Hey Cate -- I don't know if this is helpful, but I just wanted to share: About 5 or 6 times in the last year I found myself with NO desire to practice, lasting from a few days to a week or more. In most cases it turned out I was coming down with a cold (usually a sore throat) or was in some other way physically or emotionally exhausted. Most recently it was stress over my son's broken arm and complications from surgery. Each time it worried me a bit -- "Oh no! I've lost my interest! My happy obsession will be gone!"
But in every case it's come back to me, usually quite suddenly, as soon as I was well or got enough sleep, or just ventured over to my PC and took up a tune or two. So it might not be a matter of will power, but rather giving yourself, and your traumatized mouth, a bit of a break. You'll probably get it back quickly when the time is right. Until you do, listen to a motivating tune or two which will infiltrate your brain and get the juices flowing again (for me it's the Red Hot Chilli Pipers' "Rory McLeod Set" from their Blast Live album). Cheers!
Heidi, That is exactly what I needed to hear today as the pain level in the my mouth has worsened (once again) over the last few hours. I want to reach for my chanter, but am vaguely afraid.
I really just want to grab a book, curl up on my couch and read quietly with a little Phillip Glass in the background.
Hey Cate -- I don't know if this is helpful, but I just wanted to share: About 5 or 6 times in the last year I found myself with NO desire to practice, lasting from a few days to a week or more. In most cases it turned out I was coming down with a cold (usually a sore throat) or was in some other way physically or emotionally exhausted. Most recently it was stress over my son's broken arm and complications from surgery. Each time it worried me a bit -- "Oh no! I've lost my interest! My happy obsession will be gone!"
ReplyDeleteBut in every case it's come back to me, usually quite suddenly, as soon as I was well or got enough sleep, or just ventured over to my PC and took up a tune or two. So it might not be a matter of will power, but rather giving yourself, and your traumatized mouth, a bit of a break. You'll probably get it back quickly when the time is right. Until you do, listen to a motivating tune or two which will infiltrate your brain and get the juices flowing again (for me it's the Red Hot Chilli Pipers' "Rory McLeod Set" from their Blast Live album). Cheers!
Heidi,
ReplyDeleteThat is exactly what I needed to hear today as the pain level in the my mouth has worsened (once again) over the last few hours. I want to reach for my chanter, but am vaguely afraid.
I really just want to grab a book, curl up on my couch and read quietly with a little Phillip Glass in the background.
Cheers!
Cate