wife, it’s crucial to process the peaches first before turning our attention to the blueberries. Thankfully, she’s reserved some berries for me to bake into muffins—a treat I’m particularly looking forward to.
Upon returning home, the kitchen turned into a hive of activity. My wife started by thoroughly washing all the fruits. She then boiled a pot of water, perfect for peeling the peaches efficiently. Most of the berries were destined for the freezer, set aside for future jam sessions. Canning is time-consuming, so she prefers to reserve it for weekends when there’s ample time to indulge in the process.
Today also brought a slight deviation from my usual routine. After the morning’s detour to the market and some lingering muscle soreness, I decided to skip my typical exercises. However, I couldn’t let the day go by without some form of physical activity, so I settled for a planking session and a 5k run. It’s important to stay flexible in daily plans and physical exercise!
Our early summer market trips are more than just about stocking up on produce—they’re about making the most of what the season has to offer, engaging in the joyful task of preserving flavors and creating lasting memories. These simple pleasures enrich our lives, bringing bursts of joy and a sense of accomplishment.
We’ve been gifted a free Saturday for the first time in several weeks. It’s been a hectic period, and this reprieve feels like a gentle exhale. While our usual chores beckon, there are no additional errands, family visits, or specific shopping trips crowding our agenda. The next burst of activity won’t come until the end of June when we venture out to pick blueberries.
In my mind, we were completely obligation-free. However, I quickly discovered that was only my perspective. As I settled into what I thought would be a lazy morning, I wandered into my room only to hear about my wife’s detailed cleaning agenda for the weekend. She’s set her sights on tackling the garage and reorganizing our storage room/pantry in preparation for the bustling month of June. Post-July will be dominated by our annual canning spree, making this the perfect time for such endeavors.
I’ve promised to assist with clearing out and tidying up whatever she deems necessary on this relatively calm Saturday. Aside from the cleaning, she’s also planned to whip up another batch of homemade tofu and has tasked me with bottling the kombucha, which I aim to do right after breakfast.
Though initially, I pictured a day spent lounging; my Saturday will be productive in a different yet equally satisfying way. Engaging in these practical tasks not only prepares us for the busier days ahead but also brings a sense of accomplishment and readiness for whatever the weeks ahead throw our way.
A delightful notification popped up on my phone this morning, brightening my day. Exciting news is on the horizon: a fresh Brandon Sanderson audiobook is set to grace Audible’s shelves later this month.
Following a brain stroke, audiobooks have become an indispensable part of my life. The stroke resulted in double vision, transforming the simple joy of reading into a daunting task. Once an avid reader, I now rely on audiobooks to indulge my passion for literature.
It was my wife who first introduced me to the world of audiobooks. Initially, she thought they’d be a perfect companion for her during routine, undemanding tasks. However, she soon realized that her preference lay in the tactile experience of reading a traditional book instead of listening to one.
Nevertheless, there needs to be more snags when it comes to audiobooks. Often, their release needs to catch up to the print version. At times, specific titles don’t even make it to audiobook format, which has been the case with some of Brandon Sanderson’s works, making me uneasy that they might never be available in audio form. Although they might exist on other platforms, I have yet to find the right one.
“Tres of the Emerald Sea” by Brandon Sanderson is a prime example.
I haven’t extensively searched other platforms, hoping they will eventually appear on Audible. That is why announcing a new audiobook release is even more thrilling, as it could signal the arrival of his other elusive titles.
In the meantime, patience is the virtue I aim to embrace. And what a delightful coincidence it is that the release of this new book coincides with our wedding anniversary. It’s as if Brandon Sanderson himself is bestowing a thoughtful gift upon us. How considerate of him, indeed.
Growing up, I was deeply fascinated by the universe of science fiction and fantasy. One of the series that profoundly resonated with me during my high school years was Robert Jordan’s “Wheel of Time.” I recall the anticipation, the longing, and the frustration of waiting for each new installment to hit the shelves. As the rigors of University and graduate school consumed me, the lengthy intervals between releasing these books meant I gradually lost touch with the series.
Fast forward a decade, and a press release caught my eye – the series was completed by another author, Brandon Sanderson. Having lost track of where I’d left off, I embarked on a nostalgic journey, starting from the first book, devouring the series within weeks. This was my introduction to Sanderson, and his rendition of the series left an indelible mark on me, making his name hard to forget.
Then came Amazon’s announcement of adapting the ‘Wheel of Time’ into a show. An urge to revisit the books struck, but several relocations had scattered my collection. Instead, I turned to audiobooks and, to my surprise, found them to be an even more immersive experience. I was hooked. The entire series played countless times in the backdrop of my daily life, even subtly accompanying me as I pen down thoughts like this one. There’s a particular fondness I hold for the books penned by Sanderson. Whether it’s his distinctive writing style or the crescendo, the storyline was approaching. The 12th book always beckons me with unmatched enthusiasm.
Coincidentally, years later, Sanderson’s name resurfaced in an unexpected arena – a ‘Magic The Gathering’ video. Intrigued, I delved deeper into his bibliography. I ventured into the “Mistborn” series, followed by the “Stormlight Archives.” Both series were enchanting, and as I journeyed with the characters through their challenges, I drew several life lessons.
Among these lessons, one stood out – the significance of persisting, of taking the next step. No matter the distance traversed, the journey is over once it truly is. And the decision to move forward, to tread the next mile, plays a pivotal role in defining us.
In essence, my journey with the “Wheel of Time” series and audiobooks has been more than just a literary adventure. It’s been a lesson in rediscovery, persistence, and the simple joy of stories that leave a lasting impact.
In my years mentoring fresh university entrants, I consistently emphasize a crucial point: the world is rife with learning opportunities if only we recognize and embrace them. Strikingly, many individuals develop a somewhat adversarial relationship with the concept of learning. Such a stance can act as a bottleneck to the vast reservoir of knowledge awaiting them.
Case in point, my wife holds a perspective that’s worth pondering. In her eyes, any learning endeavor should be riddled with challenges and moments of unease. Consequently, when she indulges in activities that bring joy or relaxation, she labels them as sheer entertainment, pushing aside any educational merits they might hold. Her viewpoint is not isolated; many people fall into the trap of demarcating entertainment and learning into separate realms. In doing so, they overlook the profound intersections where learning can be fun and enlightening.
From my vantage point, games serve as a stellar example of tools that straddle the line between fun and education, thereby proving that learning isn’t exclusively reserved for rigorous, structured environments. Games, by their very nature, are playgrounds of application. A good part of our learning trajectory revolves around applying the knowledge we gather. This application is most effective when it’s done purposefully, following an initial exposure to the concerned topic.
Take card games, for instance. At first glance, they might seem like mere instruments of leisure. But delve a little deeper, and you’ll uncover a rich tapestry of lessons on probability. Now, it’s essential to note that merely engaging in countless rounds of card games won’t magically equip you with the prowess to solve intricate probability conundrums. However, couple your card-playing experience with a conscious effort to explore the realm of probability, and you might find yourself armed with pertinent questions, real-world examples, and a heightened curiosity. The secret sauce here is introspection. Reflecting upon the game, understanding its underlying mechanics, and drawing parallels to broader concepts can transform a simple card game into a fertile ground for learning.
This transformative power isn’t exclusive to card games; it applies to a myriad of experiences. Consider the act of watching a movie. It’s easy to view it as passive entertainment, a means to escape reality momentarily. But, shift gears and engage your cognitive faculties, and suddenly, that movie can metamorphose into a lecture hall, offering insights into storytelling, character development, cultural nuances, and even historical contexts.
In essence, every experience – be it playing a game, watching a film, or even taking a leisurely walk – holds the potential to be educational. It’s all about perspective and intent. The onus is on us to shake off predefined notions, look beyond the obvious, and weave learning into the very fabric of our daily lives. When we do, we not only enrich our understanding but also discover the joy of seeing the world as a boundless classroom.
My husband mentioned that he would not hear any music because all his concentration goes to the lyrics of the music. Interestingly. I am the opposite. I hear music but not the lyrics. Don’t get me wrong. I care about the lyric of the song. When I hear a piece of music for the first time, my brain is busy creating the score from the music. Since I have played the piano since I was three years old, I have a near-perfect pitch. Whenever I hear music I like, I like to recreate the music with my piano.
I tried to concentrate on the lyrics many times; however, I could never focus solely on the song’s lyrics. Having a near-perfect pitch works as a double-edged sword. The ability is good if you want to copy a music piece you hear, but sometimes I feel that this ability can prevent me from enjoying the music. When I listen to beautiful music, the orchestra’s pitch or singing can distract me from enjoying the music. On the other hand, my husband can pick up the lyrics even when in a foreign language. He again has similar problems as I do, and he will never process the song’s tune at all.
Our brains respond to lyrics and tunes independently. According to Besson, Faïta, Peretz, Bonnel, & Requin (1998), syntax, the structural aspects of language, and music harmony create similar brain responses. In contrast, the brain response is very different from semantically inappropriate words. Brain responses are the same for both lyrics or tunes until semantically congruous or incongruous words either in or out of key. Therefore, this finding demonstrates that we process lyrics and tune independently.
I may be keener to the song’s keys, and therefore, my brain dominantly processes the songs’ tune rather than the lyrics. On the contrary, my husband is keener to the syntax of languages; consequently, he dominantly processes the lyrics.
What is more critical, lyric or music, to be a good listener? Melody or Rhythms are a deal-breaker for music. Victor Hugo stated, “Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and cannot remain silent.” A lyric without melody or Rhythm is a poem. If someone asks me the same question, I cannot answer.
I care greatly about the lyric’s content to refine the music I just copied. The expression of the music can change 180 degrees with how you interpret it. To analyze songs better, I try to understand the song’s lyrics. If I copy a piece of music from a video game, I fully complete the video game before I start copying the music to understand the lyric better.
I am curious whether lyrics impact our emotion or well-meaning if we can process them simultaneously. I cannot pay attention to lyrics; however, I write much better with background music, influencing my writing ability. So, I assume it would be an excellent experience to process lyrics simultaneously.
When I was digging into the research regarding music lyrics, I found an interesting article written by Tricia Fox Ransom, a songwriter who is graduating with a master of applied positive psychology degree from the University of Pennsylvania. She assumed that lyrics have a significant impact on well-being since she always felt the words of the music had a considerable influence on her state of mind. If her hypothesis were written, she could use the effects for better use, such as treating children with cancer or end-of-life care, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, etc. Before completing her capstone, she walked into the office of James Pennebaker, a leading researcher in language and emotional experience, to get his opinion. She was surprised that he did not think lyrics influence well-being. She admitted that she could not find any studies which confirmed her hypothesis. If Tricia’s hypothesis were correct, it would be fantastic.
Maybe lyrics do not affect well-being; however, they still add in-depth meaning to the music. I want to believe that we can communicate better with lyrics and music. When I listen to or read a poem, it makes me think about the words. On the other hand, listening to music makes me feel something. THE THEME NOW EXPRESSES A GREATER MEANING when I understand the song’s lyrics. Am I too susceptible to the music? I think that melody and lyrics have a symbiotic relationship, and they both gain enhanced emotional influences on us.
That is why I feel not ready to copy the music just listening to the song without understanding the song’s lyrics. To increase understanding further, I even complete the movies, games, books containing the music. This part of analyzing the contents of the lyric is preparation for creating a piano arrangement of the song. I did similar preparation for piano music I practice. When I was practicing Chopin’s Op. 10 No12., Revolutionary Etude, I spent days trying to obtain the music’s background to interpret the music better. I was trying to understand the composer’s message in the music.
It probably does not matter debating, which is more important for a song. There are people, like me, who dominantly process the melody over lyrics. On the other hand, people like my husband dominantly process lyrics over the melody. Research indicates that the brain could process the tune and words independently. Both lyrics and music are mediums of communication. Lyrics and music have a symbiotic relationship rather than a competitive relationship, and the ties even gain synergy. They help us to communicate messages better. They are practical tools to communicate with more significant emotional influences.
References
Besson, M., Faïta, F., Peretz, I., Bonnel, A.-M., & Requin, J. (1998). Singing in the Brain: Independence of Lyrics and Tunes. Psychological Science, 9(6), 494–498. http://www.jstor.org/stable/40063362
Ransom. T. F. (July 31, 2021). A Case for Lyrics and How They Impact Our Emotions. https://www.mappmagazine.com/articles/a-case-for-lyrics-and-how-they-impact-our-emotions
It is kind of late, but a happy new year! Since I must work the past three weekends to complete our year-end, I took time off writing blogs. Our year-end has not been completed yet since we still have the field audit and the submission of the consolidated reports. Although, we met the most significant part of the year-end preparation work. So, I restarted our blog for the year.
I decided to do a cooking project with my husband for the first project. We got a cookbook, The Elder Scrolls – the official cookbook, as a Christmas gift from our father. The exciting part of the book was all the recipes are from Skyrim, Morrowind, and across Tamriel, the video games, the elder’s scroll. It has been almost a decade since my husband or I played the game last time, but we still have fond memories of the game.
Both my husband and I liked to play role-playing video games. I used to play final fantasy, Dragon quest, the elder scrolls, Baldur’s gate, etc. I enjoy any games that involve crafting. The inventory system of the games became much better as the technologies evolved, and the crafting system in the games became more complex. We now have crafting games with survival components, such as Minecraft or Ark.
It can be time-consuming; however, I enjoy cooking in video games. In the back of my mind, I desire to achieve self-sufficiency or independence, which state I will never attain without sacrificing many activities I enjoy doing. I can experience that state in virtual worlds without sacrificing too much. It can be time-consuming; however, I enjoy cooking in a video game. In some games, you must gather ingredients from fishing, hunting, or farming.
I could quickly lose myself in-game worlds in some adventure games, such as the elder scrolls. I will be the game’s main protagonist, engage in various dangerous adventures and missions, and create my own stories. A role-playing game like the elder scroll attracts bookworms like me, seeking out worlds where I could become consumed.
In the developed countries I’ve lived in (Japan, Canada, Germany, and the United States), humans have advanced our lifestyle to states where we obtain most things from stores. Unless we engage in activities that risk our lives, we can live safely in secure environments. After all, we achieved these states in the last century or so. Instinctively, we still need to do something to survive despite what we do for a living. I often seek video games that can satisfy some of my hidden desires.
When I saw this book, the book gave me the idea that we can experience the game world with my husband. Of course, we will not hunt or farm for the ingredients, but it will be a fun activity we can do together.
For the first project, we made “Potage Le Maginfique”. According to the book, this is a Breton dish. The reason I picked this dish was simple; I love eating soup. For the first attempt, we used the exact ingredients from the book.
Ingredients
¼ cup unsalted butter
½ cup diced onion
1 or 2 garlic minced
1 cup diced and peeled medium carrots
½ cup all-purpose flour
2 cups chicken broth
2 cups beef broth
Salt and Pepper
Melt the butter in the saucepan over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic.
Sprinkle the flour into the pan and stir to be sure there are no clumps
I am not good at using an immersion blender for the volume of the soup, and I used a regular blender because I feel traditional blenders make the soup meet my preferred consistency.
We thought it was odd that the recipe did not call for Potatoes. I was worried that the soup would not be thick enough, only with carrots. We were wrong. The flour thickened the soup as if there were potatoes in the soup. We ate the soup with some small pieces of toast. The soup was delicious, and both my husband and I enjoyed the soup.
The difficulties level of the recipe is low for this soup. It took me approximately 30 minutes to cook the soup, and I used an Instant pot and used high pressure for 10 minutes. I used a blender to puree the soup to make the soup consistent throughout the batch.
Alternation
I consider alterations to this original recipe by using different ingredients such as pumpkin, butternut squash, and potatoes.
I will add cloves or nutmeg if I use pumpkin or butter squash. I may add parsley and chives if I use potatoes.
Nutrition information – Carrot
My mother encouraged me to eat carrots when I was a child because of their abundant beta-carotene. According to Joachim and Schloss (2008), a carrot contains more beta-carotene than any other vegetable, and it includes 28,100 International units in every 100g. Beta-carotene is important because our body converts beta-carotene into vitamin A. There is more beta-carotene in the carrot skins, and I usually leave the carrot skins on; however, the carrots need to be skinned for this soup. You will get more beta carotene from cooked carrots than raw carrots because cooking helps free the nutrients from the carrot’s cells (pp. 101-102).
Conclusion
We picked one of the most accessible receipts from the book for this project, and I found that soup has a slight sweetness from carrots. Because the recipe calls for flour, you can control soup thickness. I think you can use different ingredients such as pumpkins, butter squash, and potatoes, although you may want to use the other spices.
It is neat that someone put effort into reproducing a recipe book from a game. I could not devote as much time playing intense adventure or crafting games during the past few years, and I felt a little uneasy. This project brought me back to my past gaming experiences. Since both my husband and I enjoy playing games, the project was a neat activity we could do together. The cookbook will be an excellent book for anyone who wants to cook and play the elder scrolls.
About a month ago, I decided to complete a crafting project because I wanted to test whether motivation follows action or not. I watched a YouTube video, “Why Motivation is a Myth,” by Ali Abdaal. According to Jeff Haden (as cited in Abdaal, Jul 1, 2020), motivation is a sugar rush that never lasts. Progress creates a spark; thus, we must act upon it (1:15 – 2:12). This video made me think deeply. I am goal-oriented and favor a checklist because I gain great satisfaction in completing items. I picked a crafting project for this test because I am not good at completing crafting projects. Excitement does not seem to impact the probability of finishing a crafting project that takes more than several hours unless it is a school project. I hypothesized that I might change the outcome if I treat it as a required task instead. So, I made sure that this project was always on my to-do list, and I made sure to spend 15-30 minutes each day.
My second objective was to discover some of the benefits of crafting. I used to work for a head office for long-term & retirement facilities. I remember that activity therapists created an activity curriculum for our clients. The government funds those types of activities in Canada for long-term care facilities. Valid reasons must exist for them as professional therapists develop these curricula. This little experiment will be an excellent opportunity to discover their benefits.
Finally, I wanted to try crafting a tiny house to see whether it can be in my hobby repertoire. The best way to find out is to try it out myself.
I purchased Countryside Notes, a CuteBee Dy Dollhouse Miniature Kit for under $10 from Amazon. According to the vendor, the assembly time is 6-12 hours. Since I have never done crafting like this, I expected my completion time to be 12 hours.
Motivation is a Myth – learning from DIY Dollhouse Project.
About a month ago, I decided to complete a crafting project because I wanted to test whether motivation follows action or not. I watched a YouTube video, “Why Motivation is a Myth,” by Ali Abdaal. According to Jeff Haden (as cited in Abdaal, Jul 1, 2020), motivation is a sugar rush that never lasts. Progress creates a spark; thus, we must act upon it (1:15 – 2:12). This video made me think deeply. I am goal-oriented and favor a checklist because I gain great satisfaction in completing items. I picked a crafting project for this test because I am not good at completing crafting projects. Excitement does not seem to impact the probability of finishing a crafting project that takes more than several hours unless it is a school project. I hypothesized that I might change the outcome if I treat it as a required task instead. So, I made sure that this project was always on my to-do list, and I made sure to spend 15-30 minutes each day.
My second objective was to discover some of the benefits of crafting. I used to work for a head office for long-term & retirement facilities. I remember that activity therapists created an activity curriculum for our clients. The government funds those types of activities in Canada for long-term care facilities. Valid reasons must exist for them as professional therapists develop these curricula. This little experiment will be an excellent opportunity to discover their benefits.
Finally, I wanted to try crafting a tiny house to see whether it can be in my hobby repertoire. The best way to find out is to try it out myself.
I purchased Countryside Notes, a CuteBee Dy Dollhouse Miniature Kit for under $10 from Amazon. According to the vendor, the assembly time is 6-12 hours. Since I have never done crafting like this, I expected my completion time to be 12 hours.
Challenges
It was a challenging project for me because I did not know how to use the tools properly. I bought a toolkit set. At the start, I used my fingers to craft. Soon, I realized that using the tweezers made some tasks were easier to do. Each pair of tweezers seems to have its best-suited job. Once, I picked up a piece with tweezers pinching so hard that the part flew out and – luckily – landed on the table. I learned that I needed to grab them carefully.
Not all kits come with all of the items required for crafting. After I opened the kit, I realized it did not come with either glue or batteries. Initially, I was using regular glue that would not affix certain parts together. After investigation, I discovered I should be using silicone glue. The most challenging part was to determine which batteries to use for this dollhouse. It took me few days to realize LR44 indicated on the instruction was the size of the batteries to use for this dollhouse.
A minuscule measurement error can result in running out of materials. I had to substitute my hemp twine for the roof and a piece of gauze for the chairs. I did not have enough yarn to cover the rooftop. The cloth piece for chairs was missing from the kit. It is not so bad though, as long as they look alike, you can substitute anything from the house.
Benefits
While I was doing this project, I noted some recognized benefits of crafting from my experiment. Additionally, I researched the benefits of tucking with crafting activities.
Develop Planning Skills
Planning is an essential part of a project like this. The instruction that came with the kit was pretty good, but it would not be perfect. So, I had to figure out these missing puzzles. For example, the instruction never mentioned creating a hole for the lighting fixture. I realized this when I was examining the house for the wiring. It can take multiple days to build one piece of furniture as the furniture may have numerous parts that cannot be attached simultaneously. For example, it took me three separate days to construct the cooking oven because it was difficult to glue the shelving for the furniture and accessories on the same day without breaking other parts. So, I chose to make various pieces of furniture at the same time. I read multiple pages of instructions and wrote a plan. Numerous components of furniture were created simultaneously and completed at the same time.
Develop Problem Solving Skill
You develop problem-solving skills from crafting because there are always difficulties in assembling something so tiny and fragile. I had a problem keeping the ground steady due to the wires for the lights. I created a housing from cardboard to hold the wires together and stuck the cardboard housing directly to the tin can. I used toothpicks to hold the ground piece until it adhered to the tin can. The next day, I was utterly disappointed to find out it did not glue well. I needed a more appropriate glue to adhere to the pieces. After I got silicone glue, I glued a cardboard frame to mount the base to the tin can. This part took me three days—another problem I solved by using more appropriate tweezers. I did not even know which tweezers to use.
It’s a Mentally Stimulating Activity
Crafting will prevent aging in the brain. The number of myelin decreases as we age, which prevents us from accepting new challenges later in life. The brain is plastic, and it will continue to grow at any age by learning new skills. People who continuously engage in learning new skills prevent their brain’s demyelination because they continually develop their neural pathways. When the neural pathways are hardened from more practice, the newly learned activity will become easier to perform. According to Krell-Roesch et al. (2017), older adults who performed the following five types of mentally stimulating activities such as reading books, playing games, craft activities, computer use, and social activities at least 1-2 times per week reduced the risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Although their study did not conclude why that is the case; however, they assume that a particularly mentally stimulating activity helped decrease the risk of developing MCI (page. 7). It wasn’t easy to use the tools, but it got more manageable with practice. I assume I regrew some myelin by doing this project.
Learning Something New
I learned something new from this project. I’ve never built a dollhouse, so this project was an exciting experience for me. I found I could not use just any glue to attach wood pieces to the tin can. There is a valid reason why a tool kit contains multiple Tweezers because each has different usage. There are many sizes of watch batteries. I found YouTubers posted a video on building a tiny dollhouse like this. Some of them use a variety of scavenged household materials to create a dollhouse.
Discussion
Relying solely on motivation will not help us complete some tasks because motivation decreases over time. As Jeff Haden pointed (Tedx Talks, May 24, 2019), you may have a teacher to sustain your motivation when you are at school. This is not true when you do a project for yourself because no one will keep inspiring or motivating you throughout achieving the goal (0:35-0:59). I studied hard to obtain a professional designation for a steady income. I have completed various crafting projects because I got awards from winning the crafting contests. When you are doing a project for someone else, you also have some external rewards. When I want to do something for myself, like losing weight or crafting, my motivation decreases. I was so focused on the outcome but not its process so I did not even notice my improvements or progress. Eventually, I quit the project altogether. The accumulated failures made me feel like a loser and a quitter with enormous guilt for creating an additional trail of failures.
The crucial part of sustaining motivation is to understand how people get motivated. Jeff Haden explained (Tedx Talks, May 24, 2019), you must generate your own motivation. Once you find something you want to do for yourself, create a plan to complete it. You will need to put in the right effort. When you feel some improvement or progress, it generates dopamine in your brain. Then, your motivation will increase to continue with your project the next day. It is a cycle that helps you to complete a task (3:59 – 4:42). I got frustrated at some challenges I had during the project. However, I systematically approached each problem. Every time I overcame the obstacle, I could see some improvements. I was keen on such improvements because I was actively seeking the benefits of crafting. More importantly, I saw the progress throughout the project. Approximately around the 10th day, I was no longer relying on completing my checklist or the outcome. I was confident I would complete this project.
So, motivation will follow by acting on it because you will generate motivation by seeing your progress or improvement. I obtained immense satisfaction by completing this project because I regained my capability to complete a project for myself. I understand why it is essential to focus on the process instead of focusing on the outcome. I saw the benefits of focusing on the process. I am now sure this is how I should approach projects for myself.
I am already planning to build another dollhouse. I saw many benefits from working on this project. Crafting provides people with great benefits because it forces us to think, plan, and practice. I learned many things from this project. Eventually, I wanted to create a miniature theme from our household scavenged materials. I consider dollhouse making to be in my hobby repertoire.
Krell-Roesch, J., Vemuri, P., Pink, A., Roberts, R. O., Stokin, G. B., Mielke, M. M., Christianson, T. J. H., Knopman, D. S., Petersen, R. C., Kremers, W. K., &Geda, Y. E. (2017). Association Between Mentally Stimulating Activities in Late Life and the Outcome of Incident Mild Cognitive Impairment, With an Analysis of the APOE ε4 Genotype. JAMA Neurology, 74(3), 332. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaneurol.2016.3822
In 2017, my parents-in-law and husband gifted me a piano because I had been sad about my broken keyboard. I had played the piano since I was three years old. I stopped practicing the piano when I moved to Canada. I was traveling for work, and I had simply other priorities. Although, I had a keyboard. As the keyboard was not full size, I could not play certain piano pieces. Playing the keyboard was so different from playing the piano. The keyboard broke ten years ago, and I stopped playing the piano entirely. With great excitement, I opened a box of my piano books that I brought from Japan and Canada as soon as the piano delivery guys left our house.
Struggles
I tried playing some piano pieces I used to play when I was young. I noticed some problems, which made me think that I could not play these piano pieces.
I remember the notes, but I lost endurance. For example, I tried to play Beethoven’s piano sonata, No. 14 in C-sharp minor, Op. 27, No. 2, commonly known as Moonlight Sonata. I could not play the third movement in one go because I had no endurance. I was so tired after 2-3 pages into the part, and I could not move my fingers anymore.
I tried to play Partita #2 from Bach. I could not play a trill with my left 4th and 5th fingers’ at the 5th measure of the sinfonia. I could not perform the trill because I could not move my 4th and 5th left-hand fingers independently from the rest of my fingers. Then, I tried to play one of Bach’s sinfonia, the three-part inventions. I still felt that I did not have complete control of all my fingers. With frustration, I told my husband Bach would cry if he heard how I play his music. He laughed.
My music seems to have lost dynamics. A piece of music without dynamic is like listening to static sounds from an analog television when there is no transmission. I played the Waltz in D-flat major, Op. 64, No. 1, which is a short waltz from Chopin. The first section of the music is fast and very lively. I remember that my Piano teacher told me Chopin composed from seeing a puppy chasing after his tail. I put all my concentration on the movement of the fingers; I could not focus on the dynamic of the music. Therefore, instead of a livery puppy chasing after his tail, it was a picture of a puppy standing still motionless.
I will be lying if I said I was ok with this. I was utterly disappointed with my piano playing initially. But it is not all bad. I still remember some of the music. I need to work on my finger movement. I need to drop few levels, and I rebuild my skill level slowly. After all, I have all the time to practice piano as long as I don’t stop. Well, I had some initial disappointment with my piano playing, but I had no desire to quit relearning piano. I was very adamant about some of the music I wanted to play in the future.
I think anyone can learn to play piano at a later age if they put their minds to it. It can take longer if you pick up the piano piece with much more significant difficulty than your current abilities. Some people managed to do that, too. Recently, I watched a YouTube about a Japanese 52-year-old fisherman who started to play Liszt’s La Campanella (NHK, 2028, July 28). The crazy thing about this was that he did not even know how to read any musical score. He practiced the piano piece for 8 hours every day for seven years. To commit yourself to that level of dedication, you should possess a particular personality. You should not feel bad for not being able to put the story of extraordinary commitment. His case is rare. Although, anyone can play the piano. It would be best if you took it slowly and tactically. If you are adamant about getting into the piano as I did, you need to do the following: (1) assesses your personality; (2) Define your goals; (3) build the tactic; (4) identify potential obstacles and how to overcome the obstacles; and finally, you must understand that the process to achieve goals can be a long process.
Assessing Your Personality
It is crucial to assess your personality before building your goals or tactics. Everyone is different. Just like the Japanese fisherman, some can work toward a significant challenge despite skill gaps. I do not have that type of personality; therefore, I had to build and approach my goals differently. I like my plans to be short-term and just slightly beyond my current skill. I learned this technique from reading Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s book, Flow. Csikszentmihalyi (1990) explains that we must set our goals within our reach. If your goal is too far beyond your reach, you grow resentful or resign from achieving the goals. The research suggests most of us struggle with the vicious cycles of failures, leading to dissatisfaction. Unless you are in good condition, struggling to meet your basic human needs, we desire a sense of well-being. People gain satisfaction from achieving even partial goals, which leads to improving our quality of life. Why should we lower our quality of life? (pp. 8-10). This book was an eye-opener for me. I could make some big goals in the long run, but I make small goals to achieve larger goals. I feel fabulous even if the goal achieved is insignificant compared to the larger goals I created. I am making some progress toward my larger goals.
Overcoming the Rocks
Endurance
In 2017, I noticed I felt some muscle pains from playing the piano. I also noticed I felt discomfort from playing the piano for hours. Since I was not sure how much practice I could do, I took it very slowly. I started to practice whenever I had time between my other tasks. I began with practicing for only a few minutes, but I played the piano every day. I started losing track of my time during each practice. I noticed I was practicing for over one hour, and I did not even realize it. Playing piano was no longer painful.
Difficulty Level
I must drop the level of difficulty. Practicing piano music I played when I was young helps me to remember some of my problems. I dropped to Royal Conservatory level 8. I bought Royal Conservatory level 8books from Amazon. At least, I can still sight-read most of the songs at this level. It takes me approximately two weeks to memorize a 2-3 page piece. I found out my capacity by playing random piano pieces in 2017.
Finger Exercise
It took few years, but I felt ready to take my piano to the next level, which involved practicing piano the way my piano teacher showed me. I decided to work on my fingers’ agility, flexibility, strength, and endurance to fix my problems. Hanon is an excellent material to work on my stiff 4th and 5th fingers. I am currently using Hanon, Czerny, and Dohnanyi. Czerny is more melodic than Hanon, and I like it better for that reason. Dohnanyi is a good finger exercise. I struggled with playing Dohnanyi. I remember it was difficult when I was a child. I must put a lot of conscious effort into moving my fingers, even on simple exercises. The exercises wear me out considerably, and it can be pretty frustrating. My brain hardwires the movement. Eventually, my fingers will start to move. Dohnanyi teaches me how to play the piano properly.
Fear of many Flats and Sharps
I felt an illogical discomfort every time I play music with 4-5 flats or sharps, which I always had. When I was young, I got overwhelmed by music written in E major or C-sharp minor. To get rid of m illogical fear, my piano teacher made me practice Hanon no 1 to 20 in E major and C sharp repeatedly. I use the Brown Scale Book to practice scales, chords, and arpeggios, so I do not have to do any transposition of notes.
Use of Metronome to Start Slow
I use a metronome a lot. When I try to play faster than I comfortably can, I skip notes or hit the key with the wrong finger. So, I start slowly using metronome using correct fingering and dynamics until 1 or 2 levels above the recommended speed of the music. I practice a little section at a time because some areas require more attention than others.
Pedal Use
I do not use the pedal until I can play the music faster than its desired speed. Pedal-use masks my errors if I start using it in an earlier state. Then, I will learn the song improperly. It can be challenging to undo when you learned once. Sometimes these bad habits are persistent. When I was relearning inventions, I noticed the bad habits I developed in my teens. I remember my piano teacher pointing out those habits.
Compromise
Finally, I have to make a compromise regarding how much time I can spend practicing piano. I have full-time work. I have a family. There are other things I need to do besides playing the piano, which was my most significant obstacle to practicing piano. Fortunately, I live in an environment where I can play the piano early or late. I will jump on whenever I can make time. When I have only 30 minutes to play, I focus on the sections I need to learn after a bit of warm-up. It gets harder during weekdays, but I practice piano at least a little every day, so I do not feel guilty.
My Optimism & Future Playing List
I am currently relearning Bach’s 15 two-part inventions. I am relearning in the orders I once learned. I started mid-February this year, and I have memorized five as of the beginning of April. I expect it will take more time to relearn the 11th, 12th, and 15th inventions. At this level, I can insert some Sinfonias. My current goal is to complete the book by this fall. I am making progress with my practice slowly, but I do not mind at all. As long as I live and I have mobility, I can play the piano. The most important part is to embrace my progress, and I genuinely enjoy playing the piano again.
