I Must have a Screw Loose . . .
As the piping competition season draws ever closer, I have begun to wonder if I have lost what little mind I have left. A crisis of conscious, as it were. I mean, really - I'm starting to question what made me think I could memorize these three pipe tunes. For a woman who used to memorize pages and pages of script, and countless musical numbers, the fact that I am struggling mightily to memorize these tunes is disturbing. At least one of them I have been working on since last May . . .
I have spent an obscene amount of money on the highland attire I have to wear to compete, and some of it has to be custom made. That I put on about 15 pounds over the brutal winter is NOT a good thing and must be remedied as quickly as possible. I'm on that, though, so I'm not worried there.
And on top of everything else, my pipes are not really cooperating right now, which makes everything pretty tough.
I have a phenomenal teacher. He pushes me to accomplish stuff I think sometimes that I cannot do. And right now, I'm not sure I can memorize these tunes . . . this from the woman who has always believed she could do anything if she tried hard enough. Well, in my heart of hearts I do still believe that, but man - at this juncture, with seven weeks to go until the first competition, I am a little panicked. I really have my work cut out for me. . .
If anyone would care to help me set this intention and affirm my success, I would be grateful: I memorize pipe tunes easily, quickly and accurately.
I have spent an obscene amount of money on the highland attire I have to wear to compete, and some of it has to be custom made. That I put on about 15 pounds over the brutal winter is NOT a good thing and must be remedied as quickly as possible. I'm on that, though, so I'm not worried there.
And on top of everything else, my pipes are not really cooperating right now, which makes everything pretty tough.
I have a phenomenal teacher. He pushes me to accomplish stuff I think sometimes that I cannot do. And right now, I'm not sure I can memorize these tunes . . . this from the woman who has always believed she could do anything if she tried hard enough. Well, in my heart of hearts I do still believe that, but man - at this juncture, with seven weeks to go until the first competition, I am a little panicked. I really have my work cut out for me. . .
If anyone would care to help me set this intention and affirm my success, I would be grateful: I memorize pipe tunes easily, quickly and accurately.
Comments
When you are all done, I will come and make you a cup of tea and wait on you hand and foot for a whole afternoon if you would like as your reward. You will have such a sense of accomplishment when it is over.
I recently participated in a culinary competition in Japan, and when it came down to it there were a lot of ingredients I just wasn't familiar with. I was at a crossroads- do I walk out after having gotten to this point and traveled so far, or do I push ahead? I pushed ahead. The interpreter commented on how calm I was the whole time, but what else would I have been? I did not let fear or uncertainty hold me back, and while there was no Hollywood ending, I focused and I did my best.
I would say to you, and I'm sure you know this yourself, that if you can hear and sing the melody, you can play it. And, as an idea, during the day, spontaneously practice. Obviously you can't haul your pipes around, but if you have a recording of the music on some sort of listening device, could you mimic the piping actions? Even if this means going into the restroom and listening internally while you do the breathing and hand motions. Just a thought. Make this a more mindful and natural process as opposed to something you're DOING.
I affirm with you that you can do this- that on THE DAY you will look great and play with your Soul. Be well.